Electric is the Future Now

South Africa is in for a treat, the shift towards electric mobility is gaining momentum. Several manufacturers have started looking into expanding their market into electric vehicles known as EVS. A recent investment in Jaguar at R30-million has allowed 82 new charging stations to be placed in major hubs and along holiday routes within South Africa – known as the Jaguar Powerway. Collaboration with BMW and Nissan have allowed an increased in public charging infrastructure across the country.
The Cars Bound for SA are:
New Nissan Leaf
Since 2013 the Nissan Leaf has been in the market, with the 2nd Gen revealed last year and expected to hit the streets within the first half of 2019. It will be powered by an electric motor developing 110 kW and 320 Nm of torque in co-occurrence with a 40 kW Lithium-ion battery.The Leaf has a projected range of 400 km and can be charged for 8 hours using a 6 kW outlet. Fast charging will however rapidly decrease the duration of charge naturally, with 80% achieved in 40 minutes.
Jaguar I-Pace
Soon to be seen, this EV has electric motors driving the front and rear axles with the total outputs being 294 kW and 696 Nm. Jaguar has assured consumers that the throttle response is immediate, allowing fast acceleration with the 0-100 kph taking a mere 4.8 seconds.It is equipped with in-house designed, liquid cooled 90 kWh Lithium-ion battery is capable of rapid charging – 80% achieved in 45 minutes on a DC 100 kW charger. A 7 kW home charger can achieve the same result in 10 hours. The I-Pace will have a range of 480 km with the average daily commute being between 40 and 50 km – that means you would only need to charge weekly.
Mercedes Benz EQC
Said to be available mid-2019 this beauty will be powered by a pair of electric motors, delivering 300 kW and 765 Nm of torque. A motor can be found on the front and rear axle – making it an all-wheel-drive vehicle.Content of the battery will be at 80 kWh, considering the 5 driving modes – this results in different performance and ranges- with the expected range being 450 km. There is a cooled-onboard charger with a capacity of 7.4 kW, suitable for AC charging at home or at public stations.
Audi E-Tron
Arriving mid-2019 as well, the e-tron is powered by 2 electric motors over each axle that are silent in operation and can generate 300 kW and 560 Nm of torque.0-100 kph can be achieved in a mere 5.5 seconds and will reach a top speed of 200 kph.Fitted with a 95 kWh battery system positioned low and central within the vehicle – adding to the more sporty nature of the vehicle. The e-tron is made of AC and DC charging.
BMW IX3
While the i3 premium has been in South Africa since 2015, the new SUV is in the works. Only shown in concept form at the 2018 Beijing Motor Show – production is said to begin in 2020 and will prove to be quite a rival. With a 5th Gen electric drive system offering 200 kW and a high voltage battery with 70 kWh allowing for a range of more than 400 km, a full charge can be achieved in 30 minutes using a fast-charging station.
While this has got us all excited and looking forward to swapping out our current cars for electric ones, vast distances, lack of charging infrastructure, range anxiety and the high purchase prices of these vehicles – not to mention the risk of blackouts – are these going to be a hit or miss here in South Africa?
Adapted from Witbank Midas Online by Ghost Marketer, on 01 March 2019

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