AutoblogGreen

Metair shows off new plug-in car, and battery, in South Africa

Danny King — Sat, 23 Mar 2013 16:42:00 EST

The car may look like a throwback, but the important bits are on the inside. South Africa-based Metair takes a retrofitted two-door hatchback and uses it to show off what the group says is the most advanced lead-acid battery around.

By US and Japanese standards, Metair went decidedly low-budget, spending the equivalent of about $6,500 in component costs and about $55,000 in total development costs for what it calls the Met-Elec-R60. The company isn't disclosing much on the vehicle's performance except, according to Engineering News, to clarify that the car's a plug-in with a small gas engine used as an on-board generator. As for Metair's battery, the Raylite Ultimate is the "most recyclable" of its kind, while being leak proof as well as a stronger charge than comparable lead-acid batteries.

Metair took the EV into public, even stopping by a Shell gas station to impress and confuse the workers there. Check out Metair's two-minute video of its extended-range plug-in below, and note that the charge cord is stored, coiled, in the car. This is unlike every other EV we can think of, and probably only works on one-off conversions like this. Oh, and based on the lean, we're pretty sure the batteries are stored in the rear.

Continue reading Metair shows off new plug-in car, and battery, in South Africa

Metair shows off new plug-in car, and battery, in South Africa originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Sat, 23 Mar 2013 16:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Joule of Denial: Optimal Energy sails into the sunset

Domenick Yoney — Wed, 04 Jul 2012 16:55:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Africa

The dream of having a practical electric vehicle from South Africa has ended. At least, for now. Optimal Energy, which first trotted out its Keith Helfet-designed Joule at the 2008 Paris Motor Show has announced that it is shutting down.

Though it was originally expected to go on sale in 2010, plans were delayed by the world financial mess that made capital hard to come by. Production was then supposed to go ahead by 2014, but, after being unable to work out a R7 billion ($857.8 million at today's rates) deal with government agencies, that has also become impossible.

More recently, Optimal has shifted its focus, with a proposal to use the technology it had developed into producing an electric bus. Sadly, that project would have also relied on government help to get started and, in the end, was deemed too risky.

While CEO Kobus Meiring is saddened by the loss of his company, he still sees electric vehicles as having a bright future. We concur, and hope that South Africa will eventually have its own share of homegrown plug-in vehicles.

Joule of Denial: Optimal Energy sails into the sunset originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 04 Jul 2012 16:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mobius Motors plans $6,000 SUV for Africa

Zach Bowman — Tue, 03 Jul 2012 07:58:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Africa

Ultra low-cost transportation doesn't have a particularly successful history in the recent past. Just ask Tata. The company's Nano subcompact was supposed to revolutionize the way low-income families the world over moved themselves, but as it turns out, even those with no money don't want to be seen in a vehicle known primarily for its cheapness. Even so, one company is working to give rural Africans a shot at changing their lives with a new low-cost SUV. Nairobi-based Mobius Motors wants to build an machine capable of handling the inhospitable roads of the continent's interior for just $6,000 - a price it says is similar to the auto rickshaw.

How? Mobius has sacrificed niceties like air conditioning and glass side windows to keep the cost as low as possible. As a result, the company's engineers have managed to craft a machine with nearly 14 inches of ground clearance and beefy skid plates underneath. There's no word on what's under the hood, though the company's first effort, the Mobius One, made use of a Toyota 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine. Mobius Motors says the interior can be configured to haul either people or 1,100 pounds of cargo. Not too shabby. Look for the Mobius Two to launch this year, and let's hope its emissions prove less harmful than the rickshaws Mobius hopes to replace.

Mobius Motors plans $6,000 SUV for Africa originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 03 Jul 2012 07:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mission Africa is mission accomplished; EV goes 3,600 miles in 38 days

Sebastian Blanco — Fri, 22 Jun 2012 10:02:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Green Culture, Africa

First, the numbers:

38 days of driving
5,800 kilometers (3,600 miles)
About 40 battery charges
Six countries

Those are the stats from the now-completed Mission Africa, a cross-continent trip in a "Powered by Venturi" electric Citroen Berlingo. Driver Xavier Chevrin says that the extraordinary vehicle (another kind of "EV," there), "lived up to all our expectations in an environment often hostile and always demanding." He's not kidding, since about 600 km (373 mi) of the trip was done over "rough tracks." To put this into terms anyone with a browser can understand, Google Maps says, "We could not calculate directions between Okavango and Mt Kilimanjaro."

