Hicham Husami from Lebanon has announced on Al-Manar TV (Hezbullah-Lebanon) that he has invented the Lira Ecological Car, the first car produced in an Arab country to run on electric and solar energy. It’s clunky and lacking slick design, but when people can’t afford the fuel to run their cars or diesel generators, it’s a godsend.
Husami said in a news clip translated by MEMRI that the car has a range of about 150 miles, and its fast-charge battery runs on solar panels. There are solar panels on the roof of the car as well. Due to the economic crisis which has led to an energy crisis, Lebanese are turning solar to run homes and small businesses to keep the power on.
“In order for this experiment to be successful, one should not drive it near the Central Bank building, so it will not skid and collapse,” he joked.
Here is the transcript from the interview on TV:
Reporter: “At a time when the Lira [Lebanese Pound] has lost all its reputation and value, this place conceals a Lira of another kind — a Lira that cannot talk, but can drive using solar energy. Let us take a look.”
Hicham Husami: “Despite the circumstances and the collapse of the Lebanese Pound, we invented the first car produced in the Arab world — in Lebanon — that operates on electric and solar energy. We have the honor to call it the Lebanese Lira.
Reporter: “It’s a solar car, called the Lira. In Lebanon, this is not a figment of imagination. It is a real project in progress. The man behind this car is an optimistic and determined Lebanese engineer.”
Husami: “I’m an industrialist. Because we are going through an economic crisis, we need new ideas that will revive this country, and will provide new job opportunities to our young men and women. We must not just wait for relief when the key to relief is in our hand.
“This car can drive you for 200 kilometers during the day without charging it. You can charge the batteries in half an hour. If you are in a place with no electricity and there is sunlight, the car recharges itself, through solar energy. Despite the crisis we are going through, we can stand on our feet. Lebanon is the first Arab country to produce solar cars.”
Reporter: “The idea of the Lira car is an honest manifestation of the Lebanese will to live and survive. In order for this experiment to be successful, one should not drive it near the Central Bank building, so it will not skid and collapse.”
Late last year Husami was interviewed by the Chinese newspaper Xinhua, “It’s a shame that the Lebanese can barely afford gasoline, and it’s even more painful to see people suffering to access the commodity every now and then,” Hussami said
Despite Husami declaring he’s the first, the Middle East area does have a number of electric car ventures forthcoming in Oman (see Mays Motors), Saudi Arabia Ceer electric cars, and even Turkey’s Togg EV. Israel also has a transformer car.
