As the Middle East conflict continues to affect global oil supply, influencing local fuel prices, many South Africans are considering more affordable alternatives.
The simplest change, albeit a bit of a horizontal one, is to trade in a less economical vehicle for a more efficient one.
This shift could see drivers halve their fuel spend immediately, should they trade a car with an average consumption of 10.00l/100km for one that only uses 5.0l/100km.
An increasingly common shift for motorists is hybrid adoption, whether that be a traditional hybrid electric (HEV) or plug-in hybrid (PHEV).
These offer drivers much better fuel economy than their petrol counterparts – as little as 1.0l/100km when using electric-only driving – allowing buyers to save money on fuel in the long term.
It must be noted that often hybrids, and PHEVs in particular, represent an expensive switch, and not the ideal choice for short-term savings.
Then, of course, comes the complete transition away from petrol entirely, and switching to a fully-electric car (EV).
What was once a costly change to make has since become a much more affordable process, thanks to the introduction of affordable EVs in South Africa.
Budget options like the Geely E2 and BYD Dolphin Surf offer motorists the opportunity to leave petrol price volatility behind entirely for less than R350,000.
While the energy usage of around 15.0kWh may seem less economical than what petrol and hybrid cars get, the cost per kWh of electricity is significantly less than that of a litre of petrol.
The running cost per km driven in an electric car is also nearly half that of a traditional petrol car, a gap that keeps widening as long as petrol prices keep rising.
For drivers not looking to make a switch, there are other options available, including running a diesel vehicle on biofuels, or even converting a petrol car to run on an alternative fuel source – like gas.
Alternative fuel options in South Africa
Some alternative fuels are compatible with modern engines and can be used as is, without having to alter the fuel contents too much or convert the powertrain, while others require a near-complete overhaul.
One alternative that does not require too much alteration is biodiesel, which has been around for years and has been widely used as a fuel source for older diesel motors.
Biodiesel prices are around half the price of normal diesel, as it is produced from used vegetable oils or cooking grease.
Modern diesel engines tend not to like running on biodiesel, making it more suitable for older vehicles and off-road applications.
Similar to this bioethanol, though this is not too common in South Africa. It is an alcohol-based fuel produced through the fermentation of plant products like grains or sugarcane.
Buying it can be more expensive than petrol, depending on the source, but it may be cheaper to make at home.
The fuel alternatives that require major conversions include Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LP Gas), Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), or Hydrogen.
These involve intricate vehicle and powertrain overhauls to allow a vehicle to house and utilise gas fuels.
LP gas is a byproduct of crude oil refining and natural gas production, making it significantly cheaper per litre than petrol, while CNG is a common fuel source for public transport in countries like India due to its affordability.
Hydrogen is not commonly used as a fuel source, but it is available in South Africa and is being researched further for wider implementation.
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