In some positive news from South Africa, a battery-powered car is being developed and will be unveiled next year (no, it’s not a toy). This announcement was made by the Deputy Science and Technology Minister, Derek Hanekom.

The project involves a whole range of stakeholders between universities and industry in its development. Given the effect on the country with the recent oil price increases and lack of investor confidence with the xenophobia crisis, a new alternative which would help people save money and provide a viable alternative is very welcome.

The project is still in initial stages and would first be rolled out to provide a fleet for government and from there, should any investors be interested, it would have an entry into the local car market.

Production is set to begin in 2010 and no pricing model has been developed at this stage.

Coming from the Death of the electric Car Documentary which covered the General Motors EV1 and how it seems to have disappeared from the market... I think it’s a great step forward for South Africa, and I hope many other countries, to begin developing viable alternatives to our oil-dependant economies and lifestyles.