South African company unveils electric car

A South African company, Optimal Energy, is unveiling Africa's first locally developed electric car.

The company says the car, expected on the market in 2010, will help reduce urban emissions and noise pollution.

The head of the firm denied that unreliable African power supplies would make it difficult to recharge the car.

Kobus Meiring told the BBC that users could recharge the lithium battery that powers the car overnight, when there is often excess energy supply.

An energy shortage in South Africa has caused power cuts, including one in January that shut down mines for five days.

"Consistency of electricity supply is an important thing," Mr Meiring told the BBC's Network Africa programme.

"But even in the current situation when it hasn't kept up properly, between 11 o'clock at night and six o'clock the next morning there are vast amounts of excess generated capacity available."

Solar panels

The car, called the Joule, can be recharged at home using a standard 220-volt home outlet and an on-board charger, according to Optimal Energy's website.

It can then drive for 400km (249 miles).

Mr Meiring said the car also had solar panels on its roof "which in a sunny place like South Africa would give you an boost of about 15km-20km after being in the sun all day".

The car has been designed in South Africa and more than 50% of it is expected to be manufactured in South Africa, he said.

Optimal Energy is unveiling the Joule at the Paris Motor Show.

The car is expected to be on the market in South Africa towards the end of 2010, and to be sold for export after that.