Eco-friendly electric cars to scoot around in

Electric cars are the future and they are available to us now. It’s never too late to become an environmentally-conscious driver, nor has it ever been easier.

There are 10 eco-friendly cars available in South Africa that either have zero C02 emissions, meaning your carbon footprint is drastically reduced.

If you’re looking to go green, peruse this list of environmentally-friendly cars to consider if you’re in the market for new wheels.

1. Mini Cooper SE

The iconic Mini Cooper has gone electric with its SE model, being green is now both effortless and chic. The car is silent, with a very easy-to-use charging system that can be plugged into a standard household power socket. The Mini Cooper SE retails for R642 000 and is available in South Africa and is a zero-emission car.

2. BMW i-3

Don’t be fooled by the size of this car. Dynamite comes in small packages, remember? Like the Mini Cooper SE, the BMW i-3 is also electric and therefore a zero-emission car. While it’s not necessarily aesthetically pleasing, compromises can be made when it comes to saving the planet. Much to BMW’s style, the car can go from 0 to 100km/h in 7.3 [BMW i3s: 6.9] seconds, without gear changes or interruption. The car retails for R721 700.

3. Jaguar I-Pace

Also an electric vehicle, meaning zero carbon emissions, the Jaguar I-Pace is both powerful and pretty. The SUV provides 294kW and 696Nm of usable instant torque. With built-in All Wheel Drive traction, the car accelerates from 0-100km/h in 4.8 seconds. Unsurprisingly, the car comes with a hefty price tag of R1,115,100.

4. The Nissan LEAF

The Nissan Leaf is not yet available in South Africa but the all-electric, zero-emission car is ‘Nissan’s Leading Environmentally friendly Affordable Family car’, hence LEAF.  The front-mounted electric motor is powered by an advanced lithium-ion battery that takes approximately 7 hours to charge from empty to full. To stay in the loop with the Nissan LEAF, register on the Nissan website here.

5. The Audi e-tron

The full-size SUV is a combination of practicality and functionality. The car is fitted with two electric motors, which makes the electric vehicle incredibly powerful. The car is also an all-wheel electric dive and owners will be able to charge their car at home. Currently there is no pricing available in South Africa but rumours suggest the price will be over R1.5-million.

6. Mercedes-Benz EQC electric SUV

Another potential dream car that isn’t hurting the planet but will hurt your wallet, is the Mercedes EQC. The compact SUV seats five and shares various structural similarities to the GLC-class. The car comes with a Wallbox Home that has a charging capacity of 7.4 kW. The car is not yet available in South Africa but you can register to stay in the loop with news and updates on the car.

Beautiful yet pricey. Picture: Mercedes