While South Africans remain apprehensive about fully electric vehicles, an increasing number of potential buyers are expressing interest in hybrid models, a new study shows.
The 2024 AutoTrader New Energy Vehicle Report reveals some interesting insights about what South Africans really think about electric and hybrid vehicles, which are often collectively referred to as new energy vehicles (NEVs).
According to the study, which surveyed potential vehicle buyers, charging infrastructure is the biggest factor holding up electric vehicle (EV) adoption, with 55% of respondents describing this as their biggest disadvantage.
The second largest obstacle is the high price of new energy vehicles, versus traditional petrol or diesel options. 46% of respondents listed this among their top three concerns, while charging time (37%), battery life deterioration (36%) and range anxiety (36%) were also perceived as significant obstacles.
The survey also looked at the advantages of new energy vehicle ownership, with 60% citing improved fuel efficiency (or no fuel use in the case of EVs) among their top three drawcards. Reduced air pollution and emissions were listed as the second biggest advantage, ahead of lower running costs.
But here’s where it gets interesting. 52% of respondents said a hybrid would be their preferred powertrain choice when purchasing their next vehicle, with petrol and diesel tied for second place at 19% and fully electric vehicles last at 10%.
25% said they were ‘very likely’ to consider buying a hybrid vehicle in the future, and 49% said they were ‘likely’, while 22% said ‘unlikely’ and 4% ‘never’.
All in all, 74% said they would consider buying a hybrid vehicle in the future, while 60% said they actually planned to buy a hybrid in the next three years.
As for battery electric vehicles, 57% said they were open to the idea of owning one in the coming years.
While new energy vehicle (NEV) sales currently account for an extremely small percentage of overall vehicle sales, this figure is growing at an exponential rate. NEV sales in the second quarter of 2024 rose by 169%, from 1,528 to 4,122 units, according to Naamsa.
This charge was led by traditional hybrids, whose volume grew from 1,167 to 3,543, while electric vehicle sales surged from 270 to 419 and plug-in hybrids from 91 to 160.
Strong growth is also being seen in the used market, with hybrid and EV sales growing by 88% and 78% respectively, AutoTrader reports.
“The automotive industry is changing at a rapid pace, with hybrids and battery-electric vehicles becoming increasingly popular in South Africa. Like all new technologies and industry shifts, the road to electrification isn’t without obstructions, but growing sales and consumer interest proves the segment is on the rise,” said AutoTrader CEO George Mienie.
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