- A recent study by Ford highlights how many South Africans are still keen on buying an electric vehicle.
- The lack of a solid charging infrastructure, however, remains an issue for many.
- Towing capacity and off-road capabilities were also cited as features wanted on more EVs in SA.
In recent years the number of new electric vehicle (EV) models being launched in South Africa has risen significantly. This is rather interesting given the lack of charging infrastructure in the country, as well as the always looming threat of loadshedding.
Those two elements, coupled with EVs normally carrying a higher price tag than petrol/diesel options, still does not seem to put many South Africans off the idea of buying an electric vehicle or hybrid.
This is according to recent survey conducted by Ford South Africa. The motoring company ran the survey during April/May of 2024, covering 1 470 people across Australia, Saudi Arabia, Philippines, New Zealand, South Africa, South Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, and the United Arab Emirates.
One of the key findings is that of 43 percent of South Africans surveyed are considering purchasing an electrified vehicle in the next five years.
“This research highlights the need for continued efforts to educate the public about electrified vehicles, address concerns about cost, range, and infrastructure, and promote the benefits of electric mobility,” noted Sunil Sewmohan, executive director for Product Marketing at Ford South Africa.
Some of the other data from the survey worth pointing out include the fact that more than 30 percent of respondents said they’ve ridden in an EV, with 19 percent stating they’ve driven one. Added to this, more than 70 percent said they’d read about electric vehicles, although we find that figure to be a little low considering how many models have been launched in SA of late.
As mentioned at the top of this story, infrastructure remains a significant issue. On this front, the survey found that almost half of respondents in South Africa said they weren’t aware of any public charging sites within 20 kilometres of their homes.
On top of this, 20 percent of respondents claimed to be concerned about the power grid, with 47 percent saying they were concerned about EV charging infrastructure.
Should efforts be made to address this, service stations look to be a popular location for future constructions, as they ranked highest as the preferred location for charging sites, followed by shopping centres, and office buildings.
Highlighting loadshedding once again, almost three-quarters of those surveyed said the possibility of future loadshedding in South Africa would impact the decision to choose a battery-powered vehicle.
The last elements from the survey worth pointing out include what local drivers are looking for from EVs, with 71 percent of respondents noting that they would be “more likely” to purchase an EV with greater towing capacity, and 70 percent said they are looking for their first electric vehicle to be off-road capable.
Finally, saving money by not buying fuel was rated as a top benefit of owning an EV, although many local drivers have cited maintenance costs for electric vehicles being higher in the long run as a concern.
With the survey backing up theories we’ve long held for EV adoption in South Africa, it certainly looks like local motorists are keen on the technology, but the rest of the ecosystem around an electric vehicle would need to be addressed first by the necessary stakeholders.
