Join on WhatsApp
Get the latest updates directly on WhatsApp – motivation, news & more!
Join On WhatsApp
South Africa is set to receive a new, budget-friendly electric vehicle (EV) by the end of 2025, as energy group Megamillion prepares to launch the Everione Happy – a compact electric car priced at around R300,000.
Megamillion has partnered with JSW MG India to import, assemble, and distribute the vehicle across Sub-Saharan Africa. The Everione Happy is essentially a rebadged MG Comet, a small two-door, four-seater hatchback built in India for urban commuting. This vehicle aims to address a long-standing gap in South Africa’s EV market – affordability.
Key Features and Performance
The Everione Happy is powered by a 31kW electric motor delivering 110Nm of torque, with a top speed of 115km/h. Although slightly below South Africa’s maximum highway speed limit, it represents an improvement over the Dayun Yeuhu S5, currently the country’s most affordable EV at R400,000, which has a top speed of only 100km/h.
Fitted with a 17.3kWh battery, the Happy offers a claimed range of 230km per charge. This sits between the Yeuhu S5’s 330km range and the Eleksa CityBug’s limited range, which is less than half that of the Happy.
Charging the Happy takes around seven hours on a standard AC connection, as it supports charging at up to 3.3kW. While this is not fast by EV standards, the relatively small battery size means overnight charging is feasible for most users.
Safety and Technology
Despite its compact build, the Happy doesn’t skip on safety. It includes Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), Hill Hold Control, and Electronic Stability Control. However, it has not yet undergone NCAP crash testing, a point of caution for potential buyers.
The vehicle’s interior has also received attention, with a surprisingly premium feel for the price point. It features a 10.25-inch infotainment screen paired with a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, both powered by MG’s i-Smart software. The system supports 100 voice commands, wireless Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and offers 55 connected-car functions.
Additional features include LED headlamps, keyless entry, powered mirrors, reverse parking sensors, three USB ports, and a smartphone key system. Importantly, it retains physical buttons for core controls like air conditioning, ensuring usability isn’t sacrificed for digital aesthetics.
Focus on Commercial Fleets
The Everione Happy isn’t just targeting private urban drivers. Megamillion is specifically eyeing corporate and fleet customers. The company has revealed ongoing talks with major clients, including a private security firm looking to purchase 500 units, and an e-hailing company interested in 300 units.
Smaller EVs like the Happy are well-suited for short-range operations such as patrols in residential estates or transporting staff within business parks. This mirrors similar strategies already in place – for example, Fidelity has used the Hyundai Grand i10 Cargo for its fleet since 2021.
Though the Grand i10 has a fuel-efficient petrol engine, the Happy offers significantly lower running costs.
Cost Comparison: Electric vs. Petrol
According to Megamillion, the Happy achieves 13km per kWh in typical urban conditions. With electricity prices in South Africa averaging between R3.34 and R4.21 per kWh, the cost to drive one kilometre in the Happy is estimated at R0.28 using a mid-range tariff of R3.78.
By contrast, the Grand i10, consuming around 5.4 litres per 100km, costs about R1.16 per kilometre at current petrol prices. This equates to an annual running cost of R18,630 over 16,000km, compared to R4,497 for the Happy – an annual saving of over R14,000.
Looking Ahead
The Everione Happy is expected to arrive in November 2025, and while it may not match the performance or range of more expensive EVs, it offers something long missing in South Africa’s green mobility space – an affordable and practical electric vehicle for everyday use.
If Megamillion successfully brings this EV to market on schedule, it could mark a turning point in mass EV adoption in the country, particularly for budget-conscious and fleet buyers seeking lower operational costs and a greener footprint.