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WATCH: A new Range Rover is coming to South Africa and its much sexier than anything you’ve ever seen

vuyi on October 28, 2021

Range Rover is the original luxury SUV and has led by example for 50 years, combining serene comfort and composure with all-conquering capability. The new Range Rover is the most desirable yet, mixing breath-taking modernity and aesthetic grace with technological sophistication and seamless connectivity.

With a suite of powertrain options – and a pure-electric Range Rover set to join the line-up in 2024 – plus a choice of four, five or seven-seat interiors available across Standard and Long Wheelbase body designs.

In South Africa the new Range Rover will be available in a choice of new Extended Range Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) powertrains, the P440e and P510e, and the Ingenium diesel D350 engine. A powerful new petrol flagship – the P530 Twin Turbo V8 – delivers increased refinement & performance and is 17% more efficient than the previous Range Rover V8.

The new Range Rover is the first Land Rover to be powered by a new 4.4-litre V8 engine, which deploys two parallel twin-scroll turbos – one for each cylinder bank – to minimise turbo lag and optimise efficiency. The new engine produces 390kW and 750Nm of torque, and powers the new Range Rover from 0-100km/h in 4.6s with Dynamic Launch engaged.  It has a top speed of 250km/h.

The powerful D350 diesel produces 257kW and 700Nm of torque, and powers new Range Rover from 0-100km/h in 6.1s. 

The new Extended-Range PHEVs combine the inherent refinement of Land Rover’s in-line six-cylinder Ingenium petrol engine, in a choice of 323kW or 375kW outputs, with a 38.2kWh lithium-ion battery – with usable capacity of 31.8kWh – and a 105kW electric motor integrated with the transmission. Together, the powertrain provides up to 100km of near-silent pure-electric driving. With instantaneous electric torque the new P510e (375kW) accelerates from 0-100km/h in 5.6s.

All powertrains are driven through a smooth and responsive eight-speed ZF automatic gearbox and twin-speed transmission.

The new Range Rover will be launched in South Africa towards mid-2022. Pricing will be available closer to the time.

Lexus SA commits to planting trees for each Hybrid sold

vuyi on October 8, 2021

Lexus South Africa has committed to plant enough Spekboom trees for every hybrid model sold locally; in an effort to offset each of the vehicles’ carbon emissions for at least one year.

Lexus, a subsidiary of Toyota, who have already announced plans to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, is equally committed to the Paris Agreement (international treaty on climate change) and its call to the world to reduce the emission of gases that contribute to global warming.

As part of this commitment, Lexus SA has launched a campaign on various media platforms, to conscientise the local market about its drive to plant Spekboom for every hybrid vehicle sold. As of mid-August 2021, Lexus South Africa had already planted more than 6 000 Spekboom plants at the Owl Rescue Centre in Hartbeespoort.

Spekboom are succulent plants that help remove carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and can absorb between four and 10 tonnes of carbon per hectare. They are excellent soil-binding plants for preventing soil erosion, can grow as tall as five metres and can live up to 200 years.

What is also telling in the context of alternative vehicle propulsion and electrified mobility is that Lexus has been a pioneer and an innovator in the luxury car market since the launch of the RX 400h in 2005. The brand’s electrified vehicles have accounted for a cumulative global reduction of carbon dioxide emissions of approximately 19 million trees.

In 2020, 33% of global Lexus vehicle sales were electrified variants. As a luxury brand, Lexus in South Africa has been a leading light in electric vehicles, further cementing TSAM’s commitment to carbon neutrality.

Internationally, Lexus has eclipsed the major milestone of two million global sales of electrified vehicles at the end of the first quarter of 2021, reflecting a commitment to the reduction of carbon emissions across a significant number of luxury segments. This is a clear indication that like the parent-brand Toyota, Lexus is firmly on the path to carbon neutrality.

Celebrating 9th September – World EV Day – The global movement driving change

vuyi on September 9, 2021

After the enormous success of the inaugural World EV Day, ABB continues its headline partnership with sustainability media agency, Green.TV, for the 2021 World EV Day, to be held on 9th September.

World EV Day is a global movement, driving change, together. A day of celebration of emobility, and a day to shift the transition to sustainable transport with consumer, business and policy outcomes.

In 2021, World EV Day is asking businesses across the world how they will #DriveChange to support emobility, and sharing stories from real EV owners about their journeys on the road to #GoEV.

In 2020, World EV Day became a global focus for raising awareness around e-mobility and the important role it plays for the future of sustainable transport.

