A standard Zero DS electric motorcycle has covered 436.5 km on a single charge, beating the previous Guinness World Record by more than 125 km. But the carefully planned overnight ride, downhill from the Alps at about 52 km/h, also shows how far peak range is from what riders can expect on South Africa’s long roads.
With record-high fuel prices hitting South Africa, the case for electric vehicles extends far beyond the pump. Explore twelve compelling reasons why the switch drives economic resilience, cleaner air, and sustainable growth for the country.
Discover the story of La Jamais Contente, the 1899 torpedo-shaped electric racer that shattered the 100 km/h barrier long before modern EVs hit the road.
Greg Cress spent R970 to drive his Volvo EX30 nearly 29 000 kilometres over two years. That is R970 total – not per month, and not per year.
A landmark Johannesburg emissions study has found that minibus taxis, just 10% of measured traffic, produce up to 40% of vehicle pollution in the city’s central and southern districts. The findings make the case for electrifying South Africa’s high-mileage taxi fleet, with projects like GoMetro’s eKamva and Golden Arrow’s electric buses already showing the model works.
Geely’s E2 electric hatchback has gone on sale in South Africa, priced from R339 900 for the Aspire and R389 900 for the range-topping Apex. Built on a dedicated EV platform, the E2 is larger than it looks: at 4 135 mm long with a 375-litre boot, a 1 320-litre folded capacity and a 70-litre frunk, it offers considerably more space than rivals at similar money. Power comes from an 85 kW rear-wheel-drive motor with a 39.4 kWh LFP battery, good for 325 km on the WLTP cycle.
The IEA’s new Sheltering from Oil Shocks report was written for governments, but its message lands squarely in South Africa’s backyard. With crude above $100 a barrel and our fuel import dependency fully exposed, the case for an accelerated EV transition has never been more concrete — or more urgent.
South Africa has no fuel efficiency standards, and our petrol is still at Euro 2 – a spec Europe retired in 1997. The result: manufacturers withhold their best engines, consumers pay more to go the same distance, and we breathe the difference. Here’s why that needs to change, and why electric vehicles are already part of the solution.
The Volvo EX30 Cross Country raises ground clearance to 190 millimetres, adds off-road protection, and costs R1 165 000. That’s premium Scandinavian engineering aimed directly at South Africa’s gravel roads and weekend escapes. Can a small electric crossover handle the Tankwa Karoo’s heat and isolation?
Musical theatre company Shy Music has made history by becoming the first theatrical production to tour across African borders using only battery-electric vehicles. The company’s 10-person cast and crew travelled to Gaborone, Botswana, for performances of ‘Calling Us Home’ at the Maitisong Festival in two Volvo EX90 fully-electric SUVs.