First Joule EVs on SA roads by 2010
Optimal Energy, the Cape Town based company that unveiled a full electric multi-purpose urban passenger vehicle named Joule to the world at the Paris Autoshow in 2008, has announced industrialisation plans to mass produce the vehicle in South Africa from 2012. This announcement comes on the back of a further share issue to the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), as well as Innovation Fund, the technology investment division of the Department of Science and Technology, for a fourth round capital investment. Optimal Energy intends raising further private capital towards the end of 2009. South Africans can look forward to pilot fleets of Joule on their roads and around the globe from 2010 onwards.
Comments Kobus Meiring, CEO of Optimal Energy, “Optimal Energy is capitalising on South Africa’s technological prowess, its track record of building premium cars for the export market, the current sea of change in transport technology brought about by climate change, pollution and energy security issues, and the immense progress in battery technology. Optimal Energy aims to place South Africa at the frontline of the renewable energy movement with Joule. This investment helps us to drive the industrialisation process, taking us to the next level.”
Graham Geldenhuys, CEO of Step Strategic Venturing, a professional services firm appointed to assist Optimal Energy with the development of its strategy and with facilitation of the capital raising process, adds, “There is no question that the electric vehicle is a part of our future. It is a privilege working with a company such as Optimal Energy with a business case that has so much potential to tap into the significant opportunity in the alternative energy vehicle market. Securing investment from the IDC and the Innovation Fund attests to this as well as the ability of a world class management team to get the job done.”
Asked if the global economic crisis impacting so heavily on the large automotive manufacturers will hinder production of the Joule, Meiring is firm that it will not. “Interest in the vehicle has been enormous both at a local and international level. The timing of this investment and the planned 2012 start of volume production is ideal. Current market conditions are slowing down the traditional manufacturers’ efforts while the market, especially for clean vehicles, is predicted to be in a strong upward swing from 2012 onwards,” he notes.
Once production of Joule begins, Meiring estimates that Optimal Energy, which currently employs more than 80 highly-skilled personnel, will directly increase headcount to around 1,000 employees while a further approximately 5,000 people will be employed in various related and support industries. “We are in the process of selecting a site for our first assembly and manufacturing plant. The location of the plant will be announced later this year,” continues Meiring.
Meiring indicates that the Joule will also shatter the stereotype of electric cars being small, slow and unsightly. The Joule is a passenger vehicle with up to six seats, which combines efficiency and performance with an elegant and stylish design. The vehicle was designed by world renowned Keith Helfet, South African born former Jaguar designer; and has received very positive reviews following its 2008 Paris Motor Show unveiling.
“The Joule comes with all the modern specifications and meets or surpasses international standards. It combines class and sustainability in a way that should give all South Africans a welcome boost of national pride in 2010 with these pilot vehicles on the road” concludes Meiring.
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Comments
I have been waiting for this product for a long time and cannot wait for it to come on the market. Are you planning for an outomated gearbox as well, because I have not seen that mentioned in any of the articles read so far. I have a nerve in my left leg that does not respond well to repetitive clutching, particularly in heavy traffic, that is why I do not want a manual option.
Will consideration be given to approaching the SA Government to subsidise buyers, as mentioned somewhere in papers last week dicussing the car’s release in was it the American market, I believe?
I saw an advert of specsavers over the weekend announcing their support for the indigenous SA spekboom that deals so efficiently with CO2. The spekboom does not belong to any individual and it is not pretty in a conventional flower type of way but it sure has a lot in common with your Joule design!
@ Lisa: according to Optimal Energy, the car will cost “between R200k and R300k.” Remember though that running and maintenance costs will be MUCH lower than a normal petrol car, which should offset the relatively high sticker price quite a bit.
@ Mrs Horn: as far as I am aware, there will be no “gears”. I believe the Joule will be a single speed car. Just put foot and go. Don’t quote me on this just yet.
My family and I have been following the Joule’s progress with eager anticipation. We are thrilled that South Africans have the ingenuity, skills and determination to design and produce such a long overdue vehicle. My partner and I are researching sustainable farming methods and the number of agricultural enterprises going green is truly surprising considering how entrenched this sector has been in the “old way” of thinking. We would be thrilled to hear of a planned working vehicle or bakkie that could be used to keep our farm green and sustainable - we are fortunately able to generate our own hydro-electricity. May I ask if anyone knows about the progress of getting existing service stations on board to provide battery exchanges?
It might not be high on their agenda, but has our government expressed support of this venture? Imagine all the little delivery vans running around the cities with zero emissions… It’s time to get the PR guys busy with informing the public about this gem of a Joule. It could offer us all a reason to stand together and be proud South Africans again.
Its incredible, I used to work at Optimal Energy, unfortunately before Joule was started, but i really do miss it and south africa.
Ill be visiting in 2010 !!!! 
Its a great innovation, i love hearing about southafrica on the news for a good reason. it really gives me a warm fuzzy feeling.
I have a feeling that Optimal Energy will be releasing a cheaper version of the Joule. I just hope they dont Sellout.
Great, post… G
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I am a great advocate of electric vehicles, but your price looks unrealistic compared to my idea of a design, using a.c. motors as the drive source fed from an invertor using a variable speed drive as speed control, d.c. injection as brakes and a regenerative charging system for charging the batteries in certain conditions, like going downhill. This bundle of equipment is not really expensive and has all been tried and tested in various applications and it replaces almost everything mechanical in a car.R100,000 price difference buys an awfull lot of petrol
what will the cost of this car be? when in comes to south africa in 2010?