Electrification tends to polarise bakkie buyers. On the one side are those keen to embrace new technology, and on the other are drivers who would rather stick with what they know works. With the Hunter REEV, Changan Automobile has found a way to sit comfortably between the two, introducing range-extender technology to the South African double-cab market for the first time.
At its core, the Hunter REEV is an electric vehicle. The wheels are driven solely by electric motors, delivering the smooth, instant response that EVs are known for. The twist comes from the petrol engine on board, which does not drive the wheels. Instead, it acts as a generator, quietly producing electricity to keep the battery topped up when needed. Think of it as an EV with a backup plan, rather than a hybrid trying to juggle two jobs at once.
In everyday driving, the Hunter behaves much like a fully electric bakkie, particularly around town. It is calm, refined and surprisingly relaxed in traffic. When the battery charge drops, the range extender steps in automatically, extending the overall driving range to a claimed 1,000 km. That figure neatly sidesteps the charging anxiety that still looms large in South Africa, especially for buyers who use their bakkies for long distances or work duties far from urban centres.
Report by BERNIE HELLBERG JR | Image © CHANGAN AUTOMOTIVE
