Walk into a South African new-car showroom today, and there is every chance you will encounter a “New Energy Vehicle” (NEV).
No longer are cars merely powered by an internal combustion engine (ICE), but over a relatively short period, engineers have used technology to completely reshape and redesign how we look at and experience mobility.
South Africa's electric vehicle market is moving closer to mainstream adoption, with new energy vehicles now accounting for six percent of all new light vehicle sales as growing consumer choice, falling vehicle prices and rising fuel costs reshape the country's automotive market, according to the latest new vehicle sales data from the Automotive Business Council (NAAMSA).
NEV sounds straightforward enough, but it covers a broad range of technologies.
There are mild hybrids, conventional hybrids, plug-in hybrids, range-extender electric vehicles and fully electric vehicles. Some still have petrol engines, some don't, and some can be plugged into the wall while others cannot.
For motorists considering making the move away from a conventional petrol or diesel vehicle, understanding the differences is becoming increasingly important.
Mild hybrid: a first gentle step
A mild-hybrid vehicle is probably the easiest place to start because, from the driver's perspective, it still behaves much like a conventional ICE car.
The difference is that the internal-combustion engine is supported by a small electric motor and battery, usually operating at 48 volts.
The electric system can assist the engine when pulling away or accelerating, while also allowing the engine to switch off more frequently when the car is coasting or stationary.
Energy that would otherwise be lost during braking is recovered through regenerative braking and stored in the small battery.
Importantly, a typical mild hybrid cannot drive for meaningful distances on electric power alone.
Think of it as an engine with electric assistance rather than an electric car with an engine.
The technology is already common in premium vehicles. BMW's current X3 20d xDrive uses a 48-volt mild-hybrid system with a 0.9kWh battery. The electric system assists the diesel engine, rather than replacing it.
Volvo also offers mild-hybrid versions of models like the XC40 and XC60 in South Africa.
For buyers who are not ready to leap to a plug-in vehicle, mild hybrid technology offers some of the benefits of electrification without requiring a change in driving habits.
There is no charging cable to worry about and no need to find a public charging station.
You simply fill the tank and drive.
Full hybrid: the car decides when to use electricity
A conventional, or full, hybrid takes the idea considerably further.
Unlike a mild hybrid, a full hybrid can use its electric motor to drive the wheels, although usually only for relatively short periods and under suitable conditions.
The system combines a petrol engine, electric motor or motors and a larger battery, with the car deciding how to combine them.
At low speeds, the electric motor drives the vehicle without the engine running. When more power is required, the engine starts and under acceleration, the engine and electric motor work together.
When the driver lifts off the accelerator or applies the brakes, regenerative braking recovers some of the vehicle's kinetic energy and puts it back into the battery.
The battery is charged by regenerative braking and, depending on the system, by the petrol engine.
Toyota has been one of the strongest advocates of this approach in South Africa and has built a substantial local hybrid presence.
The Toyota RAV4, for example, is available with a 2.5-litre hybrid powertrain, with the hybrid models offering a combined claimed range of more than 1,200 kilometres.
This type of hybrid makes particular sense for motorists who spend much of their time in traffic.
Stop-start driving is where the electric motor can make the biggest contribution, while the petrol engine provides the reassurance of conventional long-distance motoring.
The downside is that the electric-only capability is limited.
Plug-in hybrid: the halfway house
The plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, or PHEV, is possibly the most flexible of the current NEV technologies.
It combines a petrol engine with a significantly larger battery and electric motor, but unlike a conventional hybrid, the battery can be charged from an external power source.
A PHEV can often cover the daily commute using electricity alone. Once the battery is depleted, the petrol engine takes over, and the car effectively becomes a hybrid.
For someone who travels 30 or 40 kilometres to work each day and can charge at home, it is possible to complete most daily driving without using the engine.
But when there is long-distance driving, there is no need to plan the trip around charging stations.
That flexibility is one reason PHEVs are becoming increasingly popular in South Africa.
The market has also changed dramatically in the past year, with Chinese manufacturers bringing PHEVs into much lower price brackets.
One example is the BYD Sealion 6 Comfort DM-i, which uses a 1.5-litre petrol engine, electric motor and 18.3kWh battery with an electric-only range of up to 80km claimed for the Comfort version.
GWM has also introduced the Haval H6 PHEV. Its Hi4 system combines a turbocharged petrol engine with two electric motors, allowing it to operate as an electric vehicle for shorter journeys while retaining the long-distance capability of its petrol engine. The electric-only range is quoted at up to 106km on the NEDC cycle.
