First South African Electric Car Debuts at Paris Motor Show
South Africa’s Department of Science and Technology (DST) recently hosted the country’s first solar car race. However, the department had a much more significant role in the development of the Joule electric Multi-Purpose Vehicle (MPV). The car was designed and built by Optimal Energy, a company born in 2005 with the help of the DST Innovation Fund. DST have contributed about US$ 4.5 million of the 6.2 million required to develop the car, which was launched at the Paris Motor Show last week.
The Joule is a 6 seater mini MPV with a top speed of 135 and the normal nippy acceleration of an electric car. It is designed to be able to accept a range of battery packs and can accommodate 1 or 2 packs giving it a range of up to 400 km. This range identifies it as a car suited to urban use.
The batteries which would normally be lithium ion require a standard 220 volt outlet and can be charged overnight between 11 pm and 6 am when Eskom have excess production capacity.
Although the Joule is by definition a zero emissions vehicle, emissions do occur at the power station supplying the electricity to charge the batteries. However, the electrical drive is some 5 times more efficient than petrol, which reduces the fuel usage and emissions proportionally. As electric power generation improves and renewable energies such as wind and solar are brought into the grid the overall emissions will continue to decrease.
The Joule was styled by Keith Helfet who was responsible for the styling of vehicles such as the XJ220, XK180 and F-Type while at Jaguar.
>> Read more on electric cars across the Green Options network.
Perhaps the Joule has the advantage of receiving government support and having been initiated some time ago. Optimal Energy are projecting the car entering the South African market at the end of 2010 and, after some years, expanding into the export market. The full commercialization will require approximately US$ 1.3 million. Optimal Energy has received a commitment from South Africa’s Industrial Development Corporation for a significant portion of this capital and are currently seeking the balance.
Source: Optimal Energy, ITWeb, SA Good News, Mybroadband
Photo Credit: Optimal Energy
