Lebanon announces its own EV

During a presentation event in Bayreuth, Lebanon, carmaker EV Electra has unveiled Quds Rise, the country’s first fully electric car.

Jihad Muhammed, a Palestinian entrepreneur of Lebanese origins, founded the company four years ago. The staff currently includes around three hundred employees largely of Lebanese or Palestinian descent, although branch offices also exist in Montreal, Larnaca and London. The production will be localized in the home country for now.

The Rise is not particularly noteworthy in terms of its design and powertrain parameters. The only electric motor resides on the rear axle and produces 160 PS (158 hp / 118 kW). The car weighs as little as 1.1 metric tons (2,425 lbs) and draws its power from a 50-kWh battery rated for 450 km (280 miles) of range. The manufacturer claims it can sprint 0-100 km/h (62 mph) in five seconds flat and reach 165 km/h (102.5 mph).

Other noteworthy features include an aluminum chassis and a glass-fiber plastic body riding on 18-inch wheels. Customers will be able to choose from seven exterior finishes and six interior trim options. Note also that the faux grille sports a golden finish on the show car and resembles the Dome of the Rock, a famous Islamic shrine. A 15.9-inch display is provided for the occupants of the two-seat cabin.

EV Electra intends to launch the production lines and start selling the Quds Rise later this year, making around 10,000 units annually priced at around $30,000. The company also plans to conquer other countries’ markets in the future.