Domestic electric car to debut in August

The countdown for the public introduction of the electric car developed by the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TÜBİTAK) continues, as Science, Industry and Technology Minister Fikri Işık suggested the electric car will debut in August.

While the future of cars using fossil fuels continues to be discussed, Turkey prefers an electric engine in its domestically produced car. Işık gave good news about domestically designed electric and hybrid cars, which are being developed in the Kocaeli Informatics Valley. While announcing the list of Turkey's most entrepreneurial and innovative universities during a press conference held at TÜBİTAK, Işık shared the latest information about the domestically produced electric car. He did not give a specific date for the prototypes' debut, but said it could happen before he left office, which was interpreted as the car being displayed before any change in government.

The four electric cars that were produced as prototypes are expected to be seen in August. Electric cars with extended ranges and internal combustion cars with alternative engines, known as hybrids, will be tested using these prototypes. After some tests such as crash testing, difficult ground testing and suitability to seasonal conditions testing are completed, a fleet of 30 to 40 cars is aimed to be produced in 2016. One car from the first fleet will be Işık's official car, as he had announced that he would use an electric car as his official car as long as he served as the minister. It was also learned that the ministry would prefer "a completely electric car" not "an electric car with extended range" as the ministry's official car. After the electric car is introduced in Kocaeli, a ceremony will be held for the domestically designed electric car and the first test drive is planned to be conducted at the Istanbulpark Formula 1 track.

The companies that will commercially market these cars will be determined in 2016. They will be invited to mass produce these cars after every step is completed, and big automobile manufacturers or new companies will be the producers of these cars.