A mere 205 electric vehicles (EVs) were registered in South Africa in the first six months of 2022. That’s just 0.08% of the industry total of 253 442, according to automotive business council Naamsa.
The problem is, EVs are not affordable to the average South African consumer. Industry players have pointed the finger firmly at government for imposing higher taxes on EV imports than it does on vehicles with petrol or diesel engines.
Despite this, demand for EVs is growing, and manufacturers – from Mercedes-Benz to Volvo, and BMW to Jaguar – are rapidly introducing electric models into the South African market. But they’re still not cheap.
The most affordable EV available in South Africa is the Mini Cooper SE Hatch 3-door, and it costs R723 000. All other EV models sold in South Africa cost at least R1-million.
TechCentral has created a list of all EVs available for sale in South Africa, along with their pricing, their range and their performance figures. Below we list them, in order from cheapest to most expensive.
TechCentral will publish this list quarterly to reflect the latest models and pricing — look out for the next one in March 2023.
Mini Cooper SE Hatch 3-door
- Price: R723 000
- Power: 135kW
- Time to 100km/h: 7.3 seconds
- Top speed: 150km/h
- Range: Up to 215km (claimed)
Mini Cooper SE Hatch 3-door Resolution
- Price: R726 300
- Power: 135kW
- Time to 100km/h: 7.3 seconds
- Top speed: 150km/h
- Range: Up to 215km (claimed)
The Mini Cooper SE is the most affordable, new, fully electric vehicle in South Africa. BMW Group, which owns Mini, has installed the lithium-ion high-voltage battery pack and the electric motor from the BMW i3 S into a Mini Cooper body. Range is disappointing compared to other models in this list, but it is the cheapest. (The BMW i3 is no longer for sale in South Africa.)
Volvo XC40 P6 Recharge Plus
- Price: R1.075-million
- Power: 170kW
- Time to 100km/h: 7.4 seconds
- Top speed: 160km/h
- Range: Up to 423km (claimed)
If you decide to go the EV route, the P6 Recharge model offers a more practical solution than the Mini: a vehicle that can travel much further, while maintaining good performance and a wealth of technological and comfort features.
Mercedes-Benz EQA 250 Progressive
- Price: R1.169-million
- Power: 140kW
- Time to 100km/h: 8.6 seconds
- Top speed: 160km/h
- Range: Up to 486km (claimed)
Mercedes-Benz EQA 250 AMG Line
- Price: R1.222-million
- Power: 140kW
- Time to 100km/h: 8.6 seconds
- Top speed: 160km/h
- Range: Up to 486km (claimed)
Billed by Mercedes as its new entry-level electric model, the Stuttgart-based firm describes the EQA as a “close relation of the GLA”, saying it shares that model’s “robust structure”.
Volvo XC40 P8 Recharge Twin AWD
- Price: R1.26-million
- Power: 300kW
- Time to 100km/h: 4.8 seconds
- Top speed: 180km/h
- Range: Up to 400km (claimed)
The P8 Recharge brings all-wheel drive to XC40 electric range. It’s also much more powerful, producing 300kW at peak.
BMW iX3 M Sport
- Price: R1.29-million
- Power: 210kW
- Time to 100km/h: 6.7 seconds
- Top speed: 180km/h
- Range: Up to 460km (claimed)
The iX3 M Sport is the all-electric version of BMW’s popular executive SUV, the X3. It claims to retain the best qualities of the X3 in combination with an advanced battery-electric powertrain. Models sold in South Africa are manufactured in China.
Mercedes-Benz EQB 350 4Matic Progressive
- Price: R1.374-million
- Power: 215kW
- Time to 100km/h: 6.2 seconds
- Top speed: 160km/h
- Range: Up to 485km (claimed)
Mercedes-Benz EQB 350 4Matic AMG Line
- Price: R1.427-million
- Power: 215kW
- Time to 100km/h: 6.2 seconds
- Top speed: 160km/h
- Range: Up to 485km (claimed)
Mercedes-Benz EQB 350 4Matic Edition 1
- Price: R1.518-million
- Power: 215kW
- Time to 100km/h: 6.2 seconds
- Top speed: 160km/h
- Range: Up to 485km (claimed)
Built in Hungary, the EQB measures 4.68m (length) x 1.83m (width) x 1.67m (height), giving it the same lengthy wheelbase of the petrol-and diesel-powered GLB models. Like the GLB, the electric version ships with five seats as standard but is optionally available as a seven-seater.
