The affordable electric-car maker EV.Africa (EVA) is opening its doors on local soil in June with a range of compact vehicles and scooters that are set to “revolutionize” the market.
Among these will be the City Blitz four-seater hatchback, which EVA said is now “officially the cheapest electric car in South Africa.” For reference, the current holder of this title is the R716,900 GWM Ora – a full-size hatchback with 400km of range.
EVA is also expected to debut bakkie and panel van configurations of the City Blitz next month, alongside two electric scooters badged City Buzz 1 and 2.
City Blitz specifications
The EVA City Blitz four-seater is a similar offering to the Eleksa CityBug that launched in the country last year at a starting price of R230,000.
Quite small by most standards, the Blitz is 2,245mm long, 1,290mm wide, and 1,570mm high with a ground clearance of 150mm and a minuscule kerb weight of 650kg.
All variants of the vehicle including the bakkie and panel van are equipped with a 10kWh lithium-iron-phosphate battery which powers a 7.5kW motor.
The setup affords 160km of driving range (150km for the bakkie and van) as well as a maximum speed of 80km/h, and it’s rechargeable in four to six hours on a standard 220V outlet with a maximum lifetime of 2,000 charge cycles.
The EVs can also traverse inclines of 20 degrees, but due to the relatively low driving range and top speed, the Blitz series is intended for inner city and suburban roads only and “are not permitted for South African highway driving,” said EVA.
EVA City Blitz Panel Van
Inside the cabin, owners have access to an LCD media hub with Bluetooth, two speakers, an LCD driver’s display, manual aircon, electric windows, and rear parking sensors with on-screen indicators.
EVA has yet to announce pricing for the Blitz range but confirmed it will be covered by a 4-year/60,000km warranty.
As with a more traditional EV, the City Blitz still requires a standard driver’s licence to operate on public roads.
EVA City Blitz Bakkie
City Buzz specifications
The City Buzz electric scooter range is offered in commuter and commercial applications, the former being the Buzz 1 and the latter the Buzz 2.
The Buzz 1 gets a removable battery ranging from 1.2-3.6kWh lending it a maximum driving range of 100 kilometres. Charging the scooter from 0-100% on a 220V plug takes up to three hours, and the 2.1kW motor allows a top speed of 60km/h and a loading capacity of 150kg including passengers.
It further features a reverse gear, Sport and Eco drive modes, LED lights, and a USB port.
EVA City Buzz 1
The Buzz 2 boasts a battery with a capacity of 1.4-6.0kWh resulting in a higher range of 120km, and its 3kW motor ensures a top speed of 80km/h.
The commercially-focused scooter supports a payload of up to 250kg and to complement this it comes with a front basket and rear load box as standard.
It can also climb inclines of 23 degrees (25 degrees for the Buzz 1) with one rider on board, and features LED lights and a remote alarm.
EVA has yet to announce pricing for the Buzz range but confirmed it will be covered by a 2-year/20,000km warranty.
EVA City Buzz 2
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