With the historic electric vehicle trip now completed, there is much celebrating going on over at the Mission Africa website. The real message, though, seems to be where Chevrin sees plug-in vehicle technology going from here. He writes:

The welcome we received at the press conference held for our arrival at the University of Johannesburg was warm and uplifting, with the same real enthusiasm for electric technology. I'm probably repeating myself a bit, but it's a fact: Africa is the continent which shows the highest expectations and hope for this new kind of locomotion.

Interesting, no? You can experience a version of the trip yourself without dedicating 38 days to the project in a beautifully shot four-minute video below.

Continue reading Mission Africa is mission accomplished; EV goes 3,600 miles in 38 days

Mission Africa is mission accomplished; EV goes 3,600 miles in 38 days originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 22 Jun 2012 10:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mission Africa sends electric Citroen Berlingo from Kenya to South Africa

Sebastian Blanco — Fri, 08 Jun 2012 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Green Culture, Citroen, Africa

Venturi does more than create whimsical concept vehicles for auto shows. The company also supports electric vehicles going on long-distance adventures, like from Shanghai to Paris. The latest mission sends an EV along 4,800 kilometres (2,982 miles) from Kenya to South Africa. The trip started last month and the car already has 3,500 km (2,174 mi) under its tires. Venturi says the trip represents "a fabulous human and technological adventure in the interest of sustainable development."

To that end, driver Xavier Chevrin is doing public demonstrations with his "Powered by Venturi" electric Citroen Berlingo along the way. He's also doing press conferences and "endless explanations" to share EV technology and the ideas behind this kind of sustainable mobility across Africa. It's important to make friends with these lessons, since Chevrin didn't do any route planning to make sure he can get from outlet to outlet. As Venturi says, "the batteries will be recharged on the spot, depending on encounters with local inhabitants. As the production of electricity is largely of hydraulic origin at this time of year and in this part of Africa, the adventure will be, as much as possible, 'zero emission.'" It's bold plan - Venture says that 65 percent of Africans still do not have access to electricity - that is sure to draw attention to both electric drive technology and the complications of using it in a place that just isn't outfitted with a comprehensive grid.

Interested in learning more? We've embedded a few videos below and you can find the full flotilla on Venturi's YouTube channel. Also, check out the press release and see the Mission Africa website.

Continue reading Mission Africa sends electric Citroen Berlingo from Kenya to South Africa

Mission Africa sends electric Citroen Berlingo from Kenya to South Africa originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 08 Jun 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fisker reaches out to Middle East; DOE reaches for loan consultant

Danny King — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 09:52:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Legislation and Policy, Africa, USA, Middle East, Fisker

Fisker Automotive may not exactly be chummy with the U.S. federal government these days, but at least it's getting some love from the Middle East.

The California-based extended-range plug-in vehicle maker reached an agreement with Al-Futtaim Group to distribute its cars throughout the Middle East and North Africa. Al-Futtaim sells Lexus, Volvo, Jeep, Toyota and other vehicles throughout the Middle East. The distributor will open a Fisker dealership in Dubai this year.

As for the U.S. government, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), which has $193 million in loans out to Fisker, is working with Los Angeles-based investment bank and restructuring expert Houlihan Lokey to keep tabs of Fisker's attempts to raise its own cash, Bloomberg Businessweek reported, citing unnamed people familiar with the situation.

The DOE, in an e-mail to Bloomberg, copped to hiring consultants to tracking companies that have received its loans, but didn't specifically comment on Fisker. The DOE, which slated $529 million in loans for Fisker, froze the credit line after distributing less than $200 million because of production delays related to the Fisker Karma. Senators Charles Grassley (R-IA) and John Thune (R-SD) are among the members of Congress that have questioned the DOE's decision to grant a loan to Fisker.

Last week, ex-Fisker Chairman Ray Lane went as far as blaming Mitt Romney for the loan-distribution issues, saying that the Republican presidential candidate is using the issue for political gain. Meanwhile, Fisker is still deciding on whether it will use a former General Motors plant in Delaware to build its upcoming Atlantic (formerly Project Nina) sedan.

Continue reading Fisker reaches out to Middle East; DOE reaches for loan consultant

Fisker reaches out to Middle East; DOE reaches for loan consultant originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 25 Apr 2012 09:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nissan Leaf headed to South Africa in 2013

Eric Loveday — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 10:42:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Nissan, Africa

It's official. Nissan will launch the Leaf in South Africa "as soon as conditions allow."