BMW i4 M50
- Price: R1.6-million
- Power: 400kW
- Time to 100km/h: 3.8 seconds
- Top speed: 225km/h
- Range: Up to 620km (claimed)
The German automaker’s attempt to meld its performance attributes with the emerging electric era has resulted in the creation of the BMW i4 M50. It’s the first “battery-electric M car” from BMW, making it a significant design.
Mercedes-Benz EQC 400 4Matic (including AMG Line)
- Price: R1.679-million
- Power: 300kW
- Time to 100km/h: 5.1 seconds
- Top speed: 180km/h
- Range: Up to 530km (claimed)
The EQC debuted four years ago as the first fully electric model from the German firm’s since-expanded EQ sub-brand. The vehicle has more than 100 components that have been produced from resource-friendly materials.
BMW iX xDrive40
- Price: R1.7-million
- Power: 240kW
- Time to 100km/h: 6.1 seconds
- Top speed: 200km/h
- Range: Up to 500km (claimed)
The BMW iX xDrive40 is the more affordable of the two electric iX vehicles (the iX xDrive50 is featured later in this list). The main distinctions between them are the lithium-ion battery’s capacity and the electric motors’ output: the 385kW iX50 has a larger battery pack and a significantly longer claimed range.
Audi e-tron 55 quattro Advanced
- Price: R1.99-million
- Power: 300kW
- Time to 100km/h: 5.6 seconds
- Top speed: 200km/h
- Range: Up to 520km (claimed)
Audi e-tron 55 quattro S line
- Price: R2.045-million
- Price: 300kW
- Time to 100km/h: 5.7 seconds
- Top speed: 200km/h
- Range: Up to 520km (claimed)
The e-tron Sportback 55 quattro S line was one of the first EVs Audi introduced in South Africa. The driver is greeted by well-known styling and controls, and passengers enjoy plenty of room, comfort and luxury as the 300kW dual-motor electric vehicle sprints to a sub-5.7s 0-100 km/h time.
Jaguar I-Pace EV400 AWD S Black
- Price: R2.074-million
- Power: 294kW
- Time to 100km/h: 4.8 seconds
- Top speed: 200km/h
- Range: Up to 446km (claimed)
The Jaguar I-Pace, which was introduced in South Africa at the end of 2018, has served as something of a trailblazer for battery electric vehicles (BEVs) in the republic. There aren’t any significant visual changes (aside from the slightly modified grille), but the BEV’s infotainment system has been updated, it charges more quickly, and new driver assistance technologies have been added – all small but important adjustments to keep the Jaguar on the cutting edge.
Audi e-tron Sportback 55 quattro S line
- Price: R2.115-million
- Power: 300kW
- Time to 100km/h: 5.7 seconds
- Top speed: 200km/h
- Range: Up to 520km (claimed)
The Audi e-tron Sportback 55 features a 95kWh battery, one of the largest on offer. The DC charger charges at 60kW/hour. This equates to around one and a half hours to fully charge the vehicle. However, it is very seldom that you will arrive at the charger with a completely empty battery.
Porsche Taycan
- Price: R2.179-million
- Price: 300kW
- Time to 100km/h: 5.4 seconds
- Top speed: 230km/h
- Range: Up to 484km (claimed)
The Porsche Taycan is an attractive electric vehicle. It’s a GT with the heart of a sports car and can thrill you in spades on the right road. What’s more, it’s a genuine Porsche that just so happens to be electric.
BMW iX xDrive50
- Price: R2.225-million
- Power: 385kW
- Time to 100km/h: 4.6 seconds
- Top speed: 200km/h
- Range: Up to 630km (claimed)
The pricier of the two iX models available in South Africa provides more power and is quicker off the line.
Audi e-tron S Sportback quattro
- Price: R2.425-million
- Power: 370kW
- Time to 100km/h: 4.5 seconds
- Top speed: 210km/h
- Range: Up to 380km (claimed)
Audi’s e-tron in Sportback guise and in all-wheel drive is quick to 100km/h.
