South Africa: An electric SUV developed specifically for safaris.

The recently introduced Thula Electric Safari Vehicle (ESV), unlike many electric vehicles used in tourism, was not converted from an existing SUV but was designed from the ground up as an electric safari vehicle.

Aiming to conduct wildlife observation safaris quietly and without emissions, the South African company Thula Solutions unveiled its first locally developed electric safari vehicle in South Africa’s Kruger National Park.

The electric off-road vehicle, designed from the ground up for this purpose, features a 65-kWh battery that provides an estimated range of about 200 kilometers. According to the developers, this is sufficient for approximately three days of typical safari use before a charge is needed—preferably at lodges that already utilize solar energy.

The majority of the vehicle was manufactured in South Africa. Only the electric motors and a small number of specialized components were imported.

The chassis was developed in collaboration with researchers from the Vehicle Dynamics Group at the University of Pretoria, while Balancell, a company based in Cape Town, provided the battery technology.

Funding from the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) has also helped advance the project beyond the prototype stage. The team now hopes to be able to produce about 50 vehicles per month at a dedicated manufacturing facility.