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The Joule electric car, created by local company Optimal Energy, will use the 2010 Fifa Soccer World Cup as a showcase event to gain visibility and garner international interest.
“We are currently producing a fleet of cars at Hi-Tech Automotive in Port Elizabeth,” says Optimal Energy CEO Kobus Meiring. “This will be a marketing fleet and will be used mainly to ensure high visibility during the 2010 World Cup.
“Although we are not involved in Fifa activities, we are able to make use of effective media, and, of course, introduce Joule to South Africans and the diverse groups of foreigners that will be visiting SA at the time.”
Meiring adds that the fleet will be used to bridge the gap to series production. The company is set to start production toward the end of 2012, with plans to ramp up rapidly to 50 000 cars a year, according to Meiring. Around 5% to 10% of these will go to the local market, with the rest earmarked for the UK and EU.
He notes that the Eastern Cape is the preferred site for the manufacturing plant, and the exact location will be finalised this quarter. According to Meiring, production of the Joule will create more than 10 000 jobs, including about 2 000 at Optimal Energy, and more than 8 000 in the directly related industry. Many more will be created indirectly, he says.
Afrikaans: Suid-Afrika se elektriese motor, Joule, gaan in die vloot van motors gebruik word tydens die 2010 Wêreldbeker sokker.
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