Porsche Taycan 4 Cross Turismo
- Price: R2.449-million
- Power: 350kW
- Time to 100km/h: 5.1 seconds
- Top speed: 220km/h
- Range: Up to 484km (claimed)
Taycan 4S:
- Price: R2.519-million
- Power: 390kW
- Time to 100km/h: Four seconds
- Top speed: 250km/h
- Range: Up to 484km (claimed)
Taycan 4S Cross Turismo
- Price: R2.549-million
- Power: 420kW
- Time to 100km/h: 4.1 seconds
- Top speed: 240km/h
- Range: Up to 484km (claimed)
The Cross Turismo and base Taycan are nearly mechanically identical. With the same motors and power outputs across the same four models, the same 93.4kWh battery is mounted underneath (for the 4, 4S, Turbo and Turbo S, see later in this list). The suspension is also shared (double wishbone front, multilink rear) with adaptive air springs and four-wheel steering. New wheel mounts, strut supports and a modified self-levelling system are the only significant modifications.
Mercedes-Benz EQS 450+ sedan
- Price: R2.615-million
- Power: 245kW
- Time to 100km/h: 6.2 seconds
- Top speed: 210km/h
- Range: Up to 782km (claimed)
The EQS is not an electrified S-Class, but rather an S-Class-sized luxury saloon riding on a new platform big enough to contain a massive 107.8kWh battery in its enormous wheelbase. It’s a 5m-long riposte to all the EV newcomers. Mercedes is here for the new era, and it’s thrown everything it’s got at this flagship.
Audi e-tron GT quattro
- Price: R2.715-million
- Power: 350kW
- Time to 100km/h: 4.5 seconds
- Top speed: 245km/h
- Range: Up to 472km (claimed)
The “entry level” e-tron GT quattro and the full-fat RS e-tron GT — later in this list — are the only two variants of the vehicle, at least initially. Both feature a 93kWh battery as standard – no shorter-range 79kWh or rear-wheel drive option like the Taycan here.
Mercedes-Benz EQS 450+ sedan AMG Line
- Price: R2.755-million
- Power: 245kW
- Time to 100km/h: 6.2 seconds
- Top speed: 210km/h
- Range: Up to 586km (claimed)
The EQS 450+ sedan in AMG cladding.
BMW i7 xDrive60
- Price: R2.825-million
- Power: 400kW
- Time to 100km/h: 4.7 seconds
- Top speed: 240km/h
- Range: Up to 625km (claimed)
BMW i7 xDrive60 M Sport
- Price: R2.9-million
- Power: 400kW
- Time to 100km/h: 4.7 seconds
- Top speed: 240km/h
- Range: Up to 625km (claimed)
The electric version of BMW’s 7 Series is built on the same underpinnings as the internal combustion engine versions of the vehicle. This is in contrast to Mercedes-Benz, which developed a unique all-electric limo in the EQS.
Porsche Taycan GTS
- Price: R3.059-million
- Power: 440kW
- Time to 100km/h: 3.7 seconds
- Top speed: 250km/h
- Range: Up to 484km (claimed)
Porsche Taycan Turbo
- Price: R3.329-million
- Power: 500kW
- Time to 100km/h: 3.2 seconds
- Top speed: 260km/h
- Range: Up to 507km (claimed)
Porsche Taycan turbo Cross Turismo
- Price: R3.359-millon
- Power: 500kW
- Time to 100km/h: 3.3 seconds
- Top speed: 250km/h
- Range: Up to 485km (claimed)
Audi RS e-tron GT quattro
- Price: R3.359-million
- Power: 440kW
- Time to 100km/h: 3.3 seconds
- Top speed: 250km/h
- Range: Up to 472km (claimed)
This is the first electric Audi to sport the RS badge. Both have a motor at either end for four-wheel drive and the same two-speed gearbox as the Taycan on the rear axle to maximise acceleration off the line and elevate efficiency at higher speeds.
Mercedes-Benz AMG EQS 53 4Matic+ sedan
- Price: R3.41-million
- Power: 484kW
- Time to 100km/h: 3.8 seconds
- Top speed: 220km/h
- Range: Up to 586km (claimed)
For many years, the S-Class has been setting new standards for luxury, technology and safety. It was only a matter of time with the Mercedes EQ line-up before we saw the S-Class of EVs, and the first electric vehicle from Mercedes to sport the coveted AMG emblem, most likely because “AMG” was long associated with roaring V8s.
Porsche Taycan turbo S
- Price: R4.134-million
- Power: 560kW
- Time to 100km/h: 2.8 seconds
- Top speed: 260km/h
- Range: Up to 484km (claimed)
Not everything the Taycan Turbo S offers is pure speed. Once you sit in the driver’s seat, it’s obvious you’re in a Porsche first and an electric car second. This is a purpose-built driving machine that just so happens to be driven by electricity, not a science fair experiment that happens to move absurdly fast. – © 2022 NewsCentral Media