Hope Arising: The story of South Africa’s JOULE electric vehicle, and why it still matters

“Once I started reading this book, I was riveted – I couldn’t put it down. I read it from start to finish in a single day.”
– Gideon Potgieter, ceo, Resolution Circle

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“An engineer’s story of what it looks like to take the shot at industrial innovation – and how it can all unwind in the blink of an eye.”
– Mike Mulcahy, ceo, Greencape

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“I was overwhelmed by the sheer audacity and scale of the JOULE story – South Africa came so close to changing the game.”
– Wim de Vos, Business Development Manager, FoxCo

The Untold Story of South Africa’s JOULE Electric Vehicle

Hope Arising is more than the story of a car – it’s a story of belief in a better future, of the engineers and entrepreneurs who dared to build it, and of the powerful lessons left in its wake. For those who were part of the JOULE’s journey, this book offers a candid look at the triumphs, heartaches, and innovations behind South Africa’s first home-grown electric vehicle.

Told through the eyes of a co-founder and lead engineer, it reveals the political tides, business pressures, and personal sacrifices that shaped – and ultimately halted – the project in 2012. Yet beyond the technical blueprints and strategic decisions lies something more: a quiet reflection on perseverance, failure, and the faith that carried the author through it all.

For every engineer, entrepreneur, or dreamer who once believed in the JOULE – and for those who still believe in South African innovation – this book stands as a testament. The wheels may have stopped turning, but the road to the future remains wide open

This book would interest:

• Business people, leaders, industrialists, engineers, anyone involved in Science & Technology innovation
• Everyone involved directly and indirectly in the Joule EV project, and the media (who still ask, “What happened?)
• The general public who took an interest in the project and followed its progress, including tech-savvy folk

Points to note:

• The project garnered a lot of attention from the media, the public and various stakeholders, both locally and globally
• The true story behind the termination of the project and the closing of Optimal Energy has never been told
• The author shares not only the story, but important engineering insights and technology, as well as business insights that will benefit future innovators
• The book includes 32 pages of full-colour images of the car, its people, the design and build process, etc.