Charging an electric vehicle in SA is getting much easier thanks to the growing number of infrastructure networks, as well as access to apps that help you locate charging stations nationally. The EV segment is growing steadily, and South African motorists are keen to embrace the future and leave fuel behind.
The latest Naamsa business review reveals that electric and hybrid model sales in South Africa have soared past 16,700 units in the last reporting year, which is a record for the local market. Want to know more about EVs and infrastructure? Get all your quick answers right here!
Based on the make & model of the electric car, your own driving patterns & behaviours, and the conditions you’re in while on the roads, a 100km electric car uses anywhere between 13 kWh and 20 kWh of electricity.
EV batteries last about 10 years on average, but they can reach up to 20 years. This depends on how often you service your vehicle, your vehicle's charging patterns, and degradation contributors (like extreme temperatures or rough terrain).
According to MyBroadband, it takes anywhere between 30 minutes and 50 hours to fully charge an electric car.
The number of hours it takes to fully charge an electric car is based on:
There isn’t a single thing that drains an electric car battery the most, but the most common ones are:
When you run out of power while driving an EV:
From there, you’ll need to contact roadside assistance and get help from a flatbed tow truck.
Yes, Cartrack’s software can help maintain EV battery range by monitoring your battery health and optimising your routes to avoid range anxiety.
We have predictive maintenance, so you’re notified about due servicing before breakdowns happen. We also have driver-behaviour monitoring, so you can keep an eye on battery-draining driving habits by your staff.
According to research, you’ll save up to 50% more on fuel with an electric car compared to a petrol car. The exact percentage obviously depends on certain factors, like home vs public charging and energy sources (like solar power vs electricity).
The total cost of ownership for electric cars is made up of factors that include:
Total cost of ownership is usually calculated with the formula: Purchase price + operating costs - resale value
Whether getting an EV car in South Africa is really worth it or not depends on your daily routines and lifestyle.
The advantages can’t be ignored; total running costs are far cheaper, maintenance costs are lower, acceleration is quieter, and they’re kinder to the environment. On the other hand, insurance is higher, charging infrastructure isn’t widely available, and battery replacement can be very costly.
Yes, you can charge your car for free, although this isn’t available ‘anywhere’. Most of the free charging stations are located at many car dealerships, some shopping malls/centres and petrol stations, a few airports, and even the occasional hotel and hospital.
Yes, it’s cheaper to charge at home vs at a charging station. Public charging stations are usually accounting for the infrastructure, electricity (which is marked up slightly), speed, and the convenience — they need to profit from this service. When you charge at home, there are no price variations or markups, and you can charge for as long as you’d like.
Yes; despite the fact that they’re typically harder to steal due to their advanced safety features, you should track an EV because it still can be stolen. Proper tracking and additional protection features, as offered by Cartrack, can:
