Hope Arising: The story of South Africa’s JOULE electric vehicle
Written engineer Gerhard Swart, 'Hope Arising' is the story of South Africa’s bold attempt to create a world-class electric vehicle – long before EVs became mainstream. Swart speaks to Engineering News' Darlene Creamer about his new book.
'Hope Arising' is the inspiring true story of South Africa’s bold attempt to create a world-class electric vehicle – long before EVs became mainstream. At its heart is the JOULE, a sleek and visionary car born from the ambition of four engineers determined to reshape the future of mobility from the southern tip of Africa.
Written by co-founder and lead engineer Gerhard Swart, this book is both a behind-the-scenes chronicle and a personal reflection on the highs and lows of a ground-breaking venture. From the corridors of political power to investor boardrooms and engineering labs, Swart reveals the triumphs, missteps and systemic challenges that ultimately brought the JOULE project to a premature end in 2012.
But this is more than a cautionary tale. It is a blueprint for innovators, entrepreneurs and policymakers navigating the complex intersection of technology, government and global markets. Above all, it’s a message of hope – about the power of collaboration, the importance of locally owned innovation, and why the dream of African industrial excellence must not be abandoned.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Gerhard Swart is a systems engineer and entrepreneur with over 30 years’ experience leading complex engineering projects. He contributed to the Rooivalk attack helicopter, led integration for parts of the Hong Kong International Airport, and was the systems engineer behind the Southern African Large Telescope (SALT). As co-founder and Chief Technology Officer of Optimal Energy, he helped pioneer the JOULE electric vehicle project. Passionate about innovation, engineering education and local industrial development, Swart brings a rare blend of technical insight, strategic thinking and heartfelt reflection to this important story.
'Hope Arising: The story of South Africa’s JOULE electric vehicle, and why it still matters' is published by Quickfox Publishing and can be purchased here
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