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Driving Electric in SA
We all know by now that research has shown that electric vehicles (EV) are better for the environment. They emit fewer greenhouse gases and air pollutants than petrol or diesel cars, but let’s talk about the nitty-gritty. How much do they cost to run? How does charging work? We give you all the numbers you need to know.
The Cost of Driving an EV
EVs are better for the environment and cost less to run, both in terms of energy usage and maintenance. EVs, unlike internal combustion vehicles, do not have a lot of moving parts that cause friction, so there is no need for an oil change. The carbon emissions of an EV are around 17–30% lower than driving a petrol or diesel car.
Based on current electricity tariffs*, it costs you less per kilometre when charging your EV at home than the price of petrol per kilometre in a comparable vehicle.
Municipal electricity base rates are R3.00per kWh, however, this differs per municipality location for EV owners who charge their vehicles at home overnight. For most of the chargers on the Grid Cars network, you can expect to pay up to R6.35 per kWh.
To calculate the cost per kilometre of range, click here.
Charging
We know how important it is to be able to charge up conveniently, which is why we have made it simple for you to charge at home, at work or on the go.
Public Charging
There are currently over 250+ fast-charging stations around South Africa and around 10 fast-charging stations between Johannesburg and Cape Town. Find a charging station near you here.
Private Charging
You already have everything you need to charge your all-electric MINI at home. We include a standard charging cable and adapter which plugs into any conventional 230-volt power socket.You can get 50 km of range with just 2.5 hours of slow charging at your home or office. If you charge it overnight, just like you do your cellphone, you can easily drive around the city for several days.
Wallbox Benefits
For the best at-home charging experience, we recommend installing a wallbox. With a 3-phase 11-kilowatt wallbox, you can get up to 3-times faster charging times. A full charge on your all-electric MINI will take just 3.5 hours.
A wallbox is also designed with safety and convenience in mind. It manages the high voltage load with a fault circuit breaker and special heating protection.
We offer financing of a wallbox with your MINI to make owning your personal filling station easy.