– Frank Muehlon, President of ABB’s eMobility Division

Also, the 2021 campaign focuses on education, accessibility and sustainability as the headline themes for the 2021 World EV Day campaign. The day, continuing its work to deliver action will be focused on motivating more people to engage with e-mobility and to support sustainable transport solutions for all.

World EV Day works with its partners to either create digitally led creative campaigns, or provides the tools and channels for our partners to work on their own campaigns.

With 2021 also being the year that the global community comes together with COP26 – the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties – World EV Day will contribute to enhancing progress towards sustainable mobility and focus on decarbonization.

Frank Muehlon, President of ABB’s eMobility Division, comments: “We are committed to enabling low-carbon societies and driving the further adoption of e-mobility solutions is a crucial part of achieving this objective. In 2020, World EV Day became a global focus for raising awareness around e-mobility and the important role it plays for the future of sustainable transport. The initiative was a huge success across the e-mobility community, and something ABB is delighted to continue supporting as headline partner.”

I’m thrilled that ABB are continuing their headline partnership for the 2021 World EV Day

– Ade Thomas, Founder of Green.TV and of World EV Day

Green.TV, the creators of World EV Day, will be working with leading global companies, and organizations, to plan a series of content streams, and events, to accelerate the transition to sustainable transport with consumer, business and policy outcomes.

Ade Thomas, Founder of Green.TV, and of World EV Day, said: “I’m thrilled that ABB are continuing their headline partnership for the 2021 World EV Day. In its inaugural year, the campaign became an international movement, with a media reach of 1.9 billion: the most successful automotive digital communications activity of the year.”

Meet the future: Audi e-tron range heading to South Africa

vuyi on August 5, 2021

For over 100 years, Audi’s history has been marked by prestige, automotive ambition and technological excellence.

Audi South Africa is fully embracing the global drive towards premium sustainable mobility and looks forward to progressing this topic locally in an effort to reshape the way South Africans view electric vehicles. 

“Across the world, the automotive industry is announcing plans to phase out combustion engines to advance the transformation of the industry for the future. As Audi South Africa we see ourselves as being in a position to contribute to this global vision, and having the responsibility to do that. Not only are we aligned with the importance of sustainability, but we have the technology, performance and design credentials within our e-tron range, to offer our premium customers an all-electric drive that will inspire and excite,” said Sascha Sauer, Head of Audi South Africa.

Announcing our electric vehicle range is a key part our objective to have the youngest and freshest product offering in the market.

– Sascha Sauer, Head of Audi South Africa

As part of this local commitment, Audi South Africa will introduce a fully-fledged e-tron range in the local market and this will include:

Under the SUV category:        The Audi e-tron 50 and e-tron 55

Under the CUV category:        The Audi e-tron Sportback 55 and e-tron Sportback S

Under the high-performancecategory:     The Audi e-tron GT and Audi RS e-tron GT

This year has already been successful for the Audi brand in South Africa with many new product introductions, and the launch of these electric vehicles early in 2022 will be an exciting crescendo to this new model offensive.

“Announcing our electric vehicle range is a key part of our objective to have the youngest and freshest product offering in the market and we’re excited to share more details with our customers on our electric journey over the next few months, leading up to the e-tron range’s official model introduction in quarter one next year,” Sauer concluded.

Product specification and pricing associated with the e-tron range will be announced closer to retail launch. 

Five Must-Know Electric Vehicle Terms You Need To Know

vuyi on August 2, 2021

With the advent of electric vehicles in the mainstream, and the inevitable rise of EV population on South African roads comes some confusing terminology even the most avid petrolhead might grapple with. 

Vehicle terminology is confusing but lingo used in reference to green mobility is even more so. With the help of Jaguar South Africa, we decipher the seemingly confusing alphabet soup used to describe elements within the world of green mobility and offer some demystification with layman’s explanations of five must-know terms in the EV sphere.

kWh

Forget about what these three letters stand for. Just know that a kWh is a unit of energy and in EVs it’s used to measure the storage capacity of batteries. Think of it as the size of your “fuel tank” in your electric vehicle.

Where an F-PACE SVR uses an 82 litre fuel tank to supply petrol to its V8 Supercharged engine, an all-electric I-PACE gets its energy from a 90kWh battery pack positioned in the floor of the car.

The bigger the number, the more energy an EV can store, and this is an important thing to consider when researching EVs. A smaller battery back will be quicker to charge, but will offer less range, and vice-versa for a larger pack. For reference you could expect an electric motorcycle to have a battery with around 10kWh of capacity, and a long-haul truck (which doesn’t really exist yet) to need a battery size of many hundreds of kWh.

