November 25, 2021
THE WITNESS
High prices of EVs will have to drop Africa’s drivers will be slow to adopt zero-emission vehicles when they cost more to buy than this 50-year-old Peugeot 404, which still works as a very cost-effective taxi in Harar, Ethiopia. PHOTO: DUNCAN MOORE, UNEP
Africa: last stand for oldies The latest Conference of the Parties (COP26) was not the usual spouting of hot air that will have zero impact on South Africa. Instead, 33 countries, 11 auto companies and 27 fleet owners have agreed to “go faster” towards the goal of zero emission vehicles (ZEV) in 2035 for the leading markets and 2040 for the rest of the world.
Alongside the ZEV pledge, a group of 15 countries led by The Netherlands have signed a memorandum of understanding to eliminate emissions from heavy duty transport and buses by 2040, when 70% of vehicles are expected to be zero-emission based on current sales trends. While the low operating costs of electric vehicles have spurred market adoption in Europe, the makers of ZEVs face a last-ditch battle for drivers’ wallets from the dumpers of old fossil-fuelled
cars. According to a 2020 UNEP report, Africa received 40% of the five million used cars that are dumped annually in Africa by European, Japanese and U.S. exporters. Nancy Karigithu, principal secretary at state department for shipping and maritime, Kenya, has called for stricter controls to stop the dumping of cheap but old cars in Africa. “We need to make sure a safe transition happens in Kenya and the region. We need to make
JAC’S NEW T8 GIVES ‘THE MOST BAKKIE’ FOR YOUR BUCKS ALWYN VILJOEN JAC Motors has introduced the new T8 2.0-litre TCi double-cab and Midlands distributer Metro Cars have three models ready to test drive. Metro Cars sales manager Elvis Naidoo said the T8 is the most advanced pick-up ever developed by JAC Motors in its 58-year history and offers “the most bakkie for the money in South Africa”. Karl-Heinz Göbel, Chief Executive Officer of JAC Motors South Africa said the T8 is based on JAC Motors’ eighth-generation international platform that provides increased stability, safety and comfort. The newly engineered, highly responsive 2,0-litre common-rail turbo-diesel engine features an intercooler and Electrical Variable Geometry Turbocharger (EVGT), delivering 104 kW @ 3 600 rpm and 320 Nm torque between 1 600 to 2 600 rpm. The powerplant is paired to a sixspeed manual transmission that effortlessly utilises all the torque available throughout its powerband. The smooth transmission of power to the wheels ensures a relaxing driving experience. The average fuel consumption of the new 2.0-litre 4x2 is 8,7 L/100km (combined cycle) and will give you an approximate range of 900 km on its 76-litre tank.
“The reliability and durability of JAC Motors’ products are excellent and serve as a primary motivator in our worldwide sales approach, with customers and big transport fleets vouching for these incredible attributes,” says Göbel. Naidoo said the T8 is well-equipped and features luxurious interior appointments such as a multi-function steering wheel, adjustable steering column, cruise control, air-conditioner, leather seats and electric windows. It also features a multi-information display instru-
ment cluster, a reverse camera, rear park distance sensors, remote keyless entry and central locking with auto door locks. Standard fitment includes an upmarket nine-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Bluetooth and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto smartphone connectivity. He said the T8 is a hard worker too, with a payload of 900 kg on the double-skinned load-box that is sprayed with an anti-scratch and corrosion-resistant truck bed liner. It can tow a braked trailer up to 2 000 kg. The 4×4 features a reliable ESOF electronically-controlled time-sharing four-wheel-drive system from BorgWarner. With the press of a button, the driver can switch between two-wheel drive (2H) and four-wheel drive (4H) up to 80 km/h. The T8 4×4 also offers a low-speed fourwheel drive (4L) selection and a torque amplification mode, enhancing off-road ability. An electronically-controlled rear diff-lock ensures that no obstacle is too big for the powerful T8. The T8’s retail price includes the company’s standard 5-year/150 000 km manufacturer’s warranty and 5-year/60 000 km service plan. Service intervals are scheduled every 10 000 km. T8 2.0L CTi pricing: 4×2 Lux: R412 400 4×4 Lux: R462 400
Next-gen Ranger ‘toughest and most capable’ Ford on Wednesday launched the next-gen Ranger, using all the company’s expertise in building America’s best-selling vehicle and input from over 5 000 customers in 180 markets around the world. The next-gen Ranger project was led by Ford’s Product Development Centre in Australia. “Our team was focused on one goal — to make this Ranger the toughest and most capable we’ve ever created,” said Graham Pearson, Ranger vehicle programme director. NEW POWERTRAIN CHOICES Customers wanted a choice of more power and torque for towing heavy loads and extreme offroading, so the team fine-tuned Ford’s proven 3.0l V6 turbodiesel for the next-gen Ranger. The next-gen Ranger will also come with a choice of proven single-turbo and the bi-turbo 2.0 inline four-cylinder diesels. In addition, the next-gen Ranger will be available with a tried and tested 2.3l EcoBoost four cylinder that underpins a range of Ford global products and is a perfect choice for customers who prefer petrol propulsion. New transmission choices include an updated 10-speed auto or six-speed manual, complementing the six-speed automatic. IMPROVED RIDE AND HANDLING Beneath the new bodywork is an upgraded chassis riding on a wheelbase 50 mm longer and a track 50 mm wider than the prior Ranger. A hydro-formed front-end structure creates more space in the engine bay for the new V6 engine and helps future-proof the Ranger for other propulsion technologies. It also opens up the front of the pickup to allow more airflow to the radiator, which helps keep running temperatures low when towing or carrying heavy loads. Customers will have a choice of two four-wheel drive systems, an electronic shift-on-the-fly system, or advanced full-time 4x4 system with a reassuring set-and-forget mode, designed for capability when and where customers need it.
