WHETHER you are ready or not, electric car talk is here and some countries are far ahead of us.
There are a lot of fears around all-electric cars but jokes aside, Donovan Goliath took such a car for spin and has a word of advice for Mzansi drivers.
The comedian and TV presenter recently took part in the inaugural Annual South African Electric Car Test organised by AutoTrader.
This is a first-of-its-kind, simulated open-road range assessment to determine how far electric cars are able to travel on a single charge in real-world South African conditions at a steady speed of 120 km/h.
So imagine going long distance at that speed and also having to think about saving your energy!
Donovan did it and shared the following tips with SunWheels, of course, with some sense of humour as well.
“We’ve all learnt to breathe with masks on. We don’t need as much air as we think we need – so just keep all of the windows closed,” quips the comedian, rightly pointing out that creating unnecessary drag can take significant bites out of an EV’s overall range.
Although the cars evaluated in the Annual South African Electric Car Test were all driven with their air-conditioning systems set at 21°C on auto, Donovan said another method of conserving battery power is to forgo controlling the temperature altogether.
“Do not turn on the air conditioning, even on a hot day. and no matter how much you’re struggling. All you need is a very strong 48-hour antiperspirant to make sure you don’t knock yourself out while driving because of the smell,” joked Donovan.
Finally, the Mthatha-born funnyman pointed to the benefits of regenerative braking, a recovery system that redirects what would otherwise be lost energy back into the EV’s battery during deceleration.
“Regenerative braking is your new best friend. Focus on the road and be savvy.
“Look far ahead, approach hills with enough speed and top up your battery by coasting down the other side. After all, with brake power, comes great responsibility,” he said.
George Mienie, AutoTrader’s CEO, who was part of the team that took part in the EV test, said that while Donovan’s tips may have you chuckling, they’re all entirely relevant.
“I drive an all-electric Jaguar I-Pace every day and although I plug in at virtually every available opportunity – treating my car like I do my smartphone – there have been times when I’ve needed to maximise range.
“And Donovan’s tips will stand you in good stead if you’re ever in the same situation … 48-hour antiperspirant or not,” said George.