The three letters stand for kilowatt hours, by the way. 

kWh/100km

No, not an algebra equation from an exam you battled in school. kWh/100km is an intimidating string of letters and numbers which is actually just a way of measuring average efficiency just like we do regular petrol and diesel cars.

You’re probably familiar with the term litres per 100km, or l/100km for short, as it’s become a ubiquitous specification offered alongside common specs like power outputs and prices on window stickers of all cars sold today. 

Break down that scary equation and it’s as simple as kilowatt hours used per 100km of distance driven. It’s an ever-changing formula you’ll see displayed in your electric vehicle’s dashboard, and depending on how you drive the number preceding it will decrease when taking it easy and increase with spirited driving.

If we use a Jaguar I-PACE as an example, drivers can expect energy consumption figures ranging from around 16.8kWh per 100km to 32.2kWh/100km. The lower the number, the more efficiently you’re driving. Just like with litres per 100km for petrol and diesel cars.

AC/DC

We’re not talking about the famous rock band here. AC stands for Alternating Current and DC is Direct Current, but don’t get too caught up in the complexities of what that means. As we all get more familiar with electric vehicles, and in turn keeping them charged, these abbreviations will become commonly understood as slow and fast. 

AC chargers are the ‘wall box’ type you’ll have in your garage, and while they’re a bit slower to top up batteries, they’re generally smaller, cheaper and more convenient than their heavy-duty DC counterparts. 

We’re generalising a bit here, but DC chargers are often referred to as ‘rapid chargers’ and resemble traditional forecourt petrol pumps in appearance. You’ll most often find DC chargers in public places such as shopping malls and highway rest stops, where installation costs are more viable and electricity supplies are stronger than what average households can offer. 

The Jaguar Powerway, for instance, features a network of DC rapid chargers along frequently travelled inter-city routes in South Africa such as the N1, N2 and N3 highways.

Charge rates

This one is important, so listen up. Now that we understand AC and DC (hopefully), we’ll need to dig a little deeper into the world of charging rates or charging speeds in other words.

Most common household appliances that run on electricity are either on or off. You flip a switch and your kettle boils, using a steady supply of power as it goes. Recharging EV batteries is a little more complex, as they can accept varying rates of electricity flow – this should help explain why it’s difficult to answer the question “how long does it take to charge?”

Again, we’re generalising a little, but the three-prong wall socket your kettle’s plugged into delivers around 2.3kW of energy, and though an EV like the I-PACE can recharge at this rate it would take quite some time to fill from empty. On the flip side, an I-PACE can accept a maximum charge rate of 100kW, which will equate to much quicker recharging times but requires those big, expensive DC chargers mentioned previously.

Confused yet? Don’t be. In the future you’ll become very familiar with charge rates and how they differ from charging station to charging station, especially in public spaces. Most public chargers along the Jaguar Powerway can supply up to 60kW charge rates, where others from smaller independent providers might offer less.

Also, beware the fantastical claimed charging times dished up by some electric car makers. While it’s possible for some cars to accept incredibly impressive charge rates, it’s difficult to reliably install chargers that can supply this much energy in the real word… for now.

Brake regen

Imagine if your petrol-powered car could coast down a long hill and actually produce fuel as it goes. Well, electric cars can do just that.

Without getting too technical, electric motors like those in EVs can act like generators when run in reverse. Brake regen, or regeneration to be specific, uses the inertia of a moving vehicle to produce electricity when coasting or slowing down, and sends it back to the battery to be used again when accelerating.

In an actual test performed by Jaguar South Africa, an I-PACE returned 91.7kWh of regenerated electricity after driving a distance of 1,000km. In other words, the car’s brake regen system served up a free “tank” of electricity when driven along a 1,000km route with plenty of stopping, starting, cruising and slowing down.

Most EVs, Jaguar I-PACE included, will allow drivers to choose the level of brake regeneration applied while driving. When set to ‘low’ the car will coast freely in a way similar to petrol and diesel cars as we know them, but when set to ‘high’ there’s a strong sense of deceleration when the throttle pedal is released. In most situations it’s actually possible to drive without ever using the brake pedal at all.

Carbon is Our Enemy: Let’s Use Everything We’ve Got to Fight It!

vuyi on July 28, 2021

By Dr. Gill Pratt: Chief Executive Officer of Toyota Research Institute (TRI) and an Executive Fellow of Toyota Motor Corporation, shares his thoughts on the necessity of hybrids and plug-in to maximise our limited battery supply and reduce carbon.

