SA joins the (new) power play
SA joins the (new) power play
Love them or hate them, alternative drivetrains are set to take over the transport industry. Geared towards transporting goods over short to medium distances, medium commercial vehicles (MCVs) are perfect candidates to lead this charge, but will South Africaโs shortcomings cause this revolution to stagnate?
Alternative drivetrains have been making headlines across the globe, and South Africa has joined this trend. We covered the latest example in June, with Hino South Africa set to pilot a hybrid variant of the trusted Hino 300 in the South African market, aiming to advance hybrid energy mobility solutions in the country.
Hybrid commercial vehicles make sense, as they counter the biggest concerns that industry players have when electric drivetrains pop up in conversation โ range and the lack of charging infrastructure across Mzansi.
Despite these challenges, electric commercial vehicles (ECVs) are being tested to determine their viability for local operations. A stellar example โ as we also reported in June โ came from Bakers SA Limited (Bakers),ย which conducted a trial of two eCanters over three months in which it evaluated the vehiclesโ performance, feasibility, and economic impact.
The two eCanters were tested under different operational conditions. โOne vehicle was on a fixed route between Johannesburg and Pretoria, while the other was deployed dynamically for last-mile urban deliveries,โ said Luqmaan Hansa, general manager: dedicated contracts at Bakers.
Others have made a permanent transition to ECVs. One company that has established a significant foothold in South Africaโs ECV landscape is JAC Motors. Founded in 1964 as a truck manufacturer, the Chinese automotive company expanded into passenger vehicles and bakkies in 2007 and has been manufacturing battery-electric trucks since 2014. โJAC SA was the first company to introduce electric commercial vehicles [for sale] into South Africa with the introduction of the JAC N55 EV three-tonne truck,โ says Karl-Heinz Gรถbel, CEO of JAC Motors South Africa.
The truck made its South African debut in June 2021. The first N55 EV was acquired by logistics specialists Aversa, and adoption has grown significantly ever since. โApproximately 50 JAC electric trucks are operating in South Africa with an accumulative mileage nearing four million kilometres,โ Gรถbel reveals.
When asked about the benefits ECVs offer over other drivetrains, Gรถbel highlights several key advantages: โSignificantly lower total cost of ownership; known energy costs versus fluctuating diesel fuel costs, which enables fleet owners to cost and price contracts and operating costs; lower CO2 emissions; lower noise levels; improved uptime versus internal combustion engine vehicles; and a lifespan of electric motors that far exceeds the lifespan of internal combustion engines.โ
He adds that thereโs also โsmooth and seamless delivery of instantaneous torque and powerโ plus โan improved driver environment with substantial reduction in noise, harshness, and vibrations versus internal-combustion-powered vehicles, and reduced driver fatigueโ.
The JAC electric vehicle lineup on South African roads consists of three models: the JAC N55 EV three-tonne, JAC N75 EV four-tonne (launched in 2022), and JAC X200 EV 1.9-tonne, which made its debut in August.
The newest addition to JACโs electric fleet is the worldโs first right-hand-drive battery-electric forward cab in this category. The X200 EVโs electric motor generates 50kW (105kW peak power) and 140/300Nm, delivering instant torque, while it is powered by a 63.75-kWh lithium-ion phosphate (LFP) battery.
The X200 EV offers a range of up to 180km per charge, depending on load and traffic conditions. Charging the vehicle from 20 to 80% with a DC fast charger takes 35 minutes, while a full charge requires 90 minutes. Regenerative braking helps extend battery life and range. โThe X200 EV is an economical, reliable, and safe solution for last-mile deliveries. It offers over 50% savings in fuel/energy costs compared to conventional workhorses and reduces maintenance costs by up to 70%, minimising your total cost of ownership,โ says Gรถbel.
โWe have been able to successfully sign up major transport operators with our N55 EV and N75 EV trucks, and we are now building on our experience over the last three years to meet the growing demand for smaller, cost-efficient, green-energy workhorses,โ he adds.
The N55 EV is powered by a 96.77-kWh capacity LFP battery. When standard European CCS2-Combo connections are used โ the standard plug for EV AC charging in South Africa โ the battery recharges to 80% capacity in only one-and-a-half hours and 100% in two hours. It has a 200-km range per charge, 65/130kW, and 415/1,200Nm torque.
The N75 EV also features a 65/130-kW motor delivering 415/1,200Nm of torque. Itโs powered by a 106.95-kWh LFP battery pack providing a range of 200km per charge. When using a DC fast charger with a standard European CCS2-Combo connection, the battery recharges in approximately two hours.
It isnโt all about power, however, as the servicing costs also present a compelling case. โServicing cost for the X200 EV 1.9-tonne are approximately nine cents per kilometre. It also comes standard with a five-year/100,000-km service plan and service intervals at 20,000km,โ expands Gรถbel. โServicing costs for the N75 EV four-tonne are approximately 21 cents per kilometre, also with service intervals every 20,000km.โ
When asked about the future for JACโs ECV offering in South Africa and across the continent, Gรถbel is optimistic: โThe future is extremely promising, to the point that JAC SA will be introducing more electric commercial vehicle products with increased GVM and specific niche market segment products.โ
He identifies several trends shaping this future: โAs battery technology improves exponentially, electrification of fleets is going to become even greater. Customers and fleet owners have realised that operational efficiency is central, and are working on altering their operational models to adopt electric commercial vehicles.โ
The company has already made significant inroads into major corporate fleets. โJAC SA has supplied electric commercial vehicles to major blue-chip corporates and Eskom,โ reveals Gรถbel. โCurrently, there are several double-digit orders to various corporates and repeat double-digit orders from Eskom.
โThe Future Is Charged!โ he declares, aptly summarising JACโs confidence in the burgeoning ECV revolution on South African roads.
As the transport industry grapples with rising fuel costs, environmental pressures, and the need for operational efficiency, JAC Motorsโ electric commercial vehicles are proving that the transition to alternative drivetrains isnโt just viable in South Africa โ itโs already delivering tangible benefits to operators willing to embrace the change.
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