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WHEELS
www.witness.co.za
ALWYN VILJOEN
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The next-generation Ford Rangers will be built in Thailand and South Africa from next year. PHOTO: QUICKPIC BUILT TO CARRY LOADS A new, tough plastic-moulded bedliner that helps protect both the truck bed from scratches and owner’s knees from kneeling on a steel truck bed. Extra cargo tie-down points — on strong steel tube rails — provide convenient points to secure loads. Durable, flexible load box caps around the sides of the box and across the tailgate conceal structural attachment points for canopies and other aftermarket accessories. In addition, Ranger offers a new cargo management system designed with dividers to hold various sized items – like timber or toolboxes. Zone lighting – controlled via the in-cabin SYNC screen or through the FordPass App – provides 360-degree lighting around the truck to help give customers better visibility around the vehicle. Load box lighting is provided under the
left- and right-hand rails and provides plenty of light for finishing up jobs in low light or finding things in the cargo box at night. PERSONALISED ACCESSORIES Customers will be able to personalise their nextgen Ranger with a range of almost 600 fully factory-backed work, urban and adventure accessories, depending on the market. These accessories include those developed in collaboration with global off-road icon, ARB 4x4 Accessories. The ARB 4x4 Accessories and Ford collaboration will initially be rolling out in select markets. The next-generation Ranger will be built at Ford’s plants in Thailand and SA from January next year, with other markets to be announced at a later date. — WR.
sure it does not happen in a free market system which encourages the dumping,” Karigithu said at COP26. Karigithu’s sentiments form part of an agreement by the 15 countries of the Economic Community of West African States, which in February 2020 adopted a comprehensive set of regulations to introduce cleaner fuels and vehicles in the region, limiting imports of used passenger cars to model years that are 10 years or younger and bakkies to five years or younger, all complying with Euro 4 emission levels and consuming only 5 l/100 km (20 km/l) by 2025. The outcome of the battle between ZEVs and old but cheap fossil-fuel imports is certain — ZEVs will win. The only question is how long the battle will last, considering that 70-year-old taxis are not an unusual sight in West Africa. Kenya, Morocco, Ghana and Rwanda were first signatories from Africa at the COP26 and their young people may yet leapfrog over fossilfuel clunkers to ride on the slew of cheap electric motorbikes made in India and China. But if electric motorbikes continue to retail for the same price, or even cost more, than a diesel Corolla dumped by importers from Japan, the young entrepreneurs of Africa will always opt to buy the fossil-fuel car for the same money, or to fix up the old clunker yet again. EVEES NOW WHERE DIESEL WAS This view was echoed by Vishay Rabbipal, head of Renewable Energy at Absa, who views current predictions of as many as 2,9 million electric vehicles in South Africa by 2050 as rather optimistic. Rabbipal was speaking at the second of a series of “Let’s Talk Business” webinars, organised by Automechanika Johannesburg in association with Absa. Rabbipal compared the current slow switch to EVs around the world to the upsurge in the sale of diesel-engined passenger cars over the past 14 years since 2007, which was just before the global economic meltdown. “Although the purchase price of diesel cars is higher than that of a similar petrol-engined car, fuel consumption is up to 30% lower which drove the sales of these models. The share of the passenger car market by petrol-engined cars fell from 73% in 2007 to 63% in 2016. “This swing to an alternative power source such as electricity with higher initial cost but lower running costs can be echoed by EVs,” said Rabbipal. But he warned that the current high prices of all-electric cars over that of similarly powered and specced fossil-fuel car, equates to about 60 000 km on the road, which will have to drop before buyers will move to the cheaper operating costs.