I love electrified vehicles. I love them not only because I’ve worked on their development for decades, but because I’ve been deeply concerned about greenhouse gases and climate change since I first learned about them from my father, who worked for the Air Pollution Control division of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.

Today, I live with my family in California, and like my neighbors last year, we watched the sky turn orange with smoke due to extensive wildfires. On the opposite side of the spectrum, we now see unprecedented floods in Europe. Regardless of how much of today’s extreme weather events are directly attributable to climate change, I feel passionately that to prevent even worse catastrophes, we must achieve carbon neutrality, and soon.

Today, besides owning a Toyota Sienna Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV) and RAV4 Prime Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV), I also own a Tesla model X Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV). I love them all.

In line with my concerns, starting in the late 1980s as a graduate student, research scientist, and faculty member at MIT, I designed power electronics that helped MIT’s solar-electric vehicle team win races around the world. Later I helped our team captain, James Worden, create Solectria Corporation, which made electric vehicle components, early electric vehicles and photovoltaic inverters.

Today, besides owning a Toyota Sienna Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV) and RAV4 Prime Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV), I also own a Tesla model X Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV). I love them all.

You would think that with all my experience, I would be an enthusiastic proponent of ditching the Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) and switching as soon as possible to pure Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs). I am not.

Following Science

As a scientist, I know that as with many other natural and man-made systems, a diversity of EV drivetrain types is a better way to prevent climate change than a monoculture of only BEVs. Why is this? For two reasons: First, producing a battery cell costs money, uses natural resources, and produces significant greenhouse gases.

I love my Tesla Model X BEV. But commuting 30 miles in it every day — the average US commute — and recharging it every night is wasteful of the carbon reducing potential of most of its over 300-mile (482km) range battery.

Sometimes we take the Tesla on long trips. But most of the time, 90% of its battery cells aren’t doing any good, and would reduce carbon much more if they were harder at work in other types of electrified vehicles, including HEVs or PHEVs.

For example, we hardly ever put gas into our RAV4 Prime PHEV, which has a battery ⅙ as large as our Model X BEV

– Dr. Gill Pratt: Chief Executive Officer of Toyota Research Institute (TRI) and an Executive Fellow of Toyota Motor Corporation

Maximizing the benefit of every battery cell produced requires that we distribute them smartly.

This means putting them into a greater number of “right sized” electrified vehicles, including HEVs and PHEVs, instead of placing them all into a fewer number of long-range BEVs, like my model X. This is particularly important because presently it is difficult to recycle the kinds of batteries used in BEVs. If we are to achieve carbon neutrality, we must pay attention to all parts of the “3R” process — Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle.

For example, we hardly ever put gas into our RAV4 Prime PHEV, which has a battery ⅙ as large as our Model X BEV. For the same investment in batteries as our single Model X, five other RAV4 Prime customers could reduce their carbon footprint too.

Don’t I think we should try to increase battery production, lower the carbon footprint of electric power plants, and expand rapid charging stations as quickly as possible? Of course I do.

– DR. GILL PRATT: CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF TOYOTA RESEARCH INSTITUTE (TRI) AND AN EXECUTIVE FELLOW OF TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION

Second, what is best for the average person is not best for every person. Different people have different needs and different circumstances. In some parts of the world, people have access to highly renewable electric power and BEV rapid charging stations. In many other parts of the world, rapid chargers are rare, or electricity is generated with high carbon emissions resulting in BEVs putting more net carbon into the air over their lifetime than PHEVs and in some cases even HEVs.

So, even if the best choice for the average person someday becomes a BEV, it will not be the best way for every person to contribute to reducing carbon emissions, or for the most carbon emissions to be eliminated.

Don’t I think we should try to increase battery production, lower the carbon footprint of electric power plants, and expand rapid charging stations as quickly as possible? Of course I do.

Image: Toyota BZ4X Concept

But I also know that in many countries (including the US) much of the easier carbon reduction of electric power plants has already been achieved through conversion of coal and oil burners to natural gas (lowering carbon output by roughly half). Further improvement, such as conversion to green or blue hydrogen, or replacement of thermal power plants by new nuclear, photovoltaic, wind and geothermal plants will be harder, cost more, and take longer, at time scales comparable to and beyond the lifetime of new vehicles.

I believe, as does Toyota, that it would be a tremendous mistake for governments around the world to prescribe narrow solutions like insisting that all vehicles be BEVs.

– DR. GILL PRATT: CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF TOYOTA RESEARCH INSTITUTE (TRI) AND AN EXECUTIVE FELLOW OF TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION

Ending Carbon Emissions ASAP. So where does this leave us?

