EVs are rising out of nothing left right and centre, but most of this is happening only in the US, China and Europe. The US and its startup ecosystem plus the traditional auto manufacturers alongside Tesla have propelled the shift to electric cars across the world, with the European giants the following suit further propelled by the Chinese startups which are piggybacking on the consumer electronics infrastructure to break out in the market. Now, there is a new EV called Quds Rise which has come from an unexpected source - the middle east, Lebanon to be precise.
Backed by Lebanon born, Palestinian businessman Jihad Mohammad, the Quds Rise is a sports car with an electric battery pack powering it all. Mohammad who is also the founder of Jihad Mohammad investments has unveiled a new subsidiary called EV Electra. Interestingly, it will be fully manufactured also in Lebanon.
EV Electra was founded four years ago and now has a combination of Lebanese and Palestinian engineers, over 300 of them on staff. The prototype Quds Rise will have a limited production run for 10,000 vehicles which could go into production later in the year. It is likely to have a very affordable cost of $30,000 which will make it cheaper than even the Tesla Model 3.
Quds Rise boasts a range of 450 kilometres and has a top speed of 165 km/h - with it having the capability to hit 0-100 km/h in 5 seconds. It will have a 160 bhp motor weighing in at 1,100 kilograms and having a 50 kWh battery.
Other indoor features include a massive 15.9-inch tout screen, regenerative braking and a fibreglass body with the panels bolted onto a super-light aluminium chassis. It has a design that some would call a cross between a Bugatti and Porsche from the early 2000s.
EV Electra has also announced that it will install 100 recharging stations across Lebanon which will be powered by solar and wind energy. This is a particularly important step for the middle east which is in the middle of a crisis with hostilities ensuing between Israel and Palestine in the Gaza Strip.
