History will soon be made in the Eastern Cape when the first all-electric
vehicle brand launches in the province.
The introduction of Chinese automaker BYD (Build Your Dreams) on
December 1 marks another milestone in South Africa’s transition to EVs,
with the Eastern Cape becoming the third province to offer the new
energy vehicles after Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal.
BYD is the world’s leading manufacturer of EVs, surpassing one-million
sales last year. It enjoys a presence in 70 countries and 400 cities
globally.
These vehicles will be sold by the Kelston Motor Group, starting at
premises off Buffelsfontein Road in Gqeberha before branching out to
other parts of the province.
The agreement was concluded after a series of physical and online
meetings between the directors of the two firms in recent months.
In addition to cutting down on carbon emissions, one of the big selling
points for South Africans is that the vehicles are capable of powering
portions of the home thanks to vehicle-to-load (VTOL) charging – ideal in
countering the effects of loadshedding.
Kelston has considerable experience in selling hybrids from the likes of
Toyota and Haval but BYD is its first foray into all-EV models.
Group operations director Peter McNaughton said it was clear that new-
energy vehicles were part of the future of the automotive sector and the
business aimed to be at the forefront of this evolution.
However, he said, being the first in this sector in the region meant that
the company would have to make a substantial investment in guiding the
public in understanding the benefits of EVs.
“What stands out about BYD is that there are not many EV brands at a
similar price point (starting R700 000) that offer such appealing
aesthetics,” he said.
He pointed out that if the brand’s lower running costs were considered,
the vehicles were comparable economically with internal combustion
engine-powered compact SUVs in this section of the market.
Studies show that because EVs comprise fewer moving parts and liquids
like oil and transmission fuel, maintenance costs are brought down
considerably.
The first model to be offered by Kelston is the ATTO 3 crossover, which is
powered by BYD’s unique Blade Battery.
The cell offers a driving range of 340 to 420km per charge, which can
power up from 30 to 80 per cent in just 40 minutes.
The automaker says the battery is not only safer and cheaper to
manufacture but also more resilient, given that it still functioned perfectly
after being driven over by a 46-ton truck in a road test.
It also offers a minimum of 4 000 charging cycles, which BYD says
equates to around 60 years of usage.
The crossover’s external aesthetics are noted for the “dragon eyes” LED
head and taillights, with the hatchback styling and power liftgate
configuration giving the vehicle a distinctive sporty feel.
The interior features a 12.8-inch rotating touchscreen infotainment
system while seating material offers motorists a sense of modern luxury.
The National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa has
also recommended incentives of up to R80 000 for EVs like the ATTO 3.
Longer range vehicles were in the pipeline, said McNaughton, who added
that Kelston’s BYD operations would include a workshop and aftersales
support.
“It’s a feather in our cap that BYD reached out to offer its vehicles to the
province’s motoring public,” McNaughton said.
“We are incredibly excited about the future now that BYD is in the
province.”
