Papi Mabele

Driven by Tech. Founding Editor @TWFLD Mail me [email protected]

[Papi Mabele @PapiMabele]

I’m honoured to have driven a few Electric Vehicles available in South Africa over the past few years.

So, I’ve listed my reviews of them here.

A thread 🧵

[Papi Mabele @PapiMabele]

Stop fighting it. Get an EV

[Papi Mabele @PapiMabele]

Manifesto yona?

[Sunday Times @SundayTimesZA]

Nxu­malo said he only found out later that Mashazi and her hus­band had trav­elled to Lon­don on the jet he had chartered for Xaba. https://t.co/ERhU0r3yNs

[Papi Mabele @PapiMabele]

@bafana_msimang Regardless, not sure what you’re expecting Geely to do.

[Papi Mabele @PapiMabele]

This is South Africa’s cheapest electric vehicle. This is the Geely E2 and pricing starts at R339 900.

Although I’ve seen a demo model priced at R329 890.

Here you get a 85kW and 150Nm motor good for 325km range. And it supports up 70kW DC fast charging. It truly makes sense for city driving.

[Papi Mabele @PapiMabele]

@bafana_msimang South Africa imposes significant taxes on imported electric vehicles, including a standard 25% import duty and an ad valorem tax that can add up to 30% depending on the vehicle's value.

[Papi Mabele @PapiMabele]

@Blykch1d Nothing different to what Volkswagen Group, Toyota, GM, Stellantis have done in the past and continue to do. Why won’t you call them out in the same breath?

[Papi Mabele @PapiMabele]

@bafana_msimang It would be in the same range if it wasn’t for our government

[Papi Mabele @PapiMabele]

@Blykch1d Do yourself a favour and research Geely, the brands they own and have partnerships with. You’ll swallow your words

[Papi Mabele @PapiMabele]

@LungzHimself @SoduboN Uber currently has an electric fleet and it’s working fine. This car would be more perfect for that market too

[Papi Mabele @PapiMabele]

@obakengMol @iGodfrey4CE Yes they have a joint venture

[Papi Mabele @PapiMabele]

@Wolfe20011974 Yoh ha a. Let people be

[Papi Mabele @PapiMabele]

@LindoMkhi Exactly

[News24 🇿🇦 @News24]

Huge surge in EV buying in SA as fuel prices bite

https://t.co/LiDPJWmP4L

[Papi Mabele @PapiMabele]

🙌🏾🥹

[Marques Brownlee @MKBHD]

"You might not fit in the car" 😅

[Papi Mabele @PapiMabele]

This is the new electric iCaur V23. It officially launches in South Africa this week and I just got to drive the AWD version to the Vaal and back.

​If you’ve spent any time inside the Jetour T1 or T2, the driving position and rugged ethos of the V23 will feel instantly familiar. However, because this is fully electric, the experience is completely different.

It feels significantly more instant, nimble, and light on its feet.

​The immediate torque is exactly what you want from a modern urban explorer, and the overall ride quality feels highly confident and composed.
​
Cruising along secondary routes, consumption maxed out at an impressive 11.3 kWh/100km. That boxy, retro-futuristic silhouette is great looking, but it does mean physics comes into play on the highway where the drag coefficient works against you. I’m definitely looking forward to getting this on a proper, long-distance road trip to see how the battery handles sustained open-road cruising.

As you step inside, you’re greeted by a massive 15.4-inch touchscreen that dominates the dash which is what we’ve come to expect from Chinese manufacturers lately. Phone connectivity is completely seamless, and a massive shoutout to the interior designers for including integrated MagSafe mounts for your iPhone. The ladies will love this.

Range is 430km when full.

When it comes to pricing, you can get the V23 2WD (100kW & 180Nm) from R519 900. Meanwhile this V23 AWD (155kW & 292Nm) starts at R669 900.

[Papi Mabele @PapiMabele]

@ManablazeMick JLR SA sold 175 new cars in April 2026

[Papi Mabele @PapiMabele]

@Ryan_Bubear @CarsSouthAfrica After the UK launch. I bet we’re getting it soon

[Papi Mabele @PapiMabele]

Hectik

[Mail & Guardian @mailandguardian]

The VW Transporter: Built like the Ford Tourneo but not better

https://t.co/YbrMCZWBWi

[Papi Mabele @PapiMabele]

As a publication you guys are stupidly reckless

[MyBroadband @mybroadband]

Economist warns that South Africans may stop using the rand

Efficient Group director and chief economist Dawie Roodt said that unless South Africa gets rid of exchange controls, people will stop using the rand in favour of cryptocurrencies and stablecoins.
https://t.co/hEPKaGiGrQ

[Papi Mabele @PapiMabele]

The Ferrari Luce.

This is Ferrari’s first ever electric vehicle.

What you get is four electric engines, one per wheel with 772kW and 990Nm and a range of 530km. 0-100km/h arrived in 2.5s

It weighs 2260kg