By now, you should be aware of two facts; The world is moving toward electric vehicles, and they are rather expensive in South Africa. Due to the heavy taxes imposed on the importation of electric vehicles, plus the amount of R&D money being spent on developing EVs that are more efficient and travel further on a single charge, South Africans end up paying more than they should for electric mobility. That may soon be a thing of the past if EV.Africa has their way.
Related: When will electric cars be cheaper?
We recently attended the launch of not only several electric mobility solutions but the launch of a new electric mobility company in South Africa; EV.Africa. Their aim is to provide affordable EV mobility solutions not only for private consumers but for the commercial sector as well.
EV.Africa plans to retail their products from no fewer than 11 dealerships across the country, ranging from Fourways, Menlyn, Pinetown, Durban, Cape Town and even Rustenburg to name a few. Their products will be supported through a partnership with Mandarin Parts with more than 20 outlets able to supply parts for their range of vehicles. But that's not really what you want to know about, is it?
South Africa's cheapest electric car
The EV.Africa range consists of several 'micro-cars' that cater for a variety of applications. The smallest and cheapest of the bunch is the City Blitz 2-seater which comes in at R199 900. You'll have to set aside your concerns about your personal space because this compact little micro-car will see you snuggle up next to your passenger as you zoom around the 'burbs. Remember the Smart ForTwo? It's like that, but electric.
The City Blitz 2-seater will offer you a range of up to 160 km from a single charge and do a top speed of 80 km/h. While this may not sound like much, pay attention to how fast you generally travel to and from the shops or the commute to work (provided you don't need to use the highway). For many, this will be more than ample and will drastically reduce their transportation costs.
The City Blitz can be charged from flat to full in around 6 hours but a top-up on a regular basis will see you only needing to do this for a few minutes each day. The City Blitz is charged using a regular 3-pin household plug point and the one downside is that it uses a proprietary connection in the car itself. This means that public charging through one of the various public charging points scattered around your area will not work right now. This may be addressed in the near future though. This model does use lead-acid batteries but these maintenance-free units are still able to provide the 7.5 kW AC motor with enough power to climb a 20% incline.
It's not spartan inside either. Your R199 900 will get you electric windows, imitation leather upholstery, a touchscreen infotainment system with Bluetooth connectivity and AM/FM reception, a panoramic glass roof, a reverse camera, and remote central locking. It's rather safe too, with disc brakes on all four wheels, 3-point inertia reel seatbelts and an integrated safety cell.
On a quick squirt around the block, the City Blitz was pleasantly surprised with power steering and a relatively compliant ride. The stability at top speed isn't worth writing home about but stick to its intended application and it's a quiet, efficient urban run-around. You do need a regular driver's license to drive one and we wouldn't recommend taking it on the highway but as a second car for during the week, the City Blitz range is most definitely a viable solution. It will keep you dry in the rain and cost next to nothing to run.
But what if you need a little more space?
City Blitz 4-seater
With its 4 seats and full-sized windows and lithium batteries, the City Blitz 4-seater may be the more sensible model for the school run or where more than two people need a ride into the office. This one also uses a brushless AC motor to provide 7.5 kW of power and a maximum range of 160 km. Much the same as the 2-seater, the Blitz 4-seater is charged at home by using a traditional, domestic power outlet.
City Blitz 4-seater - R239 900
City Blitz Pick-up
That's right! South Africa's favourite, the bakkie! The City Blitz Pick-up is a commercial solution for those that need to nip up and down the neighbourhood, carting rubble, loading packages or maybe even transporting larger items. There are 101 uses for the City Blitz pick-up and we can see the likes of the small business owners taking to this one - can anyone say garden service?
It uses the same running gear as the City Blitz 4-seater and has a maximum range of 150 km with an 80 km/h top speed and will only take 4 to 6-hours to fully charge from flat.
City Blitz Pick-up - R239 900
City Blitz Van
This is the one that you can expect to see the most of if we're being perfectly honest. This enclosed 2-seater van offers similar performance as the City Blitz 4-seater and employs the same 10 kWh lithium LFP battery system to yield a range of 150 km with a top speed of 80 km/h. This model has a rear storage compartment that will take a Euro-sized pallet and offers secure encasement of your goods with a roller shutter. It has the same airconditioning, infotainment system and safety rating as the others and this model is targeted at those institutions that offer delivery services and require more than just a scooter.
City Blitz Van - R249 900
2-wheels
EV.Africa is also concentrating on offering a choice of two full-electric scooters. The City Buzz 1 offers a range of 100 km from its 2.1 kW motor and has a top speed of 60 km/h. This one is geared towards personal mobility for those that need to get to work or school and are looking for the best, most cost-effective solution. The removable lithium battery means that you're able to cycle the batteries, allowing one to charge while you use the other.
The second offering is the City Buzz 2, a more commercially-orientated model with a load box and front basket, perfect for that small business that offers deliveries. This model has a top speed of 80 km/h and a maximum range of 120 km from a single charge.
