A look at SA's most affordable electric vehicle

THOSE of us in the industry have always maintained that for Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) to increase their market share in South Africa, it needs to be a small and affordable car that can attract the masses.

- WILLEM VAN DE PUTTE

Chinese Manufacturer BYD has now done exactly that with the launch of the compact hatchback Dolphin Surf, aimed directly at the vibrant urban market with two variants, both priced under R400 000.

As the country’s most affordable BEV, the Dolphin Surf comes in two variants: the Comfort and the Dynamic.

Power and range

The Comfort model features BYD’s 30kWh Blade Battery with a WLTP combined range of 232 kilometres, powered by a 55kW front-wheel-drive motor with a maximum DC charging rate of 30kW.

The Dynamic model is equipped with a 38.8 kWh Blade Battery, offering a WLTP combined range of 295 kilometres. It provides 55kW (75 PS) of power driving the front wheels and supports DC charging up to 40 kW, allowing for a 30-80% charge in 30 minutes.

It's also fitted with Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) functionality, which allows the car to act as a mobile power source for external devices.

Exterior