- South Africa's first electric motor vehicle, the Joule, developed by Cape Town-based Optimal Energy, will be on display at the AIDC’s Automotive Industry Conference 2009 on 7 and 8 October 2009.
The Joule is a five-seater lithium-ion battery EV with a top speed of a 135 km/h, and a range of 300 km.
Entrepreneur Kobus Meiring is CEO of Optimal Energy, which specialises in optimal solutions for urban transport. He has always had an interest in sustainable energy - particularly electricity, which he feels is the most versatile form of energy available.
With the tremendous advances in battery technology made over that past decade, coupled with the steady rise in the oil price, he believes that electric cars have now become a viable option for urban transport.
Mr Meiring will be presenting on the subject of breakthrough automotive greening technology on the first day of the conference, which takes the form of a plenary session with plenty of opportunity for discussion and debate. The second day will see delegates focus on specific areas of interest such as Supply Chain Development, Supplier Development and Skills Development & Training.
The Automotive Industry Conference is being held in Port Elizabeth as part of the South African Automotive Week.
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afrol News - Fear is spreading all over West Africa after the health ministry in Guinea confirmed the first Ebola outbreak in this part of Africa. According to official numbers, at least 86 are infected and 59 are dead as a result of this very contagious disease.
afrol News - It is already a crime being homosexual in Ethiopia, but parliament is now making sure the anti-gay laws will be applied in practical life. No pardoning of gays will be allowed in future, but activist fear this only is a signal of further repression being prepared.
afrol News / Africa Renewal - Ethiopia's ambitious plan to build a US$ 4.2 billion dam in the Benishangul-Gumuz region, 40 km from its border with Sudan, is expected to provide 6,000 megawatts of electricity, enough for its population plus some excess it can sell to neighbouring countries.
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