SA's most affordable electric car arriving soon

FROM an initial slow uptake of Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) in South Africa, they’re starting to make some inroads with a substantial year-on-year growth, albeit from a low base.

- WILLEM VAN DE PUTTE

Mostly, South Africans are turning to hybrid cars, with full BEVs seen as being expensive, and despite a relatively high number of charging stations, range anxiety is still a thing.

Urban EV

However, BEVs do make sense as a city runabout, which makes the announcement by BYD that it will be introducing the compact EV Atto 1 to South Africa, called the Dolphin Mini elsewhere, an interesting proposition.

According to BYD, it’s tailor-made for urban life to make EV ownership affordable, accessible, and fun for more South Africans.

Grade levels

BYD have not indicated which model they will be bringing in, but there are two available with the entry-level GL and higher-specced GS version.