IT has been voted the EV of the Year at the TopGear- SA awards for 2024 recently.
That’s the Volvo EX30- of which I had the pleasure to examine this past week.
That means the EX30 – an all-wheel-drive battery-electric premium small crossover – is the most powerful and fastest-accelerating new car priced under R1 million on the SA market.
The range-topping Twin Motor Performance derivatives (available in Plus and Ultra trim grades) have peak outputs of 315 kW/543 Nm, a range of 460 km and a claimed 0-100 kph time of 3.6 sec, due its 51-kWh lithium-ion phosphate battery and a claimed range of 343 km (based on the WLTP cycle).
The Swedish made offer is based on a dedicated electric-vehicle platform – it has distinctive packaging, a decidedly highly interior (there’s no speedometer; speed is displayed on the infotainment screen).
Apart from being the fastest, it boast driving experience, interior layout, practicality, value for money and ample relaxation, depended on your body size.
The oohs and aahs once again reverberated from locals in Bokone Bophirima, as I took it for an examination, in the company of family members, attending a relative funeral in Witpan, a village not far from Lichtenburg.
On the acceleration front, the Ultra Twin Motor Performance delivers remarkable power, sprinting from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.6 seconds—demonstrating that sustainability and performance can go hand in hand, that was made easy by the filling of potholes (as reported in my previous articles on potholes in the NW province).
BonaBona Game Reserve in Wolmaransstad, the sooner you sort out the EV charging point the better.
Our sincere gratitude, though, goes out to a gentle-giant named Mannie Van Vuuren- Operations Manager, who upon realising we were severely out of battery, had to use his boss Rolls Royce charging point at his house inside the lodge that gave us 15km drive- and literally escorted us another 8km towards a multimillion rand first off-grid, ultra-fast, green electric vehicle (EV) charging station in Wolmaransstad.
Unbeknown to me, the same state of the art off-grid EV charging station, Volvo SA provided vehicles for the launch in November, to demonstrate how the charging station works and driving green mobility and off-grid charging.
Joubert Roux, executive chairman of CHARGE was quoted as having said: “We are thrilled to be officially opening our first off-grid charging station, which marks a significant milestone in South Africa’s transition to EVs and a carbon-free future.
This has been a three year journey, highlighting our commitment to making our off-grid network a reality as we believe it will benefit South Africans in multiple ways,” he quipped.
The off-grid EV charging station boasts six state-of-the-art DC fast charging points for EVs, and two AC charging points for plug-in hybrids. The DC fast chargers are able to charge a vehicle in about 25 minutes (we can attest to that).
Motorists will also be able to enjoy a cup of coffee and a bite at the farm stall located at the station. CHARGE has developed an app available for both Android and iOS, for customers that will offer a seamless, user-friendly experience for managing their charging needs and transactions at its EV charging stations.
And yes, I was not charged (pun intended) for using their facility- thanks to a very patient Phillip Nel, Head of Software at Zero Carbon Charge.
On the award, Felipe Yagi- Head of Marketing & Communications at Volvo SA, attributed:” “Winning EV of the Year at the TopGear South Africa Awards 2024 is a proud moment for Volvo and a recognition of what the EX30 represents.
Its advanced battery technology, impressive range, and competitive pricing have enticed myriad customers, reflected in the strong sales of our premium electric crossover.”
Yagi further said, this award affirms that Volvo is on the right path, pushing the boundaries of electric mobility while staying true to our core values of safety, quality, and innovation.
In the first ten months of 2024, Volvo sold 348 units of the EX30, making it one of the most successful electric vehicles in South Africa.
The local Volvo EX30 lineup comprises three trims: Core, Plus, and Ultra.
Starting at R791,900, the EX30 Core stands out as one of South Africa’s most affordable premium electric crossovers.
Both my niece and nephew in unison agreed, just for once- ‘this a glass car’ thanks to panoramic view and the fact that’s its BLACK…
Verdict
Performance 1-10 (8)
EV.
All images SLM ( The award winning Volvo EX30 charging at the multimillion rand, first off-grid, ultra-fast, green electric vehicle (EV) charging station in Wolmaransstad, NW province).
