DriveElectric.co.za

Come and join me at Smarter Mobility Africa summit 3rd October Looking forward to the discussion with my fellow panelists: Ken Osano Lead Consultant at Deci Consultants (Former Director Founder & Director at EkoRent (inactive) Lerato Bodibe (MBA), CEO & Founder, ROCVEST SYSTEMS Ben Pullen DriveElectric.co.za #SMAsummit #smaforall #electricvehicles #electriccar #carrental #GreenFleet

I partnered up with DriveElectric.co.za to do a road trip stretching over 2000km over South Africa with 2 Volvo XC 40 Recharge's go and watch the full video on YouTube- https://lnkd.in/dpYHAdYi

The We Are Africa 2024 press were treated to a wonderful afternoon at Upper Union by the MORE Family Collection for the Official Press Lunch 🔥 Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis from the City of Cape Town welcomed guests. Robert More, Ryan Wallace and Serge Dive, founder of This is Beyond Ltd, hosted the Official Press Lunch at Upper Union, which was attended by the We Are Africa Media representing publications from all corners of the globe. Thank you to DriveElectric.co.za for the stylish ride 🧡 #WeAreAfrica #WAA2024 #EncounterTheExtraordinary

The We Are Africa media were treated to a delicious lunch at UpperUnion by the MORE Family Collection. Taking to the roads of Cape Town in style with DriveElectric.co.za! 🔥 The media were hosted by Serge Dive, Ryan Wallace, Robert More and Geordin Hill-Lewis, the Mayor of the City of Cape Town, and other special guests 🧡 #WeAreAfrica #WAA2024 #encountertheextraordinary

Why can't we be Carheads? A love for all things Cars in our latest article, here: https://lnkd.in/dTNcGNwP

Read about the similarities in the journey of cellphones to that of EVs here: https://lnkd.in/dRUTeD-f

Our latest article is now out. EV Conspiracy Theories.. Read it here: https://lnkd.in/dV7_G5MR

Read our latest weekly article! EVs in South Arica: Myths and Legends https://lnkd.in/dnbVPqeh

Plug in Hybrid experience in a Volvo XC90 T8: Plug-in Hybrids require a different diving style in comparison to other BEV's or even ICE vehicles.   I have audited a 2023 Volvo XC90 T8 driving over 1000km and would like to share my experience:   The dictum ABC Always Be Charging again applies and all my charging is via solar PV. Park the car and plug!   1/4 of the 10 000km was town driving at 0 l/100km and the remaining distance was > 300km per journey.   The 15 Kw/hr battery has a 50km real world range, good enough for over 90% of daily commutes in the city.   On only 2 occasions did the car in pure electric mode run out of battery. The pure mode should be the default setting but this for some inexplainable reason is not available in SA!    The long distance trips are where adapting one's driving matters. Here I achieved 4.6 l/100km bearing in mind the trip always started with a full battery. Here are my tips in no particular order.   1. Start with a full battery and a preconditioned car.   2. The driving mode should be in hybrid or constant all-wheel drive ; battery system on hold.   3. Whenever you pass through a town and decelerate to 60km/hr , change to pure electric mode. This ensures the petrol engine is off and minimal battery is used traversing the town. This saves fuel.   4. The same principle applies to going down a long incline. Switch to pure EV mode whatever the speed. The petrol engine is off and there is minimal battery consumption. In pure EV mode the battery hold is immediately released.   5. Hypermiling or coasting in N is unhelpful and is potentially dangerous; the desired speed is maintained for a short distance only on most declines.   6. Keep an eye on your remaining battery range. If you have arrived at your destination with any remaining charge you have wasted free energy !   7. Interestingly in the all-wheel drive setting it is not only smoother and subjectively more powerful on the open road but I feel it may also be a more efficient mode. Perhaps another audit is necessary.   8. Planning a nature break at a public charger stop is pointless, the Volvo only has a weak AC on board charging system and the 1 km of range gained is not worth the effort. The full battery capacity in this car is 20Kw/hr with only 15Kw/hr usable. Why the buffer in a hybrid? Why no DC charging?   PV Amped

Solar and EV - A Perfect Match Owning an electric car is a no brainer; the tipping point has been breached. The technology and use of energy by an EV is just more efficient by almost a factor of 2. The adoption in South Africa has been curtailed by Greedy incompetent government with a 25% tax on EV's Greedy vested interests of the oil industry with a stream of daily negative propaganda. Greedy utilities seeing their main income, electricity disappearing. South Africans make a plan! If every EV has access to a 5Kw solar system at home the maths is obvious. We are blessed with abundant relatively cool sunshine in SA, which allows the inefficient PV panels to produce optimally, compared to for arguments sake a solar panel in the Sahara! EV's in SA despite the taxes are getting closer and closer in cost every day.  BMW X3 ICE = R1,310,233  BMW iX3 EV = R1,336,000   Let's factor in a cookie cutter 5 Kw inverter and panels say R80 000 An EV with a 80 Kw/hr battery. Generous average daily commute say 80km. This will require on average 3 hrs of daily charging on the solar system. Or the weekend of 8hrs/day of solar will charge an 80Kw battery from empty. ABC when at home ....Always Be Charging. Most average middle class families in SA will have access to a garage or to off street parking unlike congested First world countries. In one year you would have saved 2 880l of fuel ! The solar would have paid for itself in fuel in just over one year. From there onwards fuel is free! I haven't factored in the car to load, using your EV to counter load shedding and reducing household electricity costs ! This game changer is on the horizon whether the motor manufacturers like it or not! To add a PV system to a new house build or a new EV in South Africa is essential and a fraction of the capital cost ! SOLAR + EV a perfect match   PV Amped (source: Drive Electric)    https://lnkd.in/dKWcv3qR