Like most of us you are probably concerned about rising fuel costs, and looking for ways on how to save on fuel costs. Recent rising prices in fuel cost are having a big impact on everyone. For example in South Africa, fuel costs have risen from R14 to R 24 in the last year since April 2020. In Germany, the prices have risen from 1.20 Euro to 2.40 Euro!

The rise in fuel costs has led many to think about how one can save on fuel costs. There is the option to use public transport, but that is not available to everyone.

The solution I would like to propose is the following. The solution is electric vehicles charged with solar power. Before thinking about reasons why this could not work. Just consider it for a moment and think about the reasons why it could work very well, and how it could work.

Solar radiation

This is especially a good idea in countries with high solar radiation like South Africa. In South Africa, in Gauteng, one can expect about 1500 kWh of energy per year to be produced from each one kiloWatt peak of solar installed. In Germany, this figure, (called the specific energy yield) is just about 900 kWh, in most Northern parts of Germany.

Electric vehicles cost and availability

Electric vehicles are becoming more and more commonplace and readily available.

This is not yet a viable option in South Africa as only high end expensive electric cars are available there at the moment. This is very likely to change within the next two years, as affordable electric cars are already commonplace in all European countries

• Here’s what the average used electric car looks like in South Africa – price and mileage
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The options in Germany are much more and a lot more affordable. For example, a Renault Zoe, with a 44 kWh battery, and a range of more than 300 km cost less than 10 000 Euros now on the used car market.

Cost per kilometre for electric and petrol

If the car is charged with solar power the cost per kilometre for fuel is zero. If charged with grid power in Germany. One kilowatt-hour currently costs 32 Euro cents. To travel 100 km in a Renault Zoe takes about 17 kWh. That works out to 5.44 Euros for 100 km.

In comparison, a petrol-powered car, for example, a Renault Kadjar, Cost 110 Euros to fill up a 50-litre tank. On that tank, we typically get about 600 km. That works out to 18.33 Euros for 100 km.

Comparing 5.44 Euro for 100 km for electricity and 18.33 Euro for petrol, it works out that petrol costs 3.3 times more!

Conclusion

This will accelerate the electric car revolution at a much faster rate. Tesla having recently completed the Tesla Giga factory in Berlin will also help a lot in accelerating this revolution. Making travel again affordable, clean and guilt-free, as we are no longer supporting countries like Russia and its war in Ukraine, by importing fuel and gas from them!

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