The atmosphere accumulates carbon over long periods of time, so the carbon we emit now will be with us for a century or more. Our responsibility is clear: We must eliminate carbon emissions as soon as possible. As a scientist, I know that, to paraphrase Einstein, the solution of how to eliminate carbon as soon as possible should be as simple as possible, but no simpler.

As a result, I believe, as does Toyota, that it would be a tremendous mistake for governments around the world to prescribe narrow solutions like insisting that all vehicles be BEVs. Instead, the better solution is to allow manufacturers to innovate across a diversity of drivetrains and drivers to choose the low-carbon drivetrain that suits their circumstances best.

Carbon is the enemy, not ICEs. In many parts of the world for some time to come, PHEVs and even HEVs will generate comparable or less lifetime carbon than BEVs. We have open-sourced a modeling and simulation tool that shows this. Now to be clear — I still love BEVs, and Toyota expects BEVs and FCEVs will make up 15% of its U.S. sales by 2030.

We are also heavily investing in R&D on new types of batteries, including solid-state batteries and AI tools for discovering and optimising battery performance. But neither Toyota nor I think this is all we should make. By keeping HEVs, PHEVs, BEVs, and FCEVs in the lineup, 70% of Toyota’s vehicles will be electrified by 2030.

This approach — of diverse solutions for diverse circumstances — is exactly what the phrase “think globally, act locally” means to me. And I sincerely believe it is the best way to reduce the most carbon emitted into the atmosphere as soon as possible.

Check out more pics of the Volvo XC40 Recharge Pure Electric

vuyi on March 12, 2021

The Volvo XC40 Recharge Pure Electric – the first all-electric car from the Swedish luxury brand – will be launched in South Africa in the second half of 2021

The XC40 Recharge will deliver a brisk performance, with its twin electric motors producing 304 kW (408 hp) of power and 660 Nm of torque to deliver a 0-100 km/h time of just 4.9 seconds

 

Volvo dealers will start taking orders for the XC40 Recharge in April. Deliveries will commence in August.

The price of the XC40 Recharge will be confirmed later this month.

Volvo XC40 Recharge Pure Electric is coming to South Africa!

vuyi on March 12, 2021

The Volvo XC40 Recharge Pure Electric – the first all-electric car from the Swedish luxury brand – will be launched in South Africa in the second half of 2021.

Volvo’s all-electric sport utility vehicle (SUV) has already demonstrated strong sales internationally. Thousands of orders were placed for the XC40 Recharge even before the formal start of sales in Europe last year. By the start of production in the company’s Ghent, Belgium, plant on October 1 last year, every car scheduled to be built that calendar year had already been sold.

According to Greg Maruszewski, Managing Director at Volvo Car South Africa, the XC40 Recharge Pure Electric is capable of travelling more than 400 km on a single charge. “It can be charged to 80% of its battery capacity in as little as 40 minutes using a fast charger,” he reveals.

The XC40 Recharge will deliver a brisk performance, with its twin electric motors producing 304 kW (408 hp) of power and 660 Nm of torque to deliver a 0-100 km/h time of just 4.9 seconds. While pleasing in the area of performance, the car scores highly in the field of practicality too.

Volvo Cars will launch a fully electric car every year, as we look to make all-electric cars 50 percent of global sales by 2025, with the rest hybrids.

– Greg Maruszewski, Managing Director at Volvo Car South Africa

For instance, the lack of an internal combustion engine frees up space for an additional 30-litre storage compartment – or ‘frunk’ – under the front bonnet, while the placement of the batteries under the centre of the car means space is not compromised elsewhere.

Owners will be able to charge the vehicle at a dealership, at home or at one of the ever-growing network of public charging stations. Volvo Car South Africa is also rolling out an extensive network of charging stations at its dealerships and, by the end of 2021, each Volvo dealership will have a charging station. 

The XC40 is the first of five fully electric cars to be launched by the Swedish company over the next five years. “Volvo Cars will launch a fully electric car every year, as we look to make all-electric cars 50 percent of global sales by 2025, with the rest hybrids. Recharge will be the overarching name for all chargeable Volvos with a fully electric and plug-in hybrid powertrain,” Maruszewski explains.

We look forward to bringing the huge benefits of electric driving – and more – to an already award-winning package.

– – GREG MARUSZEWSKI, MANAGING DIRECTOR AT VOLVO CAR SOUTH AFRICA

The launch of the XC40 Recharge is a significant step towards Volvo Cars’ ambition to reduce its CO2footprint per car by 40 percent by 2025. “That same year, it expects 50 percent of its global sales to consist of fully electric cars, with the rest hybrids. But 2030, the company aims to only build electric cars,” he elaborates. 

