The Joule
A prototype electrical vehicle being designed and soon to be manufactured in South Africa by Optimal Energy has made the news lately. This will be a plug-in vehicle with a range of up to 400km according to the BBC. The developers hope to have about 50% local content in the vehicles. They are due to go into production in 2010.
What is encouraging to me is there seems to be a world-class team of business and technical people, the government is giving it solid backing and there is a commitment to keep things local (the plant is expected to be somewhere in Gauteng).
I will be watching its progress keenly.
DESIGNefficiency 
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