Electric vs. Petrol Used Cars in South Africa: Cost Comparison

The price of petrol seems to climb every other week, making you wonder if it’s finally time to switch to an electric vehicle (EV). But with high upfront costs and the constant reality of load shedding, is a used EV really the smarter financial choice in South Africa? It’s a confusing decision where the sticker price only tells a fraction of the story.

At Used Car Africa, we see this question come up daily. We’re not just about selling cars; we’re about empowering you with the real-world numbers and local knowledge to make the right choice for your wallet and your lifestyle. We cut through the hype to give you a clear, Rand-and-cents breakdown of the true cost of owning a used electric car versus a traditional petrol one right here in SA.

The Total Cost of Ownership: Petrol vs. Electric

To understand the real financial picture, we need to look beyond the purchase price. The Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) includes everything from fuel and maintenance to insurance over several years. Let’s compare two popular used models you might find in cities like Cape Town or Johannesburg: a 2018 VW Polo 1.0 TSI and a 2018 BMW i3.

1. The Upfront Cost: Purchase Price & Financing

This is the first and most significant hurdle for prospective EV owners. Used electric cars, even older models, command a significant premium over their petrol counterparts due to battery costs and limited supply in the South African market.

• Used Petrol (e.g., VW Polo): You can find a reliable, late-model Polo for anywhere between R220,000 and R280,000. Financing is straightforward, and the lower principal amount means more manageable monthly instalments.
• Used Electric (e.g., BMW i3): A similar year used BMW i3 will likely set you back between R400,000 and R550,000. This higher purchase price means you’ll need a larger deposit or face significantly higher monthly finance payments.

2. Running Costs: The Fuel vs. Electricity Battle

This is where the EV starts to fight back. While you pay more to buy it, you pay significantly less to run it if you can manage the charging logistics.

To make this clear, let’s compare the costs over a typical year of driving (20,000 km).

As the table shows, the annual running costs of an EV can be over 35% lower than a petrol car. Your savings on fuel alone are substantial, but it takes many years of these savings to pay back the initial R200,000 price difference.

3. Maintenance and Servicing

Most people underestimate how much they spend keeping a petrol car on the road. This is another major win for EVs.

• Petrol Cars: Require regular and costly maintenance. Think annual oil and filter changes, new spark plugs, air filters, and eventually, expensive jobs like cambelt or clutch replacements.
• Electric Cars: Have drastically fewer moving parts. There are no oil changes, no exhaust systems, no spark plugs, and no clutches. Maintenance is mostly limited to tyres (which can wear faster due to the instant torque and weight), brake fluid, and cabin air filters. The big-ticket item is the battery, but modern EV batteries are designed to last for well over 200,000 km with minimal degradation.

Watch Out: The Battery Health Check
When buying a used EV, a battery health certificate is non-negotiable. This report, which can be obtained from the dealer, tells you the battery’s remaining capacity. A battery with significant degradation will reduce your range and is extremely expensive to replace. Do not buy a used EV without this report.

4. Insurance Premiums

Insurers in South Africa view EVs as higher-risk items. Their higher purchase value, combined with the specialised (and expensive) nature of repairs for batteries and electronics, means you will almost always pay a higher monthly premium compared to a similarly sized petrol car. Always get quotes for both before making a final decision.

The South African Realities Box

Thinking about a used EV in SA isn’t just about the numbers. You have to consider our unique local challenges.

• Load Shedding is the Elephant in the Room: How do you charge your car when the power is out for 4-8 hours a day? For most EV owners, a home solar and inverter system is not a luxury—it’s a necessity, adding another R100,000+ to your initial investment.
• Public Charging Infrastructure: While networks like GridCars are expanding, public chargers are still concentrated in major hubs like Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Durban. Planning a long-distance trip to the Karoo or the Wild Coast requires meticulous planning and creates range anxiety.
• Limited Used Market: The pool of used EVs is small. You’ll mostly find the BMW i3, Mini Cooper SE, and maybe a Jaguar I-PACE. Finding a used Tesla is rare and comes at a huge premium. This compares to a vast, competitive market for used petrol cars like the VW Polo, Toyota Starlet, or Ford Ranger.
• Specialist Technicians: Outside of the official dealerships, finding an independent mechanic qualified to work on high-voltage EV battery systems is extremely difficult. This can lead to higher repair costs and longer waiting times.

Verify specifics locally before making any purchase decisions.

Reality Check: When Does a Petrol Car Still Make More Sense?

An EV is not a silver bullet for every South African driver. You should probably stick with a used petrol or diesel vehicle if:

• Your budget is tight: The high initial purchase price of a used EV can break your budget and the long-term savings might not be enough to justify the financial stretch.
• You frequently drive long distances: If your work or lifestyle involves regular trips between provinces or into rural areas, the current charging infrastructure will be a constant source of stress.
• You live in an apartment or complex: Without a dedicated, private garage where you can install a home charger, owning an EV becomes a logistical nightmare.
• You don’t have a solar/inverter system: Relying solely on Eskom to charge your car is a risky strategy with the current state of the grid.

Your 7-Step Action Plan Before You Buy

Ready to make a decision? Follow these practical steps to find out which option is truly right for you.

1. Map Your Daily Drive: Calculate your average daily and weekly kilometres. This will help you determine if an EV’s range is sufficient and how much you’d save on fuel.
2. Get Real Insurance Quotes: Contact your insurer and get binding quotes for the specific used petrol and EV models you are considering.
3. Analyse Your Home Power: Check your municipality’s electricity tariff (cost per kWh). If you don’t have a backup power solution, get quotes for a basic solar/inverter setup.
4. Scout Your Routes: Use an app like PlugShare to see where public charging stations are located on your most frequent long-distance routes.
5. Compare Real-World Prices: Browse listings on Used Car Africa for a 2-3 year old petrol car (like a Suzuki Swift) and a used EV (like a Mini Cooper SE) to see the true price gap.
6. Demand a Battery Health Report: If you’re serious about a used EV, make the sale conditional on receiving a satisfactory battery health certificate from the official dealer.
7. Test Drive Both: The driving experience is completely different. A petrol car is familiar. An EV is silent, with instant acceleration. You need to feel which one suits you better.

Drive Smarter, Not Harder

Choosing between a used electric and a petrol car in South Africa is a complex financial equation. The petrol car wins on upfront affordability and go-anywhere convenience. The electric car wins on lower running costs and a smoother driving experience, but only if you can overcome the hurdles of purchase price and load shedding.

By using this guide to calculate your personal Total Cost of Ownership, you can move beyond the headlines and make a confident, informed decision based on your budget, your lifestyle, and the on-the-ground realities of driving in SA.