Living Electric: My Week Behind the Wheel of an EV
Tshidi Malebana
Oct 15, 2024
Quick Facts
- Price from: R1,324,000
- Range: Electric range upto 510 km
- Battery: 8 hours charging at home/28 min DC fast charging station
- Fuel economy: 18.7KWh/100 km
- Power/Torque: 300kW/650Nm
If you had told my 10-year-old self that I’d one day be a car reviewer, testing Volvo’s all-electric C40 Recharge Twin, I probably wouldn’t have believed you. Fast forward to today, and my first time driving an electric vehicle (EV) has been a memorable one. The C40, dressed in a stunning shade of blue, turned heads everywhere I went, earning compliments from strangers. It’s hands down the best car I’ve tested in my three years in the motoring industry. Faulting it was difficult—everything was executed to perfection. Perhaps, once I’ve tested more EVs, my perspective might change, but for now, this stands as the best.
In the days leading up to the C40’s delivery, I was anxious and skeptical. Living in a country where load shedding and load reduction are common, I wondered if I would manage. But despite my concerns, the week with the C40 was hassle-free. I treated it the same way I do my cellphone—I always charge my phone when it drops to 30% to avoid running out of battery, and I applied the same approach to charging the C40, given that it’s a fully electric vehicle.
“It’s hands down the best car I’ve tested in my three years in the motoring industry.”
Charging from 10% to 80% takes about 34 minutes at a DC fast charger. When I first saw the car’s 440 km range at 90%, I was excited and tempted to drive home to Mokopane, Limpopo, which is 266 km away. I asked the brand if it was okay to take the car out of the province. They were a bit concerned, as Limpopo has fewer charging stations, but I assured them I’d done my calculations and should be fine. They reminded me that the music, air conditioning, and driving style all affect the battery, so I decided to sacrifice music and AC—my small-town community had to see this fully electric marvel!
The drive went smoothly. I made a breakfast stop at Engen Kranskop, where Google Maps indicated a charging station, only to find it didn’t exist. But I stayed calm and continued. When I arrived home, the battery was still at 30%—around 150 km of range left. I plugged it into an extension cord, unaware that extension cords aren’t suitable for EVs. After five hours, the battery still hadn’t charged. When I plugged it directly into the wall socket, it started charging properly. However, it took 13 hours to reach 90%, so charging at home or work can be painfully slow.
“However, it took 13 hours to reach 90%, so charging at home or work can be painfully slow.”
Though I drove at 100-110 km/h in a 120 km/h zone to conserve energy, the ride was smooth and firm. The car felt solid and heavy, with a reassuring sturdiness on the road.
Inside the cabin, you’ll find luxurious, eco-conscious materials, including leather-free upholstery. The Harman Kardon Premium sound system, complete with 13 speakers and a subwoofer, delivers excellent audio quality. Other features include heated front and rear seats, charcoal interior inserts, a sculpted gear shift, a tailored sport steering wheel, and a range of tech amenities like Apple CarPlay, wireless phone charging, and an air purifier. The car’s operations are entirely Google-integrated, making everything from navigation to voice control seamless.
In summary, the C40 Recharge is not a cheap car, but it offers incredible performance, a premium interior, and an undeniably attractive design. It’s also far more economical to run compared to petrol or diesel cars. If you own a home with solar panels and commute around 60 km daily, an EV could be a great fit for you. However, if you drive more than 220 km, be sure to plan ahead and check for charging stations along your route. Unfortunately, charging infrastructure remains limited, and affordable EV options are still scarce.
We need to identify the opportunity constraints that continue to stagnate the growth of the African GDP footprint in the global society. Africa remains highly risk averse and therefore investment trade remains relatively low. This does not conversely mean that we need to circumvent the investment criteria that have to be adhered to in order to encourage the investment climate.
One of the key questions in the industry is trying to understand how the African market contributes to the transitioning of motor vehicles from internal combustion engines (ICE) into electrical vehicles (EV). “WE are today in Africa, where the EU was 72 years ago!
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