South Africa has spent the last few years growing a modest collection of electric cars, accelerated by China’s interest. There’s BYD, vying for your budget EV bucks, or Dongfeng’s R5 million+ electric sportscars — and numerous others in between.
With new brands showing up almost daily and car-charge stations cropping up at every corner, it’s arguably the best time to get into an EV in South Africa. We can’t promise that Eskom won’t fall from its pedestal in some spectacular fashion in the near future, though. If the thought doesn’t faze you, we’ve compiled a list of all the electric cars you can buy in South Africa, including price, range, and power.
BYD Dolphin Surf Comfort / Dynamic
Pricing: R340,000 / R390,000
Range: 232km / 295km
Power: 55kW
Believe it or not, this isn’t BYD’s only ‘Dolphin’ EV. Don’t let it distract from the fact that the Dolphin Surf is about as cheap as it is adorable. It still demands R340,000. Even so, this is still South Africa’s most affordable EV. It’s designed to stick to the streets, powered by a 55kW front-wheel-drive motor, and gets by with a 30kWh Blade battery that’ll land you anywhere between 232km and 295km range. Plus, it looks kinda cool.
Dayun Yuehu S5 Standard/VIP
Pricing: R400,000 / R450,000
Range: 300km
Power: 105kW
Dayun’s new Yuehu S5 SUV got its start in SA last year, thanks to the folks at Enviro Automotive, a local importer of battery-powered vehicles. The car employs a small but reliable 31.7 kWh lithium-ion battery pack that Dayun reckons will net 300km range on a single charge, ideal for zipping up to the nearest Makro.
Dongfeng Box E2 / E3
Pricing: R470,000 / R530,000
Range: 430km (CLTC)
Power: 70kW
Like most of South Africa’s “affordable” EVs, the Dongfeng Box is a compact hatchback built to steer you away from the country’s more traditional automakers. Dongfeng’s so-called “city slicker” stands out with a claimed 430km range, though you’ll probably want to keep out the right lane on the highway — it tops out at 140km/h.
BYD Dolphin Standard / Extended
Pricing: R540,000 / R600,000
Range: 310km / 427km
Power: 70kW / 150kW
Told you. Funny names aside, this is the Dolphin you want, assuming you can afford the extra cost compared to the Dolphin Surf. Featuring a 70kW/180Nm-producing electric motor on the Standard trim, the Extended model revs that up to 150kW — enabling roughly 420km on a single charge.
Geely E5 (Aspire / Apex)
Pricing: R700,000 / R760,000
Range: Up to 430km
Power: 160kW
Geely is back, and it’s brought the all-electric E5 with it. Packed to the brim with tech, Geely’s sub-R1 million price makes it ideal for jetting around town or even off-road. It’s bolstered by what Geely calls a “Short blade” battery that’ll pull through roughly 430km on a single charge.
BYD Atto 3 Standard / Extended
Pricing: R700,000 / R784,000
Range: 345km / 420km
Power: 150kW
Continuing BYD’s streak comes the Atto 3, which has cruised SA’s streets for over two years now. It’s still one of the more competent EVs, going from 0-100km/h in just 7.3 seconds. And with a standard 50.1kWh or 60.4kWh battery pack, it’ll get you halfway to Durban from Joburg, and a bit further if you opt for the Extended trim.
GWM Ora 03 300 Super Luxury / 400 Super Luxury
Pricing: R687,000 / R776,000
Range: 310km / 420km
Power: 126kW
Oh, how far we’ve come. Back when the GWM Ora 03 turned up in South Africa, it was considered the cheapest EV. It’s still relatively affordable nearly three years on. With the competition now targeting the sub-R500,000 market, we’re keen to see what GWM pulls off next, preferably with a cheaper price tag.
GWM Ora 03 400 Ultra Luxury / 400 GT Ultra Luxury
Pricing: R806,000 / R836,000
Range: 420km / 400km
Power: 126kW
There wasn’t enough space to contain all this Ora above. These are the stats for the other variants.
Dongfeng 007 E1 530 / E1 620 / E2 540
Pricing: R800,000 / R860,000 / R930,000
Range: 580km (CLTC)
Power: 160kW / 200kW / 400kW
James Bond wouldn’t be caught dead in Dongfeng’s new 007 EV, but the average South African… might make it work. It helps that the 007 comes in under R1 million, while also packing in a 400kW motor that Dongfeng reckons will hit 100km/h in 3.75 seconds — only slightly terrifying on South Africa’s roads.
Volvo EX30
Pricing: R836,000
Range: 476km
Power: 200kW
Under the Volvo umbrella comes the EX30, the company’s cheapest EV in SA. It’s also one of the more futuristic-looking cars Stuff has had the pleasure of driving. It’s a superb daily driver, with its smaller stature helping it nip through city traffic. Range anxiety isn’t an issue for day-to-day commutes, though you’ll need to thoroughly plan your route for a trip to Durban.
Mini Aceman E/SE
Pricing: R803,400 / R942,500
Range: 350km / 380km
Power: 135kW / 160kW
Mini doesn’t concern itself with budget, and we can’t blame ’em. People are still buying the things, so it’ll continue making the things. Still, the cheapest you’ll pay to drive an all-electric Mini is in the still-too-high R800-900k range, delivering a fairly average 380km range and 160kW power we’d expect from a cheaper EV.
Mini Cooper SE
Pricing: R873,500
Range: 362km
Power: 160kW
You’re not buying the all-electric Mini Cooper SE for its outstanding EV performance. You’re buying the brand and its stunning interiors, which we admit are pretty impressive. It bloody well better be, at this price. There’s no denying that better value could be found elsewhere, with a somewhat shoddy 362km range on a single charge.
Alfa Romeo Junior Elettrica / Elettrica 280 Veloce
Pricing: R800,000 / R1 million
Range: 407km / 334km
Power: 115kW / 206kW
Enter Alfa Romeo’s Junior Elettrica, a newcomer that South Africa welcomed onto its market in early 2025. With a sub-R1 million price, Alfa’s compact SUV reckons it’ll have you fired up in just 45 minutes with the 11kW AC charger, while a DC charger takes you up to 80% in less than 30 minutes. Impressive. And it looks good, too.
Changan Deepal S07 L
Price: R996,000
Range: 500km
Power: 160kW
It comes mighty close to crossing over into seven-figure territory, but Changan’s Deepal S07 L clings on with a R996,000 price. It’s actually worth it, even if you haven’t heard the name before. That’s down to the 500km range Changan claims here, even if the 160kW power is a little bit of a letdown.
