New Geely E2 goes on sale – the cheapest electric car in South Africa

Geely has officially launched the new E2 in South Africa.

The E2 is a compact, all-electric hatchback that intends to compete in South Africa’s entry-level EV market.

Prices start at R339,900, making it the cheapest electric vehicle in the country, undercutting the R341,900 BYD Dolphin Surf by R2,000.

“The model reflects Geely’s commitment to making electric mobility more accessible, while delivering the practicality and connectivity today’s drivers expect,” said the automaker.

Powertrain

The E2 is available in two specifications, the Aspire and Apex, both of which are equipped with a single rear-mounted electric motor.

This provides a total of 85kW and 150Nm, giving the car a 0-50km/h time of 4.6 seconds and a 0-100km/h time of 11.5 seconds.

It also has a top speed of 130km/h, meaning it can travel at the maximum speed allowed on South African motorways.

The two models also share a 39.4kWh battery, which provides a driving range of up to 325km on the WLTP cycle.

The battery supports both AC and DC charging. With a 7kW AC charger, you can top up the cells from 10% to 100% in around six and a half hours.

Alternatively, you can use a 70kW DC cable, which achieves a 30-80% recharge in 25 minutes.

Another selling point is that the E2 supports vehicle-to-load (V2L) charging, letting owners use the battery to power external devices.

Features

The new Geely measures 4,135mm in length, 1,805mm in width, and 1,580mm in height, putting it on par with B-segment hatchbacks like the VW Polo or Mazda 2.

Since they share a powertrain, the differences between the Aspire and Apex come down to features.

The base Aspire comes standard with 15-inch steel wheels, 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.

The boot can take 375 litres of luggage, which expands to 1,320 litres when the rear seats are folded.

Since it’s an EV, there is an additional 70 litres of storage in the “frunk” where you’d normally expect an engine.

The top-spec Apex will then add 16-inch alloy rims, two-tone paint, rear privacy glass, and chrome detailing on various components.

Inside, it has vegan leather upholstery, soft-touch surface materials an electric driver’s seat, a wireless charger, ambient lighting, and a six-speaker stereo.

Additionally, the Apex expands on the list of driving aids with adaptive cruise control, a 360-degree camera with a chassis view, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, forward collision warning, and intelligent high beam control.

Pricing

The South African pricing for the new Geely E2 is as follows:

• Geely E2 Aspire – R339,900
• Geely E2 Apex – R389,900

This includes a 4-year/150,000km vehicle warranty, an 8-year/200,000km battery warranty, a 3-year/200,000km service plan, and a 5-year/unlimited km roadside assistance plan.

Geely E2