Tino Talks Tech

Category: Cars

  • The Current State of EVs in Zimbabwe

    The Current State of EVs in Zimbabwe

    The move towards EVs is a global trend, but how’s it shaping up in our neck of the woods? Today we’re looking at how the Zimbabwean market is taking this move towards EVs. Let’s break it down.

    The Push for Electric Vehicles in Zimbabwe

    Zimbabwe is slowly gearing up to join the global EV revolution. The government has introduced a draft electric vehicle policy aiming to cut down on the massive fuel import bills and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. With a subsidy plan worth about $366.7 million until 2030, alongside tax incentives, they’re trying to make EVs more appealing.

    However, let’s be real – the adoption of EVs here faces significant challenges. From load shedding to high costs, and a community deeply attached to their combustion engines, there’s a lot to consider.

    Load Shedding and Power Supply Issues

    One of the biggest hurdles for EVs in Zimbabwe is the unreliable power supply. Frequent load shedding means that ensuring a consistent power supply for EV charging is tough. Zimbabwe generates less electricity than it consumes, leading to load shedding to manage the shortfall. For EV owners, the fear of not being able to charge their vehicles consistently is a major deterrent.

    Economic Constraints

    Another significant barrier is the high cost of EVs. Most Zimbabweans purchase vehicles for under $10,000, while a new EV costs between $15,000 and $20,000. Even with subsidies, these prices are out of reach for many. Additionally, the infrastructure to support EVs, like charging stations, is still developing, adding to the overall expense.

    Zimbabwe’s economic situation, marked by high inflation and limited access to foreign currency, exacerbates this issue. Both individuals and the government face difficulties in investing heavily in EV technology and infrastructure.

    Cultural Reluctance

    The Zimbabwean community is deeply rooted in the use of combustion engine vehicles. There’s a general reluctance to switch to EVs, partly due to perceptions about their performance and costs. Many believe that EVs are expensive to maintain and may not be up to the task of handling long distances or rough terrains often encountered in Zimbabwe.

    Infrastructure Challenges

    The infrastructure for supporting EVs in Zimbabwe is still in its infancy. Poor road conditions in many areas can be challenging for EVs, which typically have lower ground clearance than traditional vehicles. Moreover, the lack of charging stations, especially in urban areas, poses a significant challenge.

    Despite these hurdles, some progress is being made. The Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA) has registered a few EVs, and there’s an effort to set up more charging stations across the country. For example, Zuva Petroleum is partnering with local startups to roll out charging stations at their fuel garages.

    Government and Private Sector Initiatives

    The government has begun adding EVs to its vehicle fleet to promote uptake. The Central Mechanical Equipment Department (CMED) has already included 14 EVs, used at the CMED driving school and as shuttle cars at the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport.

    Private companies are also gearing up for the EV boom. Vaya, a ride-hailing service owned by our largest telecommunication company Econet Wireless, launched in 2020, offers EVs as part of a premium service for passenger and logistical services.

    The Road Ahead

    While there are concerted efforts by the government and private sectors to promote EV adoption, significant challenges remain. Addressing power reliability, reducing costs, changing public perceptions, and improving infrastructure are crucial steps that need to be taken to make EVs a viable option for the average Zimbabwean.

    Conclusion

    Zimbabwe is on the brink of an EV revolution, but it’s clear that we have a long road ahead. With the right policies, investments, innovations, and shifts in public perception, electric vehicles can become a feasible and sustainable option for many Zimbabweans. For now, we watch and wait as the nation takes these tentative but hopeful steps towards a greener future.

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    Feel free to leave a comment below with your thoughts or questions about EVs in Zimbabwe. I’d love to hear from you!

  • My Thoughts on the Xiaomi SU7: A Car Made by a Phone Company

    My Thoughts on the Xiaomi SU7: A Car Made by a Phone Company

    You probably know Xiaomi as a company that makes cheap and good smartphones, but did you know that they also make electric cars? Yes, you heard that right. The Chinese tech giant has just revealed its first EV, the Xiaomi SU7, a beautiful and powerful sedan that wants to compete with Tesla and Porsche. In this article, I will give you my opinion on the Xiaomi SU7 and tell you about its specs, price, availability, pros, cons and what it means for the car industry and the phone industry.

    Specs

    The Xiaomi SU7 is built on a new platform called Modena, which uses a cell-to-body battery design that saves space and weight. The car is 4,997 mm long, 1,963 mm wide, and 1,455 mm high, which makes it slightly bigger than the Tesla Model S. It also has an amazing wind resistance rating of Cd 0.195, the lowest among any production car, which improves its aerodynamics and efficiency.

    The car comes in two versions: the regular rear-wheel-drive SU7 EV, and the all-wheel-drive SU7 EV Max. The first one has a single motor that makes 299 horsepower and 400 Nm of torque, which lets it go from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.28 seconds and reach a top speed of 210 km/h. The second one has a dual-motor system that makes 673 horsepower and 838 Nm of torque, which lets it go from 0 to 100 km/h in 2.8 seconds and reach a top speed of 265 km/h. That’s faster than both the Porsche Taycan and the Tesla Model S!

