A Pretoria couple successfully completed a 4,500km road trip in their BYD Dolphin Surf, South Africa’s most affordable EV, showcasing the practicality of electric vehicles for long-distance travel and highlighting the country’s growing charging infrastructure. The trip, from Pretoria to Cape Town and back, revealed the cost-effectiveness and performance of the EV while offering insights into the evolving landscape of electric mobility in South Africa.
Pretoria resident Johan Kasselman and his wife have successfully demonstrated the feasibility of long-distance travel in South Africa ‘s most affordable electric vehicle (EV), the BYD Dolphin Surf. Their recent 18-day, 4,500km journey from Pretoria to Cape Town and back, with a detour to Mossel Bay, showcases the practical application of EVs within the country’s existing charging infrastructure.
The Kasselmans’ experience offers valuable insights for potential EV owners, highlighting both the benefits and the considerations involved in adopting electric mobility for extended trips. This initiative serves as a practical example for people and as an inspiration for the government to invest more into the EV infrastructure development.Their chosen vehicle, the BYD Dolphin Surf Dynamic, priced at R389,900, sits at the higher end of the Dolphin Surf range, yet still maintains its position as the most budget-friendly EV in South Africa. The vehicle’s 38.8kWh battery boasts a claimed range of up to 295km under the WLTP cycle. However, as Kasselman points out, real-world highway driving conditions tend to reduce this range, with a more realistic expectation being closer to 60% to 70% of the WLTP figure, especially at speeds exceeding 100km/h. This necessitated a shift in their travel strategy, requiring them to stop every two and a half hours for charging. Although the Dolphin Surf has a relatively modest 40kW DC charging capability, it was still sufficient to bring the battery from near empty to 80% in approximately an hour, offering a balance between charging speed and convenience. The couple made good use of the charging time to explore the small towns, enhancing their journey in a positive way. Furthermore, the overall cost per kilometre remained cheaper compared to using a petrol car, thanks to a combination of home charging in Mossel Bay and access to free charging stations in Cape Town, resulting in an estimated saving of R1,500.The Kasselmans’ journey highlights the evolving state of South Africa’s EV charging network. The availability of charging stations, approximately every 200km along their route, eased their travel experience. However, they encountered occasional hiccups, such as the need to restart the charging process at certain stations. The experience underscores the importance of being prepared, carrying both the ChargePocket app and an RFID card for seamless charging. Despite these minor inconveniences, the Kasselmans found the charging experience generally pleasant. Their trip also shed light on range anxiety, with Kasselman noting their primary concern was the availability of chargers, which fortunately never posed an issue. They appreciated the Dolphin Surf’s performance, particularly its responsiveness on mountain passes and during overtaking maneuvers. This experience not only showcased the practicality of the BYD Dolphin Surf for long-distance travel but also highlighted the growing infrastructure and the overall economic benefits of electric mobility in South Africa, which can inspire people to change to EVs and reduce the air pollution.Another significant takeaway from the Kasselmans’ experience is the cost-effectiveness of EV ownership. Despite the charging cost of around R7 to R8 per kWh at public stations, the overall running cost per kilometre proved to be lower than that of their petrol vehicle. The Kasselmans’ adventure provides additional validation to the economic advantages of EVs in general and can inspire people to change from petrol cars to EVs. Furthermore, it underscored that the use of an EV can contribute to the wellbeing of a community, as it allows people to explore more places during the charging time. This journey provides positive evidence to encourage EV growth in South Africa, proving that it is possible to travel long distances while saving money at the same time and making a positive contribution to the environment
EV Electric Vehicle BYD Dolphin Surf South Africa Long Distance Travel
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