It was only a matter of time before it happened… and now it has: a battery-powered brute of a bakkie to jolt the status quo. Yes, you read that right – South Africa’s first fully electric bakkie has arrived, and it’s not some tiny city slicker with delusions of dirt-road grandeur. Meet the Riddara RD6, an emissions-free beast manufactured by Geely and brought to our shores by Enviro Automotive Group.
This might not quite mean the end of the age of the internal combustion engine, but the RD6 is gearing up to rewire expectations of what a modern bakkie can do. Enviro Auto will be offering two versions at launch: a 4×2 for the pavement-pounders and a 4×4 for those brave enough to test whether an electric bakkie can really handle the great outdoors.
Under the bonnet – or somewhere in the general battery-shaped vicinity – the RD6 packs a 73kWh battery that promises up to 424km of range on a single charge. That’s more than enough to get from Jozi to Clarens and back, provided you skip the detour to Golden Gate. The 4×4 variant turns things up a notch with a dual-motor setup delivering 315kW and a whopping 595Nm of torque. How fast, you ask? Try 0 to 100km/h in 4.5 seconds. That’s sportscar territory, but with more legroom and fewer mid-life crises.
Add to that a top speed of 190km/h, a towing capacity of 3 000kg and a payload of one tonne and the RD6 is not a competitor to be trifled with! So yes, it can haul your gear, your trailer, and your fishing mates without breaking a sweat. There’s a generous 1 200-litre load bay, a nifty 48 litres of hidden storage (perfect for secret padkos stashes), and a 70-litre front trunk… or “frunk” if you’re feeling trendy.
If you’re wondering how long it takes to recharge this electric workhorse, a 110kW charger will juice it back up in just 30 minutes. Just enough time to grab a pie and a coffee before heading back on the road. And here’s a party trick that’ll get tongues wagging at the next braai: the RD6’s battery can power up to 6kW of equipment. That’s enough to keep your power tools humming, your fridge running, or your kettle boiling during a bout of load shedding. Eskom who?
Despite the sci-fi tech and whisper-quiet drivetrain, practicality hasn’t been forgotten. The RD6 still ticks all the bakkie boxes, with a few futuristic extras thrown in. There’s also remote battery and vehicle monitoring via Webfleet, for those who like their telemetry with a side of peace of mind.
Worried about after-sales support or spare parts for this newfangled machine? Don’t be. Enviro Automotive promises a full suite of aftercare services, including maintenance, parts availability, and enough technical backup to keep the sparks flying where they should be. Both models will be sold with a 5-year/150 000km vehicle warranty and an 8-year/200 000km battery warranty.
If that’s not quite enough range or variety for your liking, fear not. Enviro Auto has plans to roll out an extended-range 86kWh 4×4 model and a smaller 63kWh 4×2 version soon. Think of it as an electric buffet for every kind of bakkie lover.
The RD6 will officially be available from May 2025, with pricing to be announced closer to launch. One can only hope the price doesn’t short-circuit your wallet, but given its specs, it’ll likely be competitive in the growing EV market.
So, is the Riddara RD6 the future of overlanding? Perhaps not just yet. But for the eco-conscious adventurer who enjoys the idea of cruising into the bush in silence this electric bakkie could very well spark a whole new kind of journey. We aren’t quite certain how we feel about the whole idea of an electric bakkie and reserve comment. For now, let’s all keep an open mind shall we.
