evrt Africa announces 2024 EV roadtrip with AutoTrader as sponsor
It's a hive of activity at the e-fest ELECTRIC in Cape Town this year, which runs alongside the Cape Town E-Prix. If you love electric cars, you'll be pleased to hear about evrt Africa's upcoming EV road trip - and AutoTrader is a sponsor.
AutoTrader, a long-time advocate for electric vehicles, is participating in this year's E-Fest Electric in Cape Town, Africa's largest electric vehicle festival.
South Africa is the 12th highest carbon emitter in the world and the E-Fest Electric is an essential step toward accelerating SA's transition to electric vehicles and becoming a positive force for change in the economy.
Related: Cape Town to host 2023 FIA Formula E World Championship E-Prix
The Cape Town Formula E track is said to be fast as well as bumpy!
The event, which coincides with the Cape Town E-Prix, features exhibitions, entertainment, speaker sessions and other activities designed to promote sustainability, alternative e-mobility, and renewable energy solutions. Topics include Vehicle to Grid And How it will Change your Life, and Road Tripping in an Electric Car, to name a few.
An exciting announcement by evrt Africa
This morning, on the first day of the E-Fest Electric, evrt Africa announced that they'll be partnering with AutoTrader for the 2024 evrt Africa EV Roadtrip which will take place from 15 to 24 February next year.
Ben Pullen, chairman of Smarter Mobility Africa and the Vuka Group, expressed excitement about partnering with AutoTrader, noting our role in leading the automotive industry toward a more electric future, and emphasized that this event plays a huge role in educating and raising awareness around clean energy and vehicles.
The trip will once again be from Johannesburg to Cape Town, but along a different route. The very first evrt Africa EV road trip took place in 2019 with a 9-day road trip from Jozi to the Mother City.
Ben Pullen, chairman of Smarter Mobility Africa, is very passionate about the drive to greener motoring.
AutoTrader will be the official drag race activity partner for 2024's exciting event. Other sponsors will include the AIDC, Uber, KFM, Cape Talk, Wesgro, City of Cape Town, and the Western Cape Government.
Launch of AutoTrader Hybrid Car Buyers Survey
At this morning's evrt Africa announcement event, AutoTrader also launched the first-ever Hybrid Buyers Survey to the local market, which provides insights into the attitudes and expectations of South African car shoppers looking for hybrid vehicles.
George Mienie, AutoTrader CEO, took to the stage to share these insightful survey results with attendees. Since 2021, the search volume for hybrid cars has increased by a whopping 47%, due in part to fuel price hikes.
He mentions that one of the most interesting misconceptions is that hybrid vehicles have a much smaller range than they actually do. The survey also highlighted the fact that South Africans are unaware of the locally available hybrid vehicles, and how they work, further increasing the need for education and awareness.
The goal is to empower and inform strategic decision-making that provides solutions for in-market car shoppers. The result of this thinking is South Africa’s first comprehensive 2022 AutoTrader Hybrid Car Buyers Survey which understands various pain points and preconceived beliefs of consumers to assist industry stakeholders such as dealers, manufacturers, marketers, and government bodies in understanding what the current 'hybrid car reality' is. This report allows industry stakeholders to have action-based discussions that lead to a tomorrow that is greener, cleaner, and mutually beneficial to providers and, most importantly, the entire South African population. - AutoTraderSA Hybrid Buyers Survey
What is there to look forward to at the E-Fest ELECTRIC?
The festival features a variety of attractions, including a commercial vehicle zone for businesses and government fleets looking to go green, and exhibitions of the latest electric vehicles, but the EV ride and drive with AutoTrader as the official activity partner is the most appealing, by far!
As part of the E-fest, an array of local media personalities, press, and influencers had a chance to take part in a mini-EV-road trip along Cape Town's most picturesque roads, such as Chapman's peak and up Signal Hill, where drivers could take part in an EV regeneration challenge on the way down.
Related: My favourite EV of 2022, reviewed here.
George Mienie and other members of the AutoTrader team drove a Mercedes-Benz EQA and EQC for the day - but you can have a chance to experience an EV, too!
Related: Mercedes-Benz SA confirms full line-up of 7 fully-electric cars for SA
Come on down to the e-Fest and drive your favourite EV!
To create awareness about EV ownership, we're giving members of the public the opportunity to drive a wide variety of locally available EVs like the Volvo XC40 P6 and P8, Mercedes-Benz EQC, EQA, EQB and EQS, MINI Cooper SE, BMW i3 and iX. There is even a Tesla Model X available, but don't get excited, as the brand won't be on sale in SA anytime soon.
All you need to take part is your valid driver's license, and drives can only be taken until 11 am on Saturday, 25 February 2023.
Related: Everything you need to know about the MINI Cooper SE
There will also be Electric Life Rides, Wow E-Bikes, Evolve Skateboards and Recon Power bikes to put to the test.
Click here to view the full itinerary and to buy tickets for the E-Fest ELECTRIC 2023
