The
Joule is an electric five seat passenger car that is to be mass produced from 2012 by
Optimal Energy, a
South AfricaThe Republic of South Africa is a country located at the southern tip of Africa, with a coastline on the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. To the north lie Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe, to the east are Mozambique and Swaziland, while Lesotho is an independent country surrounded by South Africa.Modern...
n company based in
Cape TownCape Town is the second most populous city in South Africa, and the largest in land area, forming part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality. It is the provincial capital of the Western Cape, as well as the legislative capital of South Africa, where the National Parliament and many...
. According to the company, it will have a range of 300 km and a top speed of 130 km/h.
http://www.freeimagehosting.net/uploads/th.ac8e839d6c.jpg
The
Joule was first unveiled to the general public at the
2008 Paris Motor ShowThe 2008 Paris Motor Show took place from 4 October to 19 October 2008, in Paris Expo, Porte de Versailles.This edition of the Paris Motor Show featured a high number of hybrid and electric vehicles , a tectonic shift that led a New York Times blogger to ask, "Who killed the non-electric cars?"...
on October 2nd, 2008.
The
Joule is the first electric car to be produced by Optimal Energy , the
Cape TownCape Town is the second most populous city in South Africa, and the largest in land area, forming part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality. It is the provincial capital of the Western Cape, as well as the legislative capital of South Africa, where the National Parliament and many...
based company has been working on the concept since 2004.
The
Joule is an electric five seat passenger car that is to be mass produced from 2012 by
Optimal Energy, a
South AfricaThe Republic of South Africa is a country located at the southern tip of Africa, with a coastline on the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. To the north lie Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe, to the east are Mozambique and Swaziland, while Lesotho is an independent country surrounded by South Africa.Modern...
n company based in
Cape TownCape Town is the second most populous city in South Africa, and the largest in land area, forming part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality. It is the provincial capital of the Western Cape, as well as the legislative capital of South Africa, where the National Parliament and many...
. According to the company, it will have a range of 300 km and a top speed of 130 km/h.
http://www.freeimagehosting.net/uploads/th.ac8e839d6c.jpg
Unveiling
The
Joule was first unveiled to the general public at the
2008 Paris Motor ShowThe 2008 Paris Motor Show took place from 4 October to 19 October 2008, in Paris Expo, Porte de Versailles.This edition of the Paris Motor Show featured a high number of hybrid and electric vehicles , a tectonic shift that led a New York Times blogger to ask, "Who killed the non-electric cars?"...
on October 2nd, 2008.
Optimal Energy
The
Joule is the first electric car to be produced by Optimal Energy , the
Cape TownCape Town is the second most populous city in South Africa, and the largest in land area, forming part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality. It is the provincial capital of the Western Cape, as well as the legislative capital of South Africa, where the National Parliament and many...
based company has been working on the concept since 2004. The design of the car was done by legendary Jaguar car designer
Keith HelfetKeith Helfet is a distinguished automotive designer.After demonstrating little academic promise in South Africa, Helfet turned to art. He had a natural affinity for automotive design and was accepted as a student into the most prestigious automotive styling programme in the world at the Royal...
. Keith is best known for the XJ220, and the F-type concept car. The Joule shows the same 'flowing lines' as his previous designs.
Kobus Meiring, Optimal Energy CEO suggests that
sustainabilitySustainability, in a broad sense, is the capacity to endure. In ecology, the word describes how biological systems remain diverse and productive over time...
of the
Internal Combustion EngineThe internal combustion engine is an engine in which the combustion of a fuel occurs with an oxidizer in a combustion chamber. In an internal combustion engine the expansion of the high temperature and pressure gases, which are produced by the combustion, directly applies force to a movable...
vehicleA vehicle is a mechanical means of conveyance, a carriage or transport. Most often they are manufactured , although some other means of transport which are not made by humans also may be called vehicles; examples include icebergs and floating tree trunks.Vehicles may be propelled or pulled by...
has fuelled increasing need for sustainable vehicle propulsion systems. This, as well as increasing fuel prices and rising country taxes, caused Optimal Energy to embark on the production of a vehicle that could meet these needs.
Investment to Date
The funding up to this point has been through government investments, in particular, the South African Department of Science & Technology (DST) through the Innovation Fund, as well as other private investments. The Innovation Fund has invested up to US$5 million in the project so far, and is the current major investor.
Class
The
Joule is classed as a
compact MPVA Compact MPV is a car classification used in Europe to describe multi-purpose vehicle versions of small family cars , fitting between the mini MPV and large MPV sub-segments...
, along with the likes of the
Renault ScenicThe Renault Scénic is a compact MPV produced by French automaker Renault, the first to be labelled as such in Europe. It is based on the chassis of the Mégane small family car...
,
Honda FR-VThe Honda FR-V is a six-seater compact MPV introduced by Honda in 2004. Alongside the Fiat Multipla, it is currently the only compact minivan with a 3+3 seating configuration available on the European market.-Engines:...
and
Citroën PicassoCitroën Picasso can refer to different cars made by French auto maker Citroën:*Citroën Xsara Picasso *Citroën C4 Picasso or Citroën Grand C4 Picasso *Citroën C3 Picasso...
to name a few examples.
Specifications
The
Joule has a some astonishing features despite its size
- Length - 3.8m
- Turning Circle - 10.2m
- Mass - 945 kg
- Seats - Five
- Boot space - 700 litres
- Top Speed - Governed at 130 km/h
- Acceleration - 0–50 km/h in 4.6 sec, 0-100 km/h - 14 seconds
- Range - 300 km
- Charge time - Each battery charges from empty to fully charged in 7 hours maximum
Future
The
Joule will be sold in
South AfricaThe Republic of South Africa is a country located at the southern tip of Africa, with a coastline on the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. To the north lie Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe, to the east are Mozambique and Swaziland, while Lesotho is an independent country surrounded by South Africa.Modern...
from 2010, and later, will be released into the global market.
See also
Zero-emissions vehicleA zero-emissions vehicle, or ZEV a vehicle that emits no tailpipe pollutants from the onboard source of power. Harmful pollutants to the health and the environment include particulates , hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, ozone, lead, and various oxides of nitrogen. Although not considered emission...