The Electrifying Future of Cars

Here in Namibia we often hear the winds of change blowing a long time before we see their effects. In 2016 the United Nations started initiatives aimed at developing the local market for Electrical Vehicles (EV), as well as implementing a Vehicle-Grid-Integration (VGI) network. VGI is a means by which the electrical charge of a vehicle can be returned to the electrical grid. Both these initiatives were completed and launched in October 2019 in Windhoek.

At the same time a local company, e-Car Namibia, has recently entered the EV market. Their goal is not so much to sell new cars, but to help people convert their second hand internal combustion vehicles into EVs. This helps them to address one of the major stumbling blocks in the Namibian Electric Vehicle market: costs.

Obtaining a new EV presents three big challenges. The first is that, to the average Namibian, they’re extremely expensive. Secondly, market size and demands have relegated Namibian buyers to the back of the distribution list. Whereas more developed markets already have a waiting period of roughly six months, Namibians are looking at a waiting period of 20-plus months. Finally, there is a limited range of models available as an EV. Your ideal car might not yet be available, which means that you will have to settle for something different.

Converting second hand cars removes many of those obstacles. The only one that remains is the cost of the batteries. The biggest influence in the price of batteries is custom duties – which are the subject of negotiations between the government and players in the market. These negotiations are showing promise and the prospect of more affordable batteries is promising. What types of vehicles are popular options for conversions? At the moment the focus is on Land Cruisers, other 4x4 vehicles, and delivery vans. Not only are these vehicles already very popular in Namibia, but they also have very particular usage patterns. Delivery vans tend to be used over shorter distances, whereas 4x4 vehicles are used in the tourism industry, on farms, mines, and for various leisure activities. They are rarely used for intercity travel. As a result, this also negates a very big concern with these types of vehicles: how long can you drive before needing to recharge the batteries?

Current technology allows a car to travel roughly 100kms per charge. For localised travel, this is more than sufficient. There is also a handful charging stations scattered throughout Namibia. As more EVs enter the local market, more charging stations will spring up. Now might be a good time to start investing in your first EV. Buy a good, dependable second-hand car (or a new one if that strikes your fancy). Wait for the price of batteries to come down. Get in touch with a company that can assist you with converting the car into an EV. Enjoy the prospect of a cleaner drive and potentially never having to pay for petrol or diesel again.

Published on 12.08.2020 by NamCars.net

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