South African EV Joule on Display at Geneva

In today's difficult market, developing an electric vehicle seems to be mandatory in case the company in discussion really wants to keep up with the competition. The best example comes straight from South Africa, as a local manufacturer, Optimal Energy, will bring an electric car at the Geneva Motor Show next month.

The so-called Joule is manufactured by Optimal Energy's plant in Port Elizabeth and provides a range of 300 kilometers in pure electric mode. It is equipped with a 36 kWh lithium-ion battery that is connected to a synchronous permanent magnet motor developing 65 kW (87 horsepower) and 280 Nm of torque.

In terms of performance, the car accelerates from 0 to 60 km/h in 5 seconds and to 100 km/h in under 16 seconds. Top speed is 135 km/h, according to official figures.

Pricing for the car is believed to go around $30,000.

"As a zero-emission vehicle with a minimal environmental footprint, Joule is as clean and green as it is quiet. Presenting a radical reduction in noise pollution, Joule is approximately five times more energy efficient than petrol or diesel vehicles, with substantially less pollution and green house gas emissions in an urban environment. Joule is battery operated and recharges with electricity from any source," the official site of the car reads.

"When obtained from clean sources such as hydro or solar, this multi-source energy carrier can lead to a 100% reduction in pollution. Better still, Joule’s rechargeable lithium-ion batteries are recyclable and contain no heavy metals. These benefits collectively contribute to making Joule an environmentally sound investment."