While addressing attendees at the 2011 Johannesburg International Motor Show, Pierre Loing, Nissan's vice-president of product and strategy, told showgoers that the success of the award-winning Leaf has paved the way for acceptance of electric vehicle technology.

Following recent discussions with South Africa's government, Nissan now intends to release the Leaf there, possibly within the next two years. Nissan South Africa managing director Mike Whitfield stated:

We intend to bring the Leaf to South Africa in 2013, subject to confirmation of government policy on charging infrastructure and customer incentives. There is more work to do before we can confirm its launch in South Africa but this underline both Nissan's, and this country's, commitment to delivering a more sustainable future for road transport.

The moral of this story seems awful similar to that "Field of Dreams" flick: If you build the infrastructure, the Leaf will come.

Nissan Leaf headed to South Africa in 2013 originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 20 Oct 2011 10:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Petrobras drillship attacked by pirates off coast of Africa

Eric Loveday — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 18:46:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Africa

Pirates? Terrorists? You make the call.

gCaptain reports that just months after arriving on location, the Petrobras-owned Ocean Rig Poseidon was recently attacked while drilling for oil off the coast of Tanzania, Africa.

Officially, Tanzania's Registrar of Ships released this statement:

The Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre has received reports of an attack on an exploration vessel known as the Ocean Rig Poseidon.

According to gCaptain, seven pirates aboard a small boat attacked the massive drillship with "weapons." Poseidon's security personnel, along with the Tanzanian Navy, responded by returning fire. The pirates were reportedly subdued and arrested on the spot. The attack came less than a week after Shell agreed to purchase a 50-percent share of the wells drilled by the Poseidon crew.

Taking control of the ship and seeking ransom was the likely goal of the pirates, but heightened security off Tanzania's coast meant that the seven individuals aboard the boat stood little chance of accomplishing their risky, unlawful task. You see, the Tanzanian government escorts vessels that request security while exploring for oil in or near its water and Poseidon seems to be one of the vessels that takes to the seas with a military escort. Looks like drilling for oil off Africa's coast is a bit riskier than some might've thought.

Petrobras drillship attacked by pirates off coast of Africa originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 13 Oct 2011 18:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nigeria bans two-stroke engines, adopts Euro II emissions standards from 1996

Eric Loveday — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 19:09:00 EST

Filed under: MPG, Legislation and Policy, Africa

It may not be on most people's news radar, but the West African nation of Nigeria has a problem with the effects of roadside pollution. As Africa's most populous nation, Nigeria has its share of smog-filled cities, congested roads and aging vehicles. In an effort to clear the air, Nigeria will, effective December 1, 2012, require all vehicles sold within the country to meet Euro II emissions standards, according to Nigeria's National Automotive Council (NAC).

Aminu Jalal, director-general of the council, says Euro II standards will apply to vehicles manufactured in Nigeria, as well as to all imported automobiles. Additionally, Jalal says that no manufacturer or importer shall be allowed to assemble a vehicle that makes use of two-stroke engine. We'd assume this two-stroke stipulation doesn't apply to scooters and motorcycles.

Euro II was implemented back in 1996, so Nigeria is most certainly behind the times. Come January 2015, Nigeria will adopt the slightly more stringent Euro III standards, which went into effect in Europe in 2000. Given the choice between dated emissions standards and Nigeria's current, non-existent guidelines, we know which ones we'd choose.

Nigeria bans two-stroke engines, adopts Euro II emissions standards from 1996 originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 31 Aug 2011 19:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Libyan rebels claim Gaddafi's all-electric Fiat 500 as prize

Sebastian Blanco — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 11:56:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., EV/Plug-in, Africa

Libyan leader (ex-leader?) Muammar Qaddafi apparently had some unusual items in his personal collection. Rebel forces stormed his compound this week, and we now know he had a scrapbook dedicated to former Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice, lots of weapons and, oddly, a doorless, all-electric Fiat 500 (similar to the model shown above).

According to Corriere Della Sera (Google translated version), Qaddafi had "many" electric cars, and the Fiat 500 was converted to battery power in 2009 by Castagna of Milan, Italy. Aside from the powertrain swap - giving the 500 a 34 kW electric motor with two "mammoth" batteries that offer a range of 260 km (160 miles) - the "mysterious client" who ordered the car demanded:

"Interior cream with green trim, sandy-colored soft top, green and gold bodywork. ... on the left upright, a back-lit image of the Lion of the Desert, on the A-pillar on the right, a circle with the symbolic representation of the Libyan society. On the nose, instead of the Fiat brand, a logo with the black silhouette of Africa, with Libya highlighted in green [Note: this translation has been slightly edited].

