To enable quiet and emission-free wildlife observation safaris, the South African company Thula Solutions has unveiled its first locally developed electric safari vehicle in Kruger National Park.
The battery-electric off-road vehicle, designed specifically for this purpose, is equipped with a 65 kWh battery that provides an estimated range of around 200 km. According to the developers, this range is sufficient for approximately three days of typical safari operations before recharging is required – preferably at lodges already using solar power.
Most of the vehicle was manufactured in South Africa. Only the electric motors and a small number of specialised components were imported.
The chassis was developed in collaboration with researchers from the Vehicle Dynamics Group at the University of Pretoria, while Cape Town-based company Balancell supplied the battery technology.
Funding from the Industrial Development Corporation has also supported the project’s progression beyond the prototype phase. The team now aims to produce around 50 vehicles per month at a dedicated production facility.
