With the country’s electricity supply seemingly stabilising, South African motorists are showing a growing interest in electric vehicles, according to various studies. As the EU’s 2035 ban on new petrol and diesel sales approaches, manufacturers are introducing options locally to keep pace with developed countries, where EVs are becoming the norm. Fortunately, there’s no need for a hard sell, as our consumers are open to xploring these new energy vehicles.
This year, we’ve had the chance to test drive several EVs across various price ranges, from the entry-level GWM ORA at around R600k to the ultra-premium Mercedes-Benz EQS, which costs about four times as much. Manufacturers are eager to bring more EVs to South Africa. For example, VW’s ID4, currently being piloted here, has been showcased to the media and select stakeholders, though it won’t be available for sale for another two years.
Of course challenges remain with charging infrastructure, limiting EV use to major urban areas, and ‘range anxiety’ means careful planning is required before longish trips. I stand to be corrected, but there are just over 350 public charging stations nationwide. Also, fully charging a vehicle can take up to four hours—a far cry from the less than five minutes needed to fill a petrol or diesel tank.
This week, a Ford study on the rise of EVs in South Africa caught my attention. According to Ford’s survey, around 40% of South Africans are considering buying an electrified vehicle. However, our motorists seem cautious and prefer hybrids over full EVs.
Here is a summarized version of the insights from the survey.
Nice and familiar:
South Africans are fairly familiar with electrified vehicles, with most survey respondents describing them as ‘fun to drive’, ‘cool’, ‘sporty’, and ‘easy to own’. Over 30% said they’d ridden in an electric vehicle, 19% claimed to have driven one, and more than 70% had read about them.
Infrastructure concerns:
Nearly half of South African respondents said they weren’t aware of any public charging sites within 20 kilometres of their home. Twenty percent expressed concerns about the power network, while 47% were worried about EV charging infrastructure. Service stations were the top choice for preferred charging locations, followed by shopping centres and office buildings.
Barriers to purchase:
Nearly three-quarters of those surveyed said possible future load shedding would affect their decision to choose a battery electric vehicle. Similarly, 70% said charging infrastructure would influence their choice.
Looking for capability:
Almost 71% of respondents said they’d be more likely to buy an electric vehicle with greater towing capacity, while 70% want their first EV to be off-road capable. There are also concerns about EVs carrying less luggage or payload than equivalent internal combustion vehicles.
Preferred electrified vehicle type:
Among those surveyed, hybrids were the top choice, followed closely by plug-in hybrids, with pure battery electric vehicles ranking third.
Use case:
Most respondents said they’d be more likely to use an electric vehicle for grocery delivery, ride- sharing, and their daily commute.
Pros & Cons:
Saving money by not purchasing fuel is often seen as a key advantage of owning an electric vehicle. However, many believe that maintenance costs for electric vehicles may be higher in the long run.
Love connection:
If you’re looking for love, forget about roses—almost 70 percent of respondents said they would be ‘more likely’ to date someone who drives an electric vehicle.
Myth-conceptions:
However, there are still some misconceptions causing potential buyers to hesitate. For example, just under 40 percent of respondents believe that charging an electric vehicle at home is as expensive as refuelling a petrol-powered vehicle.