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Joule’s pilot fleet
Wednesday, 1 December 2010
Optimal Energy hosted a sneak preview of Joule’s pilot fleet yesterday afternoon at it’s headquarters in Cape Town. Four test vehicles were on display to invited guests from the public and media, and it’s safe to say that those who attended liked what they saw.
Aside from the design and technical features, the pilot fleet also showcases some of the different shades that buyers can expect to choose from, namely Snowy, Chocolate, Cherry and Dolphin. Each colour comes with a different shade of interior upholstery which, I might add, is very luxurious in look and feel.
Plush seating for comfortable travelling.
These pilot vehicles were hand built and will now undergo rigourous testing under a variety of conditions to identify any flaws or complications before mass production at the East London factory commences in 2014. Each model will travel 100 000 km, providing plenty of feedback to Optimal Energy’s engineers.
Four Joules, in all their low carbon glory.
The Joule in Snowy, my personal favourite.
Perhaps you'd prefer it in Cherry?
...or Chocolate brown?
Guests at the preview were able to explore the features of the cars to get a real sense of how it operates differently from conventionally fuelled vehicles.
The driver's view.
The operating system. We work with buttons, not gears.
It was very exciting to finally be able to see and touch the car we’ve talked about for so long! Now that Joule has moved into the final testing stage and commercial production is in sight, we can expect to hear a lot more about the car as a tangible product, rather than a concept.
Some people at the event were even lucky enough to test drive Joule. To find out more take a look at a great write up of the preview event and the test drive experience on News24.
Posted in: Blog, Electric Vehicles
Congratulations, Optimal Energy! You represent that which is best about South Africa: innovation, a care for the common good, respect for all.
The Joule looks like a GREAT vehicle!
All the success in the world to you!
admin says:
15 December 2010 at 1:59 pm
Thanks for your comment Dave, we will take this into account for the new year!
Dave says:
14 December 2010 at 10:25 am
Oh, well thanks for keeping us informed. That’s why I subscribed to “don’t be such a passenger”, so that I would receive notice of such events in blinking lights. Oh, wait…
Please guys, cut the marketing crap. We want to know about the trials and tribulations as much as the successes, the criticisms as much as the plaudits. Get rid of the ignoramus filling the newsletter with gushy dreck and get some engineers and project managers and accountants to start contributing. Then maybe one of them would have said “we hope to be in Cape Town on the 1st but we have this problem so maybe….”
Christo says:
2 December 2010 at 3:41 pm
When will the average SA citezen be able to purchase a Joule? I realise that our archaic goverment will not in a million years consider tax incetives like we see in Europe and USA. They are just well not…….. I guess if they back EV’s what will happen to the fat cat pertol tax they are getting at the moment? Seems if an SA citizen want an EV he will have convert his own for the next 5 years min I would geuss. SA always seems to suck the hind tit when it comes to cars especially with what we pay for cars int heis country. It is truly disgusting. America is truly leading the way even if at present mostly form China. Thundersky Lithium Ion Batteries, Netgain Warp motors and controllers. Soleton Controllers. all availble specificaly for EV conversions. I believe it is time for an individual to show what can be done affordably int his country.
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