    The battery options are also impressive, from 73.6 kWh to 150 kWh. The regular SU7 EV has a 73.6 kWh battery that gives it a range of 600 km according to the China Light-Duty Vehicle Test Cycle (CLTC), which is equivalent to about 492 km according to the more realistic WLTP standard. The SU7 EV Max has a 101 kWh battery that gives it a range of 800 km (656 km WLTP). Xiaomi also plans to offer 132 kWh and 150 kWh batteries in the future, which could give the car a range of over 1,000 km.

    The charging speed is also amazing, as the SU7 EV Max can reportedly get 220 km of range with just 5 minutes of charging. Xiaomi says that the car can use both AC and DC charging, and can use chargers with up to 800 volts and 350 kW of power.

    Price

    The official price and availability of the Xiaomi SU7 are still unknown, but some reports say that the regular version might cost around $60,000 or £47,000 while the max version might cost around $75,000 ot £59,600. That’s cheaper than the Tesla Model S, which starts from $74,000 or £58,800 and the Porsche Taycan, which starts from $90,000 or £71,500. However, these prices are likely to be for the Chinese market only, and may change depending on the taxes and incentives in different countries.

    Availability

    The Xiaomi SU7 is currently in pre-production, but it is expected to be ready for sale in the first half of 2024. The car will first be launched in China, where Xiaomi has a strong presence and loyal fan base. However, the company is also thinking about expanding to other markets, such as Europe and India, where it also has a lot of customers for its smartphones and other products. Xiaomi’s CEO, Lei Jun, has said that he wants to make Xiaomi one of the world’s top five car makers, and that the SU7 is his final major entrepreneurial project.

    Pros

    There are many reasons to be excited about the Xiaomi SU7, as it offers a lot of value and innovation for its price. Some of the pros of the car are:

    It has a gorgeous design that mixes elements from the McLaren and the Porsche Taycan, giving it a sporty and futuristic look.
    It has a roomy and comfortable interior, with a big trunk and a frunk, and a simple dashboard that has a 15.6-inch touchscreen and a digital instrument cluster.
    It has a high-performance drive train that delivers amazing speed and acceleration, competing with some of the best EVs in the market.
    It has a long-range battery that can last for hundreds of kilometers on a single charge, and can be recharged quickly with fast chargers.
    It has a smart operating system that connects with Xiaomi’s ecosystem of products and services, such as its smartphones, apps, smart home devices, and cloud platform.
    It has advanced autonomous driving features that use high-resolution cameras, LiDAR, ultrasonic and radar sensors to provide a safe and convenient driving experience.

    Cons

    Of course, no car is perfect, and the Xiaomi SU7 also has some drawbacks that may discourage some potential buyers. Some of the cons of the car are:

    It has a huge rear camera module that sticks out from the back of the car, which may affect its aesthetics and aerodynamics.
    It is heavy, weighing around 2 tons for the regular version and 2.2 tons for the max version, which may affect its handling and efficiency.
    It has no U.S. availability, as Xiaomi has not yet entered the American market, and may face regulatory and competitive challenges if it does.
    It has no proven track record, as Xiaomi is a newcomer to the car industry, and may face technical and logistical issues in producing and delivering its first car.

    What it means for the automotive and smartphone industries

    The Xiaomi SU7 is a bold and ambitious move by Xiaomi, as it marks its entry into the fast-growing and highly competitive EV market. The car shows Xiaomi’s vision of combining its expertise in smartphones and IoT with its passion for cars, and creating a product that appeals to its existing and new customers. The car also shows Xiaomi’s ability to innovate and challenge the status quo, as it aims to change the technology stack of the car industry.

    The Xiaomi SU7 will have a big impact on both the car and phone industries, as it will create new opportunities and challenges for the existing and emerging players. On one hand, the car will increase the demand and supply of EVs, especially in China, where Xiaomi has a strong presence and influence. The car will also attract more customers to Xiaomi’s ecosystem of products and services, and improve its brand image and reputation. On the other hand, the car will increase the competition and pressure for the established and aspiring EV makers, such as Tesla, Porsche, Nio, and BYD, who will have to deal with Xiaomi’s aggressive pricing and marketing strategies. The car will also be a threat to the traditional car makers, who are still trying to catch up with the EV transition. Moreover, the car will be a challenge to the phone manufacturers, who may see Xiaomi as a potential rival or partner in the EV space, and may have to rethink their own strategies and plans.

    The Xiaomi SU7 is a game-changer for the EV market, and a milestone for Xiaomi’s evolution from a phone maker to a car maker. The car is a proof of Xiaomi’s vision, ambition, and innovation, and a reflection of its motto: “Innovation for everyone”. The car is not just a vehicle, but a smart device that connects and interacts with the user and the environment. The car is not just a dream, but a reality that is coming soon. The car is the Xiaomi SU7, and I am eager to see it on the road.