Joule PT Panda unveiled; pricing guidelines given
Optimal Energy, the company behind South Africa’s first electric car – the Joule – has recently unveiled the new working prototype of the vehicle dubbed the PT Panda. As an engineering mule, PT Panda is designed to test the motor and electrical systems.
The Joule continues to grab the attention of South Africans, and was the star attraction at the 2009 South African Automotive Week (SAAW) which was held in Port Elizabeth recently. Mass manufacturing is set to start in 2012 and the first commercially available vehicles are set to hit local outlets in late 2012 or early 2013.
The production facility location has not yet been finalized, but the company made it clear that the Joule will be built in South Africa. East London and Port Elizabeth have both been shortlisted as possible sites for a production facility, and predictions are that 10 000 direct and indirect job opportunities will be created by the production of the Joule.
The company said that while it is difficult to give pricing predictions before the first commercial vehicle is rolled out, it expects pricing in today’s terms to start at around R235,000 for the entry level vehicle, going up to R275,000 for the top end model.
The Joule is expected to be able travel a nominal range of 300 km on a full charge of its lithium-ion battery pack. The top speed has been electronically limited to 135 km/h to save energy, but the company said that the car can go much faster than that.
The Joule will primarily be aimed at the export market, but Optimal Energy is still expecting good local take up.
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