You can now buy this type of car for R200,000 in South Africa

South Africans considering buying an electric vehicle (EV) are in luck, as many affordable models have become available in recent months.

Earlier in the year, there were around 33 EVs available in South Africa for less than R500,000 on Cars.co.za.

This figure has since grown to 49 EVs for less than half a million rand on the popular car website, one of which is even a luxury brand.

Additionally, the listings for EVs under R1 million also saw substantial growth during this period, rising from 104 to 156.

These include EVs from popular brands such as Volvo, Mercedes-Benz, and BMW.

The increase in affordable EVs is also thanks to the arrival of models like the BYD Dolphin Surf.

While this is positive news, it still must contend with most South Africans’ general skeptical perception of EVs.

Many of these concerns are justified, such as questions around long-term support from new, lesser-known brands.

However, another contributor is the perceived deficiency in EV charging infrastructure, an issue that is declining each year as there are already over 400 such stations across the country.

Another concern is resale value, as EVs tend to depreciate faster than combustion engine cars.

The arrival of many new, more affordable EVs is likely to also hit the second-hand EV market, with the lower prices potentially disrupting the costs of similarly priced used models.

However, those looking to buy an EV will welcome this news as second-hand EVs will likely become even more affordable as prices adjust to remain competitive.

This is notable as EVs have much fewer mechanical parts and fewer maintenance issues to be concerned about, so buying second-hand is theoretically a safer option compared to regular petrol or diesel cars.

That said, it’s still best to thoroughly check a second-hand EV to ensure there isn’t anything faulty, paying particular attention to the state of its battery – the car’s most expensive component.

Browsing for used EVs

Among the deals currently available, there are several standouts, with the most affordable option being a BMW i3, which was listed at R207,900 with 130,462km on the clock.

This was only the cheapest, as there were many other i3s available for less than R300,000 listed on Cars.co.za.

The Jaguar i-Pace also saw a notable price drop, having fallen below the R500,000 mark with many listings.

It should be noted that only EVs capable of driving at least 100km/h were considered, so budget options such as the Eleksa CityBug were excluded.

The table below, provided by MyBroadband, summarizes the price drops relative to May and last month.