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BYD Aiming to Revolutionize Electric Vehicles in Zimbabwe
With the BYD T3 having a mileage of 300km per single charge, the motor industry in Zimbabwe is preparing for a great shift from the traditional diesel and petrol vehicles to the less costly electric vehicles. The company had already seen an interest in the market, as the vehicle is said to be perfect for everyday commuters.
Studies have shown an average citizen commuting daily from a local town, Norton, 40 km from the CBD, Harare, will require approximately 5–6 litres ($8.25) of fuel with a hybrid Honda Fit, which has become one of the most famous vehicles in Zimbabwe due to its fuel-saving capabilities. However, with the use of an EV from BYD, the T3 in particular, a full charge that lasts about 300km would cost approximately $5.60, and that will be 3 days’ worth of travel.
The average commuter on the same route and distance would need $681.33 per year to commute to work, whereas with traditional vehicles it would require $3011.25. Though these statistics do not immediately translate into customers or vehicle sales, the stock of BYD in the Southern African Region is yet to peak. The company said some of their clients had worries in regards to the terrain and environmental conditions of the area. Still, however, since 2021 they have had vehicles operating and they adjust well to the African terrain. Another area that might have been of concern was charging time and solar compatibility, which BYD has had a mandate to resolve over the years.
The vehicles come in with a standard charger, which requires 5 hours to fully charge the T3 with a 7, 2 kW charger, however, results may vary with your model of car, but now there is a 40 kW charging option, which cuts the time by more than half to just 1 hour 45 minutes, and the 60 kW charging option, which reduces the time even further to around 30-45 minutes for a full charge. All these chargers work with a 3-phase house installation and a 5kva solar system.
We are yet to see the rise of Electric Vehicles in Africa, but as it stands the trajectory looks promising and a venture worth investing in.
