Electric Cars for Sale in South Africa – Prices & Range (October 2026)

The electric vehicle (EV) market in South Africa has changed dramatically over the past few years. What was once a market dominated by premium vehicles costing well over R1 million now includes several EVs below R400,000 and an increasingly large selection of electric family SUVs.

Below is a list of fully electric vehicles currently available in South Africa, ranked roughly from cheapest to most expensive.

The size comparison is intended simply to give buyers an idea of how large each vehicle is compared with familiar petrol or diesel vehicles – it does not necessarily mean they compete in the same market segment.

There are additional derivatives and high-performance versions available, particularly from BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Volvo and Porsche, but the table above gives a useful overview of the major EV models and starting points currently available to South African buyers.

Some Interesting Standouts

Cheapest EV: Geely E2 – from R339,900.

The Geely E2 has pushed the entry price for a new EV in South Africa down to roughly the same territory as many ordinary petrol hatchbacks and crossovers. It offers a 39.4 kWh battery and a claimed 325 km WLTP range.

That makes the E2 particularly interesting because its range figure is quoted using the stricter WLTP test rather than some of the more optimistic Chinese testing standards.

Very affordable alternative: BYD Dolphin Surf – from R341,900.

The Dolphin Surf sits just above the Geely E2 in price and is aimed primarily at urban driving. Depending on the version, the battery is approximately 30–39 kWh with claimed range of roughly 220–300 km.

For someone who mainly commutes and can charge at home, that could be considerably more range than is actually required on most days.

Interesting budget option: Dongfeng Box – from R349,000.

The Dongfeng Box offers a 43.9 kWh battery and a claimed 430 km CLTC range.

The important caveat is that CLTC figures tend to be more optimistic than WLTP figures, so buyers shouldn't assume it will necessarily travel 430 km under normal South African driving conditions. A more conservative real-world expectation is around 300 km depending on conditions.

Affordable family EV: Dongfeng 06 – from R499,000.

The Dongfeng 06 is particularly interesting because it moves EVs into the family-SUV category for under R500,000.

It is roughly Corolla Cross-sized and offers two battery options, with claimed CLTC ranges of 401 km and 471 km.

For buyers who previously liked the idea of an EV but needed something larger than a small hatchback, vehicles such as the 06 significantly change the equation.

Value family SUV: Jaecoo J5 EV – R549,900.

The J5 EV combines a 58.9 kWh LFP battery with a 402 km WLTC range, 155 kW electric motor and 130 kW DC fast charging.

Its roughly Corolla Cross-sized dimensions and sub-R550,000 price make it one of the more interesting electric family SUVs currently available.

Long-range value option: GWM Ora 5 BEV – from R549,900.

The electric version of the Ora 5 starts at R549,900 and uses a 58.3 kWh battery, with a claimed range of up to approximately 500 km.

That gives it one of the more interesting combinations of price, vehicle size and claimed range in the sub-R600,000 market.

RAV4-sized option: Geely E5 – from R699,999.

The Geely E5 is the fully electric sibling of the E5 EM-i plug-in hybrid. It uses a 60.22 kWh battery and offers up to 430 km WLTP range.

At approximately R700,000, you're getting a proper RAV4/Tiguan-sized family SUV rather than a small city EV.

Premium compact performance: Volvo EX30 – from R735,500.

The EX30 is physically relatively compact but offers serious performance. The entry Single Motor offers around 344 km WLTP range, while the Extended Range model can reach approximately 476 km.

Higher-performance versions can accelerate from 0–100 km/h in around 3.6 seconds.

Interesting electric sedan: Dongfeng 007 – from R799,000.

The Dongfeng 007 is one of the more unusual additions to the South African EV market.

Depending on the version, it offers 530–620 km CLTC range, while the flagship AWD version produces up to 400 kW and can accelerate from 0–100 km/h in under four seconds.

Long-range newcomer: Mercedes-Benz CLA Electric – from R1,141,000.

The new electric CLA is particularly noteworthy for its claimed range of up to 792 km WLTP.

That is significantly more than most EVs currently available locally and starts to address one of the biggest concerns South African buyers have about long-distance EV travel.

Luxury long-distance option: BMW iX – from R2,249,000.

The current BMW iX offers up to approximately 600 km WLTP range, combining long-distance capability with the size of a large luxury SUV.

EV vs Petrol Car

Unlike a hybrid or plug-in hybrid, a fully electric vehicle has no petrol engine at all.

Instead, the vehicle stores electricity in a large battery and uses one or more electric motors to drive the wheels.

For everyday commuting, this can make an EV particularly attractive if you can charge at home. Rather than visiting a petrol station, the vehicle can simply be plugged in overnight and start each morning with a charged battery.

The trade-off comes on longer journeys. A petrol vehicle can refuel almost anywhere in a few minutes, while an EV requires access to a compatible charger and generally takes longer to recharge.

For many South African buyers, therefore, the most important questions aren't simply "How far can this EV travel?" but rather:

How far do I normally drive each day, can I charge at home, and how often do I actually drive more than 300–400 km in one trip?

If most of your driving consists of commuting and local trips, even an EV with a 300 km range could potentially require charging only a few times per week.

Understanding EV Range Figures

One important consideration when comparing electric cars is that manufacturers don't all quote range using the same testing standard.

WLTP is generally the most useful figure for comparison and tends to be more representative of real-world driving.

NEDC is an older and generally more optimistic testing standard.

CLTC is the Chinese testing standard and can produce substantially higher range figures than drivers are likely to achieve during normal mixed driving.

For example, a vehicle advertising 430 km CLTC should not automatically be considered equivalent to another vehicle advertising 430 km WLTP.

Real-world range will also depend on speed, temperature, terrain, air-conditioning use, vehicle load and driving style.

South Africa's EV Market Has Changed Quickly

Perhaps the biggest change isn't the arrival of R2 million luxury EVs – it is what's happening below R600,000.

South African buyers can now choose between EVs such as the Geely E2, BYD Dolphin Surf, Dongfeng Box, Chery Q, Dongfeng 06, iCAUR V23, BYD Atto 2 EV, Jaecoo J5 EV and GWM Ora 5.

A few years ago, buying a new EV in South Africa generally meant spending close to R1 million or more. There are now electric cars starting at roughly R340,000, while roughly R500,000–R700,000 can buy a genuine electric family SUV.

That makes the EV-versus-petrol comparison considerably more interesting than it used to be.

A note on the figures

Prices and specifications change regularly, particularly as manufacturers introduce new derivatives and special offers.

Range figures are manufacturer claims measured under specific test conditions and should not be interpreted as guaranteed real-world range. Where possible, the testing standard has been identified because a WLTP, NEDC and CLTC range figure cannot be directly compared.

The ICE vehicle comparisons are approximate exterior-size references designed to make the dimensions easier to understand. They do not imply that the vehicles are necessarily direct competitors.

Last updated: 5 October 2026