The petrol-assisted iCaur 03T REEV will help alleviate range anxiety and will be going on sale locally before the end of 2026.
New-energy vehicles continue to hit South African showroom floors at an impressive rate. Thanks to a combination of the price of fuel increasing substantially in 2026 and more affordable models going on sale, the new-energy segment is showing impressive growth.
Battery technology has improved substantially, too. Yet, there will still be hesitation thanks to range anxiety; the fear of being stranded due to a flat battery. Thankfully the car manufacturers have a potential solution. Enter the range-extender powertrain, or as they’re commonly known: REEV.
The premise is fairly straightforward, with the vehicle operating primarily as a battery-electric vehicle, but once those batteries run low, the petrol engine in the car switches on to power the electric motors and top up the battery. It’s important to point out that this engine does not directly power the wheels but rather acts as an onboard generator.
iCaur 03T REEV powertrain specifications
iCaur is one such brand to embrace such technology. Sure, the retro-styled V23 and 03T EVs have their novelty factor, but they are restricted to being urban runabouts. Enter the iCaur 03T REEV which will be touching down in South Africa before the end of the year. It pairs a 1.5-litre turbocharged engine to a single-motor setup and the result is 185 kW and 300 Nm, giving it a claimed 0-100 kph in under 8 seconds.
Of more relevance and importance is the range. Whereas the BEV V23 and 03T versions muster between 300–400 km in the real world, the iCaur 03T REEV is claimed to have a total driving range of 800 km, which is more usable. It has a fuel tank capacity of 45 litres and a battery capacity of 33.67 kWh, which can support 6.6 kW AC and 60 kW DC fast charging.
With range anxiety and a fledgling charging network hampering longer trips, a range-extender vehicle makes more sense. If the 03T isn’t quite big enough, the new iCaur V27 will also be touching down before the end of 2026. Pricing and specifications will be confirmed closer to its showroom debut.
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