afrol News, 18 September - 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.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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