Maruszewski believes that the XC40 Recharge will find favour in South Africa. “South Africans are already firm fans of the internal combustion engine-powered XC40; it had an 8.40% share of its segment in 2019; that grew to 14.70% in 2020.

We look forward to bringing the huge benefits of electric driving – and more – to an already award-winning package,” he concludes.

Volvo dealers will start taking orders for the XC40 Recharge in April. Deliveries will commence in August.

The price of the XC40 Recharge will be confirmed later this month.

 

Meet the most affordable electric vehicle in South Africa: The MINI Cooper SE

vuyi on September 8, 2020

My interview with Hailey took place in the plush visitors area of their environmentally friendly dealership – MINI Midrand.

-songo didiza, Green Mobility Guru, Driving In Heels South Africa

I was invited by the PR team at MINI South Africa to review their first ever electric car – the MINI Cooper SE.

Having spent most of the national lockdown in my sneakers I wanted to grace the momentous occasion with a cross between a formal business look and environmentally fashionable dress sense.  I would be meeting Hailey Philander, Specialist: Product Communications (BMW i, BMW Motorrad and MINI) for the first time and as they say, first impressions count!

My interview with Hailey took place in the plush visitors area of their environmentally friendly dealership – MINI Midrand.  Over a welcome mug of cappuccino, Hailey shared that the BMW Group has already lowered emissions per vehicle produced by more than 70 percent since 2006.  Their next goal is to decrease emissions by a further 80 percent by 2030. 

After discussing their other long-term strategic plans, which include introducing zero emission vehicles by year 2030 it was time for me to put the MINI Cooper SE to the Heels & Horsepower Magazine’s Green Mobility Test. 

As much as I am a perfectionist for practicality, I am also a staunch advocate of ‘fashionable’ green mobility

songo didiza, Green Mobility Guru, Driving In Heels South Africa
First impressions

The first ever electric MINI looks like a standard MINI Cooper, with the exception of it being adorned with rather futuristic looking wheels – or heels as our editorial team prefers to call them. The look and feel of these 17-inch MINI Electric Power spoke 2-tone heels give the MINI Cooper SE its unique standing within the urban city environment.  Coincidentally the yellow trim on the all new electric MINI matched my green stockings! Clearly green minds think alike.  

As much as I am a perfectionist for practicality, I am also a staunch advocate of ‘fashionable’ green mobility.  While the new electric MINI does not scream for attention, it does effortlessly exude design elements which set it apart from any other MINI Cooper on the market. These include the embossed MINI Electric logo found on the front grille and on both front fenders.  To the rear, the MINI Cooper SE boasts a yellow S which can also be found on the door sills.  These small details tastefully differentiate the all new electric MINI from its siblings. 

Inside, the all new electric MINI Cooper SE is as spacious as any other.  Premium quality materials have been used throughout and give a welcome sense of familiarity to those who know the MINI brand.

I was impressed that the electric MINI has not lost an ounce of all that makes it a fun drive.  

– songo didiza, green mobility guru, driving in heels South Africa
The drive

To say I was excited to get behind the wheel of the all new electric MINI would be a gross understatement. It took a lot of effort, but I managed to curb my enthusiasm and remind myself of our publication’s criteria for the Green Mobility Test. These include driver-friendliness, technology, driving range and safety especially when navigating through bustling city traffic. 

The MINI ticked all these boxes within the first 30-minutes of my powering it along the highway and within rather tight urban spaces.  All the while, the grin on my face was a permanent feature.  Not only did I arrive to all my different destinations safely and on time I was impressed that the electric MINI has not lost an ounce of all that makes it a fun drive.  

The eery silence of electric cars is one of the global leading safety concerns for both the drivers, pedestrians and other road users.

– SONGO DIDIZA, GREEN MOBILITY GURU, DRIVING IN HEELS SOUTH AFRICA

Instead of a petrol or diesel, the MINI Cooper SE is propelled by a smooth flow of power courtesy of its 135kW motor.  This explains how the engineers at MINI have managed to retain the fun factor of the tried, tested and much-loved MINI go-kart feel! It accelerates from standing to 60 km/h in just 3.9 seconds and effortlessly keeps pace with conventionally powered cars. 

The eery silence of electric cars is one of the global leading safety concerns for both the drivers, pedestrians and other road users.  That said it seems MINI’s engineering team skillfully addressed some of these safety concerns. All components of the electric drive are protected by means of model-specific structural features and that immediately switch off in the event of a collision. 