Sounds intense, so it must have given the anti-Qaddafi forces quite a thrill to drag the 100,000-euro custom ($144,000 USD) through the streets as a spoil of war. Corriere Della Sera hints that this particular car might live a nice second life - once it's repainted. Check out pics of the actual car being pushed through Libyan streets at the link below.

Libyan rebels claim Gaddafi's all-electric Fiat 500 as prize originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 25 Aug 2011 11:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Gulf oil spill looks small when compared to what Shell's done to Nigeria

Mark Sumner — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 20:01:00 EST

Filed under: Green Culture, Africa

BP's massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico last year has moved off the front pages in most of the nation, though the damage done to the environment and economy of the Gulf region is far from repaired. However, at least that spill once had some attention from the nation and the world.

In the waters off Nigeria, Shell Oil has been drilling and extracting oil for decades, and over much of that period there have been sizable spills from both platforms and tankers. According to an article at Caradisiac, these spills have been especially large and damaging in the last few years. So much so, that it would now take an estimated 30 years to clean up the area.

The consequences are obviously tragic for the people of the region where the ecosystem has been devastated. The residents of the area, mostly fishermen, have seen their livelihoods disappear and their groundwater contaminated. UNEP, the United Nations program for the environment, estimates that 7,000 oil leaks totaling 13 million barrels of oil have occurred in the area since extraction began in 1989. UNEP has also estimated that Shell and other oil companies working in the area have polluted 1,000 square kilometers of land and that the level of oil in the water is now 1,000 times greater than that recommended by the Nigerian government.

A spill is a spill is a spill, and every one should get attention and be cleaned up, no matter where they are in the world.

The Gulf oil spill looks small when compared to what Shell's done to Nigeria originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 11 Aug 2011 20:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kenya eliminates import duty on battery-powered vehicles

Eric Loveday — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 08:02:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Legislation and Policy, Africa

Kenya, of all places, is looking to get in on the plug-in vehicle action by eliminating import duties on battery-powered vehicles. With Somalia to its east, Ethiopia to its north, Uganda to its west and Tanzania to it south - and bordered by the Indian Ocean to the southeast and situated near the equator - Kenya might not be the first nation that comes to mind when you think of plug-in vehicles, but finance minister Uhuru Kenyatta feels confident that the African country is ready to dump the pump and pick up the plug. Kenyatta announced that:

We need to encourage usage of environmentally-friendly vehicles to reduce carbon emission and noise pollution. In this regard battery operated vehicles will be duty exempt.

In Kenya, duty usually accounts for a significant portion of a vehicles destination costs, with actual rates determined by depreciation. With battery-powered vehicles now exempt from import duties, the question is whether there's a market for electric autos in Kenya, the world's forty-seventh largest country.

[Source: Business Daily Africa | Image: eguidetravel - C.C. License 2.0]

Kenya eliminates import duty on battery-powered vehicles originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 23 Jun 2011 08:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation awards $1.5M for human waste-to-biodiesel project

Eric Loveday — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 12:52:00 EST

Filed under: Biodiesel, Africa

Converting human waste into useable fuel is not a breakthrough idea. In fact, it's been done for years. However, here's a new twist: in the capital city of Ghana, Accra, Colombia University professor Kartik Chandran will make biodiesel and methane from human waste using his self-developed "Next-Generation Urban Sanitation Facility" (not pictured).

Chandran's idea is rather simple: provide local African communities with access to affordable fuels while eliminating the potentially negative public health impact of improperly treated waste.

The Columbia University professor's efforts have not gone unnoticed. Recently, Chandran was awarded a $1.5 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Though $1.5 million probably ain't enough, it's a start.

[Source: Biofuels Digest]

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation awards $1.5M for human waste-to-biodiesel project originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 10 Jun 2011 12:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Saudi Arabia increases oil output to compensate for shortage from Libya

Eric Loveday — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 18:49:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Africa, Middle East

According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), Saudi Arabia has boosted its oil output to compensate for shortages in global crude supply caused by the unrest in Libya. Reports confirm that Saudi officials have met with European refiners to discuss the amount of oil required to fill the shortfall, estimated to be 1.2 million barrels of oil per day. An IEA spokesman released a statement claiming that there's "every indication that increased volumes are now being made available to the market".

