BMW South Africa expects small gains in EV market; in talks with fuel group on charge points

BMW South Africa expects small gains in EV market; in talks with fuel group on charge points

BMW i3 sales declined last year to 66 units, down from 93 units in 2016. Sales of the fully electric i3 have reached 32 units for the first five months of the year.

The i3 currently represents all-electric vehicle (EV) sales in South Africa, as no Nissan Leaf sales have been recorded this year.

“There are a lot of myths and a lack of knowledge in South Africa – even in the automotive industry – about EVs. Right now that is one of our biggest challenges,” Alan Boyd notes.

“People say the battery lasts one year, or that you can’t drive from Midrand to Alberton, and these statements are all incorrect. “It is up to us to improve the knowledge around EVs in the local market.”

A second factor acting as a drag on EV sales is the lack of charging infrastructure in South Africa. However, notes Boyd, “South Africans think they drive further than they actually do. If I use Norway as an example, which is a big EV market, most people charge their EVs at home, not anywhere else”.

Currently, EVs attract the highest import duties, at 25%, while, for example, imported vehicles under one-litre engine capacity from Europe attract no duties. Also, under European Union (EU) trade agreements, normal imported vehicles with larger engine capacities attract duties of only 18%.

See http://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article/bmw-sa-expects-small-gains-in-ev-market-in-talks-with-fuel-group-on-charge-points-2018-06-25/rep_id:4136

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BMW i3 sales declined last year to 66 units, down from 93 units in 2016. Sales of the fully electric i3 have reached 32 units for the first five months of the year. The i3 currently represents all electric vehicle (EV) sales in South Africa, as no Nissan Leaf sales have been recorded this year.