Different driving modes increase the driving fun factor

The first purely electrically powered MINI also enables the driver to adapt the vehicle settings to the current situation on the road as well as to their own personal preferences. There are four driving modes to choose from in the electric MINI (MID, Sport, Green and Green+).  As I toggled from one mode to the next, I was delighted that the dashboard lit up in different colours, in accordance with which ever mode I had selected.   White is for MID, red is for Sport mode and green is for, you guessed it, Green and Green+.

In Green+ one sacrifices features such as air conditioning and seat heating in order to increase the driving range.

– songo didiza

I opted to drive in Green+ mode as this is the most environmentally friendly option. However, when in Green+ one sacrifices features such as air conditioning and seat heating in order to increase the driving range.  

MINI’s one pedal drive feature is enabled by BMW’s regenerative braking technology that can be found in all its Battery Electric Vehicles and Plug in Hybrid Vehicles.

MINI eDrive Services were specifically developed for the new all-electric MINI and make electro-mobility particularly easy and convenient

– Hailey Philander, Specialist: Product Communications (BMW i, BMW Motorrad and MINI)
What is Regenerative Braking and how does it work?

Part of the characteristic driving experience in an electrically powered BMW Group model is the so-called one-pedal feeling. In urban traffic in particular, the vehicle perceptibly decelerates as soon as the driver removes their foot from the accelerator. This is called regenerative braking technology.

It is called regenerative because the energy is recaptured in the battery where it can be used again. The motor is directly coupled to the wheels, so when you lift your foot off the pedal, it works like a generator and lets the all-electric MINI slow down more quickly than a fuel-powered car would. You put some power back into your battery every time you come to a stop at the next set of traffic lights.  A proper implementation of regenerative braking system extends driving range, improves braking efficiency, reduces brake wear, and improves energy conservation.

Ease of Charging – how to keep your electric charge while navigating through city effortlessly

South Africa is very much in the early stages of electric mobility compared to its US and European counterparts, however it is a first mover on the African continent.   

“MINI eDrive Services were specifically developed for the new all-electric MINI and make electro-mobility particularly easy and convenient. For instance, it provides useful details such as available range, charging status and the closest charging station,” Hailey said.

For a city executive, this makes the drive even more practical.  The home charging is also a seamless and simple process (unless of course, you are experiencing load-shedding). One does not actually need any complex installation or unit to charge at home. All you have to do is plug into any conventional household power socket – and relax after a long busy day at the office. I can wake up, fully rested in the morning to a ‘full tank’ of 270km driving range to start the day which can be sufficient for a week’s drive of my daily 33km city commute. 

For a faster charge MINI recommends a 3-phase 11 kW MINI Wallbox connection will generally give you up to 3-times faster charging time. So, your all-electric MINI can be fully charged within around 3.5 hours. These MINI Wallboxes need to be installed by a qualified electrician. 

The MINI navigation system provided me with direct access to all charging stations in the MINI Charging network as well those of the broader BMW charging network since MINI is part of the BMW Group. 

Leaping into the new decade we can anticipate greater amount of driving range between the Battery Electric Vehicles, Plug in Hybrid Electric Vehicles in response to changing demands of the African city business executives looking towards making an affordable eco-conscious motoring purchase.  

Pros and Cons of purchasing Electric Vehicles in South Africa  

Before you rush off to your nearest MINI dealership to buy your favorite go-kart in greenie derivative, be aware that the South African government currently views earth friendly cars as luxury items. As a result, green cars attract an import duty of 25% whereas the duty charged on cars with internal combustion engines is much lower at 18%. This obviously creates a problem for both manufacturers and potential customers.

Presently there aren’t any EVs manufactured locally, even though South Africa is a major car exporter to markets in Great Britain and Europe. These countries are in the process of phasing out internal combustion engines and it is only a matter of time before the South African government finds itself in need of a more sustainable approach towards its efforts to support electric mobility – across the board – if not specifically for export purposes. 

The good news though is that the introduction of the carbon tax is a move in the right direction as it acts as an incentive to sway city executives towards zero emission mobility. For this reason, I believe the introduction of an affordable vehicle such as the all new MINI Cooper SE will attract potential customers towards electric mobility.

So, did the Electric MINI pass the Green Mobility Test?

