Funky FE-1 will be South Africa’s Cheapest EV in 2023
This cute little car is set to arrive in South Africa in 2023 as the cheapest EV available and it’s called the Funky FE-1.
Built and tested in China, Funky Electric is surprisingly planning to bring this model to our shores right at the beginning of its life, providing a much-needed affordable EV to our market. This is not the first time we saw it as it appeared at the Smarter Mobility Africa summit in Gauteng.
A cute but simple EV.
Right now, most of the EVs in South Africa are from luxury brands, but the Funky FE-1 has a whole different plan. It’s a tiny, cute little car that looks a lot like a Kei car and would probably meet the specifications for that title.
Weighing in at just 450 kg, it reportedly avoids some of the shipping costs which helps lower the price. Despite its size, it’s still a five-door car that can sit up to four people. As for back-seat comfort, we will have to wait to see how that pans out. We imagine it will be rather cramped for the taller passengers.
More features include a multifunctional steering wheel, a touchscreen system, reverse cameras, electric windows, a basic sound system and central locking. However, Funky FE-1 does not come with power-assisted steering as default. It can only be added optionally as well as air-conditioning.
“It’s small, but big enough, it’s got a cuteness factor and it’s perfect for suburban use because of its top speed. We are targeting moms taking kids to school, students going to university, dads on a short commute to work or those on quick shopping trips. It’s perfect as a second car.” – Co-founder of Funky Electric, Adele Theron
How well does the Funky FE-1 drive?
Powered by a 4kW electric motor that gets its energy from a 100 Ah lead-acid battery, Funky Electric say that it has a range of 100 km and a top speed of 60 km/h. So it’s definitely not the car to commute with between town and residential. Instead, it’s ideal to stay within residential areas or towns.
Charging is said to take around 3 hours from a standard 3-point plug. This will change as the battery gets older, a part which only has a two-year lifespan. Funky Electric does offer a battery swapping service which can even swap in a lithium-ion battery instead.
Local pricing for the funky EV.
Right now and likely for a long while going forward, Funky Electric will be the sole distributor of the FE-1 in South Africa. Its price is expected to be a very low R190 000.
Source: Cars | Funky Electric | Sunday Times