Wheeled events in KZN SATURDAY: Kurt Volmink Motors presents Chill Session at Trustfeed ePlazini Lifestyle Spin Area on Saturday, gates opening at 10 am. Local teams Kyle, Smoke Kurt, Nevs Sparks, Mxo, Alky Everson, Churaly, Ndu, Judas Telente, Teddy, Suveer, and Thembele will go up against each other and show the visiting crew from Ethandwayimi, Mlu and Themba, how Msunduzi rolls. Admission is R60 for adults and R30 for children under 12. Contact Minora on 073 560 0795 for more info. SUNDAY: Over 300 entries are expected at the long-delayed “Cars at the Farm” powered by Autozone Chatsworth, with bikes, classic and new cars on show at 53 Pope Ellis Drive in Ashburton. Lots of prizes to be won by spectators. Admission is R30 per person. Free entry for children U12 and drivers of vehicles on display. WhatsApp 065 721 6523 or email carsatthefarm@gmail for more information. DECEMBER 2: The KZN Road Racing Club hosts car and bike races at Dezzi Raceway. Admission is R100 for adults, R50 for kids. DECEMBER 11: The Natal Recreational Club’s hosts their monthly test stage in the Dalton area. R350 per car or bike to enter, with stock-standard cars welcome in the Clubman class. Contact Dean Redelinghuys on 083 657 1526.
WOOLRIDGE AND VONK CEMENT RUNNER-UP SPOT AS CROSS COUNTRY SERIES WRAPS UP CHARMAINE FORTUNE One of the most exciting and competitive South African Cross Country Series (SACCS) championships in many years was wrapped up overt the past weekend, with the Ford Castrol Cross Country Team of Lance Woolridge and Elvéne Vonk (334) finishing second overall in the Production Vehicle and FIAclass standings. In the first season competing with the allnew 3.5-litre EcoBoost V6-powered Ford Ranger, designed and built by Neil Woolridge Motorsport (NWM), Woolridge and Vonk rounded off the year with a second-place finish at the Toyota Gazoo Racing SA Parys 400 in the Free State, cementing their runner-up positions in the title chase for drivers and navigators. Gareth Woolridge and Boyd Dreyer (377) ended a frustrating year fourth in FIA-class. Malcolm and Frans Kock (T4) took the 2021 Class T title in NWM Ford Ranger, but the victory in Parys and second place in the championship went to Wors Prinsloo/Andre Vermeulen (T41), ahead of Christo Rose/Arno Olivier (T58) Ford NWM Development Team of Bapi Rubuluza and Fanifani Meyiwa (T49) ended the season with another fine fourth-placed finish. “The whole team is extremely proud of what Bapi and Fanifani have achieved this year,” NWM team principal Neil Woolridge
said. “We as experienced competitors often don’t realise how difficult it is for a new team to come into the sport and learn how to drive a specially developed, high-performance V8-powered race car in this type of terrain. Yes, the Development Team had its difficulties this year, and they were down in the dumps after crashing out at the Desert Race; but they never gave up and were rewarded with a second-place finish at the 4x4 Mega World 400 ...” Neil added. “The crew has learned a lot, they gained a lot of confidence and their pace has improved consistently, giving them two fourth places in a row. The sport desperately needs to be more inclusive and diverse, and to attract wider interest and participation amongst competitors and fans alike. Bapi and Fanifani are great ambassadors for cross country racing.” Woolridge said NWM team won two of the seven races over the year and stood on the podium on six of the events. “For a brand-new car with a completely new engine, it is an exceptional result, especially competing against the big budget Toyota has, and they aren’t multiple Dakar Rally and international cross country winners for nothing. Our team can be extremely proud of the results this year, which contributed to the very close racing, and our ability to take the title fight right down to the wire,” Neil added.
Ses’fikile finally gets active safety systems on board Toyota has added a range of active safety systems to the existing ABS system and driver guard in the Hiace Ses’fikile. Headlining the change is Vehicle Stability Control, which is complemented by Brake Assist (BA), Hill Assist Control (HAC) and Traction Control (TRC). These new functions join the existing ABS system to provide enhanced safety while assisting the driver to maintain vehicle control when conditions require. The emergency brake signal (flashing of vehicle tail-lights to warn other road users), forms
part of the safety spec upgrades. A new hooter design with enhanced durability has also been included. All models are sold with six services or 60 000 km service plan, and three-year or 100 000 km warranty. Service intervals are set at 12 months or 10 000 km. Customers can also purchase service plan and warranty upgrades from any of the 220 Toyota dealers nationwide. — WR. Hiace Ses’fikile prices 2.7 16-seater R478 500 2.5 Diesel 16-seater R508 300.