The upcoming Paris Motor Show will be the stage upon which South Africa will launch its first locally-produced electric car. Dubbed the Joule, this six-seater electric car will be unveiled by Technology Minister Mosibudi Mangena in France this week.
The Joule was designed by Optimal Energy, a privately-owned South African company based in Cape Town that specialises in optimal solutions for urban transport, in association with Jaguar XJ220-designer Keith Helfet, who penned the interior and exterior design of this historic MPV.
“Keith was serendipitously introduced to Optimal Energy while purchasing coastal
property in South Africa and was immediately captivated by our vision. Optimal Energy was searching for a world class designer, the fact that Keith has strong South African roots matched our criteria perfectly,” said Kobus Meiring, chief executive of Optimal Energy.
According to a press release issued by the company the Joule’s chassis is able to accommodate two large-cell lithium ion battery packs, and with the help of a normal 220 Volt home outlet and Joule’s onboard charger, the Joule’s battery takes seven hours to recharge and will be able to cover a distance of 200 km on a full charge, although Meiring noted that a battery expansion pack, which would boost the range to 400 km, would available as an option.
Customers also have the choice of performance and cost thanks to the large battery bay that is able to accommodate a number of different battery configurations from different suppliers.
And if you’re doubtful about Eskom’s ability to keep up with the power demand, Optimal Energy has done its homework. In their press release they say that “an independent analysis of Eskom has confirmed that the South African grid has enough capacity to supply electrical energy to millions of cars without affecting its customer base or requiring any additional infrastructure. Eskom has vast amounts of excess energy between 11 PM and 6 AM; this will be the recommended recharging time”.
Gauteng is being looked at to be the base for the Joule’s first assembly plant. Although supplier lists are not yet final, it is expected that the local content of Joule will be more than 50 per cent. Joule will be sold in all major South African centres; Gauteng,
Cape Town and Durban and will be available towards the end of 2010.
The Joule was developed with the international market in mind and exports will follow shortly after the South African launch, the company said.
