Electric car to be assembled in Mogoditshane- Molebatsi

Daniel Chida
REASSURING: Molebatsi

The controversy sounding the assembling of the long awaited electric car which President Mokgweetsi Masisi spoke highly of in the build up to the 2019 general elections looks to be setting off.

Assistant Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry, Molebatsi Molebatsi, told parliament this week that the car is being assembled in Mogoditshane by Baylee Enterprises (Pty) Ltd trading as AT Bus Body Builders.

“There is a company in Mogoditshane which is assembling the electric car. The company is importing electric motors and other parts to assemble the electric car. The company has developed the prototype of the electric car and this is currently undergoing compliance process with relevant stakeholders including the Department of Road Transport and Safety.”

Molebatsi added that the company was planning to start full production by August 2021.

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He said that AT Bus Body Builders currently manufactures buses and truck bodies, and they have plans to manufacture electric cars under the trade name, AT Green Tech. “The company is currently producing 2.5kw motor electric cars with 50km maximum range on a single recharge. They intend to expand their production into longer range cars in future,” he noted.

The Member of Parliament for Mmadinare also said that the production of the electric car is anticipated to increase total employment to one hundred (100). “A total of 67 vehicles which are using fuel cells (A fuel cell uses the chemical energy of hydrogen or another fuel to cleanly and efficiently produce electricity), have been registered.

He however noted that no electrical vehicles have so far been exported.

Molebatsi was responding to the MP for Selibe Phikwe West, Dithapelo Keorapetse who wanted an update on the development and production of the electric car and to confirm whether there is any firm producing such cars in Mogoditshane or elsewhere.

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