South Africa’s cheapest vs most expensive electric car – the R5 million difference

South Africans can buy nearly 18 Geely E2 models – the country’s cheapest electric vehicle (EV) – for the price of a single Porsche Taycan Turbo GT – its most expensive EV.

While it may seem foolish to compare the two vastly different vehicles, their underpinnings are identical. Both are battery electric vehicles (BEVs), though this is where the similarities end.

The two vehicles are designed and produced for two opposite markets, with one meant to be an affordable option to help households escape sky-high petrol prices, while the other is meant to go as fast as possible.

Looking at them side-by-side – including their specifications and performance, not just their design and looks – these are two vastly different vehicles.

The R339,900 Geely E2 features a rear-mounted electric motor producing 85kW and 150Nm, giving it a 0-50km/h time of 4.6 seconds and a 0-100km/h time of 11.5 seconds.

The Chinese hatch has a top speed of 130km/h, meaning it can travel at the maximum speed allowed on South African motorways, and thanks to its 39.4kWh battery can drive up to 325km on the WLTP cycle.

This battery supports both AC and DC charging. A 7kW AC charger tops it up from 10% to 100% in around six and a half hours, while a 70kW DC cable completes a 30 to 80% recharge in 25 minutes.

The entry-spec EV rides on 15-inch steel wheels and features LED headlights and daytime running lights, LED taillights, keyless entry and start, manual aircon, fabric seats, rear parking sensors, and a reversing camera.

It also has four speakers, an 8.8-inch digital instrument cluster and a 14.6-inch infotainment screen with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and 4G connectivity.

By contrast, the German performance EV, which costs R6,024,000, is fitted with two powerful e-motors which combine to produce 760kW and 1,240Nm and drive the front and rear wheels.

The result is a 0-100km/h time in half the time it takes the E2 to get to 50km/h and a staggering 290km/h top speed.

Porsche has also fitted the electric GT car with a massive 105.0kWh battery, which gives it a total range of between 528 and 554km on the WLTP cycle.

This battery can be recharged from 0% to full in 6 hours using up to 22kW AC charging, or be recharged from 10% to 80% in 18 minutes using a DC charger with maximum output.

Standard features on the R6 million Porsche include 21-inch forged lightweight wheels, matrix LED headlights, full bucket seats, a GT multifunction sports steering wheel, Bose surround sound, and the Sport Chrono Package including Attack Mode and Track Endurance Mode.

R340,000 vs R6 million

While these two vehicles serve very different purposes, they fall within the same vehicle segment.

That said, someone in the market for one is surely not in the market for the other, though we stand to be corrected.

Below is a direct comparison between the two. Click on their underlined prices for more details about each individual model.

Geely E2

• Price – R339,900
• Power – 85kW/150Nm
• Acceleration (0-100km/h) – 11.5 seconds
• Top speed – 130km/h
• Battery – 39.4kWh
• WLTP Range – 325 km
• Energy consumption – 15.2 kWh/100km

Porsche Taycan Turbo GT

• Price – R6,024,000
• Power – 760kW/1,240Nm
• Acceleration (0-100km/h) – 2.3 seconds
• Top speed – 290km/h
• Battery – 105.0kWh
• WLTP Range – 554 km
• Energy consumption – 20.7-21.6 kWh/100km