Two Worcester residents with a passion and determination to introduce first-world transportation to their community have started manufacturing electric vehicles.<\/p>\n
Who would have guessed a small town like Worcester has been manufacturing electric vehicles for the past four years?<\/p>\n
Locals Willa Nolte and Jaco Pieters partnered up to start an e-vehicle company, New Heights, which manufactures vehicles that use electricity instead of petrol or diesel.<\/p>\n
The idea of this new venture was born a few years ago when the two attended expos overseas and noticed a significant use of electric vehicles in public transport, and South Africa was far behind. <\/p>\n
Because the two were already in the business of manufacturing agricultural machines they thought it would be a good starting point to bring their business idea to life.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe then started by importing the parts to South Africa, and the rest really unfolded almost naturally,\u201d Nolte says.<\/p>\n
He pointed out everything they have achieved with the e-vehicles so far has been through four long years of trial and error.<\/p>\n
Hard work coupled with the willpower to achieve great heights has been integral themes in the men\u2019s lives as one of their motorbikes recently took part in an off-road e-bike enduro race which took place at the Nuy Winery on Saturday 15 January. This event is a 21 km dirt route on which dirt bike riders put their skills to the test.<\/p>\n
Nolte said: \u201cThe bike we took to this, the Funduro, was one of the e-bikes we have had to rework. So we took it there to see how well it would perform and, to our surprise, it did really well.<\/p>\n
\u201cCredit must be given to the rider, though.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe received the affirmation we were looking for, so it was a proud moment for us.\u201d<\/p>\n
Owing to the e-bike\u2019s performance Nolte said maybe it is a product he and Pieters could take to the next level of manufacture. <\/p>\n
Located in Worcester\u2019s industrial area, New Heights, according to Nolte, is now at a place where he and Pieters can start building on it successfully. This is so partly because they already have a bakkie that has been functional for more than a year.<\/p>\n
E-motorbikes and quadbikes therefore form part of the plans to expand.<\/p>\n
Later this year the two hope to launch another motorbike.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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