Hope Arising: The Story of South Africa’s JOULE Electric Vehicle, And Why it Still Matters

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.