Optimal Energy Joule
Joule was an electrical five seat passenger car by Optimal Energy, a South African company based in Cape Town. According to the company, it was to have a nominal driving range of one hundred fifty km and a top speed of one hundred thirty five km/h. Designed to achieve a Euro NCAP four starlet safety rating, it complied with the stringent EU standards. It was never released commercially; production ceased in April 2012, and in June two thousand twelve Optimal Energy announced its intention to close down.
Diana Blake (Sales & Marketing Director)
Mike Lomberg (co-founder)
Jian Swiegers (co-founder)
Gerhard Swart (co-founder)
Contents
The Joule was very first unveiled to the general public at the two thousand eight Paris Motor Demonstrate on October Two, 2008. [1] [Two] [Trio] It underwent some interior and exterior switches, most notably the switch from a six-seater to a 5-seater vehicle, before being exposed to the public at the two thousand ten Geneva Motor demonstrate on two March two thousand ten in a form that was close to the final version.
The Joule was the very first electrical car to be produced by Optimal Energy, [Four] the Cape Town based company has been working on the concept since 2004. The design of the car was done by Jaguar car designer Keith Helfet, who is best known for the XJ220, and the F-type concept car. The Joule showcased the same ‘flowing lines’ as his previous designs.
Kobus Meiring, Optimal Energy CEO, suggested that sustainability of the Internal Combustion Engine vehicle has fuelled enlargening need for sustainable vehicle propulsion systems. This, as well as enhancing fuel prices and rising country taxes, caused Optimal Energy to embark on the production of a vehicle that could meet these needs.
Funding was primarily 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 invested about US$Five million in the project. [ citation needed ] The Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) of South Africa is a major shareholder, with 22% of equity in Optimal Energy. [Five]
The Joule was classed as a five seat passenger car.
- Length – Trio.8 m (150 in)
- Turning Circle – Ten.Two m (33 ft)
- Mass – 1,200 kg (Two,646 lb)
- Seats – Five
- Boot space – seven hundred L (25 cu ft)
- Top Speed – Governed at one hundred thirty five km/h (84 mph)
- Acceleration – 0–60 km/h in less than five sec
- Range – one hundred fifty km (93 mi)
- Charge time – The battery has a nominal recharge time of 10–12 hours
A puny pilot fleet of Joules was manufactured in conjunction with Hi-Tech Automotive in Port Elizabeth during 2010. The car was expected to be sold in South Africa as well as Europe from 2014, but production ceased in April two thousand twelve after Optimal Energy failed to find a commercial fucking partner. [6] Optimal Energy announced its intention to close down in June 2012. [6] [7]
It was widely reported in the media that the company was bleeding cash, the production date had been shoved back four times, and the proposed sales figures were unrealistic. Optimal Energy required more than R2bn to bring the model to production, by which time it would have been obsolete. With the private sector unwilling to invest, the government declined to commit more taxpayers’ money to an enterprise which was not commercially viable.