Prior to the onset of the Libyan protests, Saudi Arabia claimed it retains sufficient spare oil capacity to crank out four million barrels of crude per day. Not everyone is certain this capacity actually exists, but Ali Naimi, the nation's oil minister, made it known that Saudi Arabia is standing by to use this excess capacity:

We have done this so many times, responding to emerging crises on the side of supply. We have enough credence to tell you that we will meet any shortage. I want this to be transmitted to the markets so people can sleep tonight.

Oil crisis averted... at least for now.

[Source: Financial Times | Image: nestor galina - C.C. License 2.0]

Saudi Arabia increases oil output to compensate for shortage from Libya originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 25 Feb 2011 18:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Diane Rehm talks oil prices, Middle East unrest and plug-in cars

Sebastian Blanco — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 18:07:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Legislation and Policy, Africa, Middle East

If you're interested in hearing how the turmoil in North Africa and the Middle East is connected to the recent spike in gas prices, we hope you've got an hour to spare. That's how long it'll take to listen to today's Diane Rehm Show, which is a great "where are we now" piece on a lot of the factors that connect the demonstrators in Libya with Saudi Arabia, the U.S. gas tax with biofuels and more.

Some callers to Rehm's radio program wondered why the price can climb so quickly when there's trouble somewhere (man-made or natural), but the gist of the wide-ranging answer is that the future is uncertain, and that's what is causing gas prices to climb. The U.S. average today is $3.189 a gallon, up almost a nickel from last week.

Rehm's panel this morning included author and Foreign Policy contributing editor Steve LeVine, the Center for American Progress' vice-president for energy policy, Kate Gordon, and Lucian (Lou) Pugliaresi, the president of the Energy Policy Research Foundation (EPRINC). It's kind of interesting to hear Publiaresi play Wormtongue to the oil industry's Saruman throughout the discussion but we expect most readers to disagree with his proposals. Click here to listen to the broadcast. We think you'll be happy you did.

[Source: The Diane Rehm Show]

Diane Rehm talks oil prices, Middle East unrest and plug-in cars originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 24 Feb 2011 18:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Optimal Energy conducting real-world tests of four Joule EVs

Eric Loveday — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 16:56:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Africa

Joule EV - Click above for high-res image gallery

Optimal Energy, the South African-based company behind the funky five-seat Joule electric vehicle (EV), is reporting that real-world testing of four of its battery-powered minivans has officially commenced. The Joule, first introduced at the Paris Motor Show in 2008 and initially expected to launch in 2010, has been delayed until late 2013 - at least progress is being made.

Delivery of the first four Joule EVs, hand-built in Port Elizabeth by Hi-Tech Automotive, occurred earlier this week. The four battery-powered MPVs will be placed into Optimal Energy's marketing and evaluation fleet and will partake in a nationwide tour in 2011. Optimal Energy plans to drive each of the four vehicles on public roads for at least 62,000 miles before evaluating their performance and making modifications prior to its scheduled launch. The Joule is claimed to scamper to 37 miles per hour in less than five seconds and top out at 87 mph. In addition to those specs, the production Joule will supposedly offer:

A range of 230 kilometers (143 miles) based on the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC) or 300 km (186 miles) using the Urban Dynamometer Driving Schedule (UDDS), integration with existing charging infrastructure, a genuine freeway cruising capability, seating for five, a 5-star NCAP safety rating and a retail price that will place Joule in a competitive position in the C-segment of the automotive market.

Gallery: Optimal Energy Joule

[Source: Optimal Energy]

Continue reading Optimal Energy conducting real-world tests of four Joule EVs

Optimal Energy conducting real-world tests of four Joule EVs originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 20 Dec 2010 16:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ethiopia gets geared up for biodiesel

Eric Loveday — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 16:01:00 EST

Filed under: Biodiesel, Africa

Challenged by fluctuating oil prices and stricken with poverty, Ethiopia is searching for a way to boost the nation's economical situation and perk up the country's poor living conditions. Some Ethiopian leaders believe that the solution lies in renewable fuels.

Statistics show that Ethiopia spends Birr 10 billion ($800 million U.S. at the current exchange rate) to import petroleum a year. This astounding figure represents nearly 90 percent of the earnings that the country makes each year in foreign trade. By cutting its dependency on foreign oil, Ethiopia could perhaps keep some of the money inside the country and prosper.

In an effort to reduce this crude dependency, the Ethiopian government and its many developmental partners have begun planting crops for use in biodiesel production. Due to Ethiopia's arid conditions, growers have turned to non-traditional biodiesel plants like castor seeds and jatropha curcas and have found that there are more than 25 million hectares of land in Ethiopia that are suitable for these two types of biodiesel crops. If the land is fully exploited, Ethiopia could become the largest biodiesel producer in the world, cranking out 20 million liters of biofuel per year. That will undoubted bring its own share of problems, but that's a problem for another time.

