A study from the IAA’s Munich Mobility Show reveals that in 2020, 1,509 electric cars were registered in South Africa.
As reported by BusinessTech, South Africa was the only country in Africa were new electric vehicle registrations took place during the year.
The US, China, and Europe led the electric vehicle rankings in the Munich Mobility Show report.
These regions have the following number of electric cars in them:
- China – 4.2 million
- Europe – 3.2 million
- US – 1.7 million
On a per capita basis, Norway leads the world with 81 electric cars per 1,000 inhabitants.
Iceland is in second place on 36.8 electric cars per 1,000 inhabitants, while Sweden is in third on 20.6.
Electric cars on offer in South Africa
The slow uptake of electric cars in South Africa, compared to developed countries, can be attributed to a range of factors.
Price is a large barrier to entry for many locals, with new electric cars starting at over R650,000.
This pricing is well above the value of the average new vehicle loan, which according to TransUnion sits at around R320,000.
Looking at the best-selling new vehicles in South Africa in 2020 reaffirms this notion.
VW’s Polo Vivo 1.4 Trendline was the best-selling passenger vehicle during the year, and retails for R220,300.
Another concern for local drivers is access to charging infrastructure and a stable electricity supply.
Eskom’s constant load-shedding creates uncertainty for businesses and individuals, and has created a scenario where people are not guaranteed access to uninterrupted power.
Additionally, while electric vehicle charging infrastructure is growing in the country, many areas are not covered.
The number of charging stations accessible at any given point in time is another factor, as an electric car can take over 30 minutes to get enough juice for the next part of its trip.
The list below provides an overview of the “entry-level” new electric cars on sale in South Africa.
- Mini Cooper SE Trim S – R658,000
- BMW i3 – R754,200
- Jaguar I-Pace S – R1,942,600
- Porsche Taycan – R2,227,000
Keyword: How many people are buying electric cars in South Africa