In order to pass the Green Mobility test, the Heels and Horsepower team looks at a number of elements including affordability, drivability and electric mobility features.  Overall, the all-electric MINI Cooper SE tested well against our criteria as follows:  

  1. Pricing: Currently, electric vehicles aren’t cheap, but the all-electric MINI Cooper SE comes in at R642 000.  This makes it the most affordable electric vehicle in South Africa. 
  2. Drivability: My initial thoughts bordered along the lines that the MINI Cooper SE might be a bit of a snooze fest given that it is a plug in electric vehicle.  Thankfully I was wrong.  There is absolutely no difference between driving the MINI Cooper SE and any other MINI. None of the MINI fun factors have been compromised in the production of this new greenie. 
  3. Electric mobility features are available in abundance within the new electric MINI, providing the manufacturer with an opportunity to enter a new customer segment – the eco-conscious city executive that is looking for a little bit of everything at the right price! 
Final thoughts…

The new MINI Cooper SE is the first model to combine electromobility in the urban setting with the hallmark brand properties of the original in the premium segment of small cars. This gives it an intergenerational edge over its competitors. 

Based on these assessments we have confidently given the MINI Cooper SE a very high 8 heels out of 10! 

Nissan Introduces The Ariya, A 100% Electric Crossover

vuyi on July 15, 2020

The Nissan Ariya enables you to go further, easier and in comfort.

– ASHWANI GUPTA, NISSAN OPERATING OFFICER  

YOKOHAMA, Japan – Nissan today (15 July 2020) introduced the all-new Nissan Ariya, an electric crossover SUV that lets customers travel farther while enjoying greater driving excitement, confidence and comfort, and connectivity.

With a 100% electric powertrain, the Ariya promises powerful acceleration and smooth, quiet operation. Drivers and passengers can relax and enjoy the ride thanks to autonomous driving technology, concierge-level assistance, seamless connectivity and a spacious, lounge-like interior. With an estimated range of up to 610 kilometers1, the no-compromise Ariya is perfect for daily commutes and weekend road trips alike.

CEO Makoto Uchida and Chief Operating Officer Ashwani Gupta unveiled the Ariya to a global audience during a livestreamed event at the new Nissan Pavilion in Yokohama.

GIOVANNY ARROBA Senior Design Director

“The Nissan Ariya is a truly beautiful and remarkable car,” Gupta said. “It enables you to go further, easier and in comfort. The Ariya is designed to impress, and to express what Nissan strives for – making our customers’ lives better.”

The all-new Nissan Ariya is scheduled to go on sale in Japan in mid-2021. It will be priced at around 5 million yen. The Ariya is planned to go on sale in Europe, North America and China by the end of 2021.

Powerful performance for a wide range of needs

Building on Nissan’s strength as an EV pioneer, the Ariya takes the powerful performance and capabilities of zero-emission vehicles to a new level.

The car’s all-electric drivetrain (combining power delivery, charging capabilities and range) allows customers to choose from multiple configurations in order to meet their individual needs. These include two-wheel-drive and e-4ORCE all-wheel-drive versions, as well as two different battery sizes.

The e-4ORCE all-wheel control systembalances the powerful performance with all-weather capability. The system’s twin electric motors provide a balanced, predictable ride, with sports car-level power delivered in the blink of an eye.

Advanced design and technology for stress-free driving

The Ariya is also the most technologically advanced Nissan car to date.

Drivers will feel more confident and less stressed thanks to the ProPILOT 2.0 advanced driver assistance system and the ProPILOT Remote Park and e-Pedal features. Also standard across the Ariya lineup is Nissan’s Safety Shield system. This includes Intelligent Around View Monitor, Intelligent Forward Collision Warning, Intelligent Emergency Braking and Rear Automatic Emergency Braking technology.

It’s more than just a great EV crossover, it’s a great vehicle

– ASHWANI GUPTA, NIssan Operating Officer  

An all-new human-machine interface lets customers use natural speech to adjust car settings. Over-the-air firmware updates keep the Ariya feeling fresh and exciting. The Ariya also includes Amazon’s Alexato help customers simplify and organize their lives.

ASHWANI GUPTA Chief Operating Officer

Spacious, flat-floor cabin

The Ariya’s striking looks represent Nissan’s new design language, Timeless Japanese Futurism. It is characterized by a distinctive Japanese approach, conveyed in a simple yet powerfully modern way.

Nissan’s designers took advantage of the car’s new EV platform, which allows for a flat floor, and its compact climate control components to give the Ariya the most spacious cabin in its class. The lounge-like interior, featuring Zero Gravity seats, provides a welcoming and comfortable environment for driver and passengers alike.

“The Ariya enhances driving excitement, ensures high levels of comfort and confidence and heightens the joy of connecting,” Gupta said. “It’s more than just a great EV crossover, it’s a great vehicle. It’s a true force of wonder, and it’s coming soon.”