Toyota has the RAV4 2.5 PHEV E-Four with a claimed electric range of 142km..
The important thing to remember about a PHEV is that its fuel-saving potential depends heavily on how often it is charged.
Range-extender: an electric car with a generator
Then there is a technology that can be confusing even to experienced motorists: the range-extender electric vehicle, or REEV.
The easiest way to explain it is that the electric motor drives the wheels. The petrol engine does not.
Instead, the petrol engine acts as a generator, producing electricity when the battery needs additional energy.
The Leapmotor C10 REEV is one of those cars.
It has a 1.5-litre petrol engine charging a 28.4kWh battery powering the rear-mounted electric motor producing 158kW and 320Nm. The battery provides up to 145 kilometres of pure-electric driving. With the range extender operating, the claimed total range is about 970km.
Once the battery's charge gets low, the petrol engine starts generating electricity to charge the battery.
The owner can use electricity for the majority of everyday driving while still having a petrol-powered generator available for longer journeys.
Battery electric vehicle: The real EV
This is what we mean when we talk about an “electric car”.
Electricity is stored in a large high-voltage battery and sent to one or more electric motors.
The motor turns the wheels directly, while regenerative braking recovers some energy whenever the car slows down.
The mechanical simplicity is one of the major differences between a BEV and a conventional car.
There is no exhaust system, fuel tank, conventional gearbox or engine oil to change.
The trade-off is that the driver needs to think differently about energy.
Instead of filling a tank with petrol in five minutes, the car is normally charged while parked, often overnight at home.
Public DC fast chargers can be used on longer journeys.
The South African EV market has expanded rapidly, with manufacturers such as Volvo, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, BYD, GAC and others offering fully electric models.
The Volvo EX30 illustrates how mainstream the technology is becoming.
The compact electric SUV is available with versions offering claimed ranges from 344 kilometres to 476km depending on specification. Volvo says its EX30 can charge from 10 to 80 percent in around 26 minutes using a suitable DC fast charger.
Toyota has also entered the local fully electric market with the bZ4X, while the number of Chinese EV brands and models continues to grow.
The challenge comes when long-distance journeys, limited charging infrastructure or unreliable access to electricity become factors, especially in far-flung regional areas in our country.
What the expert says
South Africans are warming to new energy vehicles (NEVs) at a rapid pace, and 2026 could be the year the market really takes off.
Nafisa Akabor, technology and EV journalist, says the growing number of models and falling entry prices are making NEVs increasingly accessible to ordinary motorists.
“New energy vehicle sales have skyrocketed in the last year, with 2026 set to be a record-breaking year,” she notes. “It’s great to see South Africans embracing NEVs at speed, as there are now a variety of affordable options on the market.”
There is still the issue of the higher taxes imposed on NEVs compared with conventional petrol and diesel vehicles, but that has not stopped demand. In fact, Akabor says some manufacturers are struggling to keep up.
The price gap is also beginning to narrow. “Consumers can pick up an entry-level EV at around R340 000, while the most affordable PHEV is priced at around R450 000.”
She expects the choice available to South African motorists to grow considerably as technology improves and government policy catches up with the changing market.
“As technology advances, and the government eventually updates their NEV policies to the benefit of the consumer, we will be spoilt for choice.”
But having more choice can also make deciding which NEV is right for you a little more complicated.
Akabor believes buyers should start by looking at how they actually use their cars rather than simply being attracted by a particular model or its claimed electric range.
That means considering the length of the daily commute, whether most driving is done around town or on the highway, and how often the car is used for longer interprovincial trips. Family size also matters, particularly for buyers with children and the demands of daily school runs.
Charging is another issue that needs to be considered before making the switch. For people living in townhouses or renting their homes, installing a home charger is not always straightforward, making access to public charging infrastructure an important part of the decision.
“Finding a manufacturer who offers free charging and a dealership near you may help with decision-making,” says Akabor.
For motorists who can install a wallbox at home, however, the NEV experience becomes considerably easier.
“Being able to plug the car in when you get home and leave it charging overnight means you can start the next day with a topped-up battery without having to make a special trip to a public charging station.”
It can also be easier on the pocket. “Having a home wallbox charger also makes the experience better as you can top up at home, which is typically cheaper than paying for speed at public chargers.
“Ultimately, there is no single NEV that will suit every South African driver. The best choice depends as much on where and how you drive as it does on the vehicle itself,” Akabor concludes.
willemvd.putte@nationalmg.co.za