[Source: Renewable Energy World | Image: sashafatcat - C.C. License 2.0]

Ethiopia gets geared up for biodiesel originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 14 Dec 2010 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Joule EV update: prototype phase complete, production vehicles coming in 2014

Eric Loveday — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 19:57:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Green Daily, Africa

Joule EV - Click above for high-res image gallery

Optimal Energy, the South African-based company behind the ~~six~~- five-seat Joule electric vehicle (EV), reports that its funky, battery-powered minivan is now one step closer to reaching production-ready status. The Joule, first introduced at the Paris Motor Show in 2008 and initially expected to launch in 2010, is now scheduled to reach full-scale production status in late 2013, with vehicles arriving in showrooms by early 2014. That's quite a delay, even for the EV industry.

Optimal Energy confirmed that the Joule has undergone prototype testing and that production of a small marketing fleet is currently underway. Additionally, the company has modified the Joule's spec sheet and updated its design goals to reflect these changes. The production Joule will now offer:

A range of 230 kilometers (143 miles) based on the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC) or 300 km (186 miles) using the Urban Dynamometer Driving Schedule (UDDS), integration with existing charging infrastructure, a genuine freeway cruising capability, seating for five, a 5-star NCAP safety rating and a retail price that will place Joule in a competitive position in the C-segment of the automotive market.

Hit the jump for more on the status of Optimal Energy's Joule EV.

Gallery: Optimal Energy Joule

[Source: Optimal Energy]

Continue reading Joule EV update: prototype phase complete, production vehicles coming in 2014

Joule EV update: prototype phase complete, production vehicles coming in 2014 originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 09 Sep 2010 19:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Solaris Elettra sparks electric car interest in Ethiopia

Domenick Yoney — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 09:58:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Africa

Ethiopia may not spring immediately to mind as the most likely market for electric vehicles - its electricity system is not wholly reliable - but that is not stopping Freestyle PLC from building the Solaris Elettra at its facility in Legetafo, on the outskirts of Addis Ababa. Already in the solar business for 15 years, the firm feels that the East African country's hydro power development will make it a natural for this technology. Operating under the slogan, "From a green country to a green world," Freestyle envisions eventually exporting the car to other countries in the region.

The car itself is being assembled from parts sourced from China, Korea and Singapore and looks like, well, let's just say it looks like what's in the picture. With a top speed of 80 kilometers an hour (50 miles per hour) it wouldn't be a threat to a Tesla at a stop light either, though that is not really the point of the vehicle. More important is the price, which will be somewhere between $13,000 and $15,000 depending on the specific model chosen. The government may drop an import fee which would bring the cost closer to the $10,000 mark for the 5.0 model and the company is considering a credit system to help make it more attainable. It is said they are producing six vehicles a week but should be able to bump that production up to 30 in a few months. There does seem to be some amount of interest in the vehicle, despite the lack of a proper website. It can quietly boast its own fan page on Facebook. Hit the jump for video of local news coverage featuring ~~high amperage action~~ some shots of the Elettra in motion.

[Source: BBC / The Reporter]

Continue reading Solaris Elettra sparks electric car interest in Ethiopia

Solaris Elettra sparks electric car interest in Ethiopia originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 02 Apr 2010 09:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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South African Joule "may miss the boat" thanks to production delay

Sebastian Blanco — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 02:15:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Africa

The latest on South Africa's entry into the electric car field - the Joule - is that the vehicle's multi-year delay in production might cause it to "miss the boat" in having an impact on the country's place in the new green car universe.

To recap, the Joule was first revealed to the world in 2008 at the Paris Motor Show, with production predicted for the end of 2010. The company behind the Joule (in our head, we spell it "jewel"), Optima Energy, is now predicting full-scale production will start at the end of 2012, even though 100 units will be road tested during the World Cup this June.

KPMG director and automotive industry specialist Gavin Maile told the Weekend Post that the project is taking "too long," and that, "When first announced, the Joule had the capability to be a world leader and it is also known that the government is very keen to have a South African-built electric car." This world leader bit is not looking very likely any more, Maile said, but we'll be happy when the Joule sees the light of day anyway.

For more on what the Joule is/could be, see this.

[Source: Weekend Post]

South African Joule "may miss the boat" thanks to production delay originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 22 Mar 2010 02:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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