Enthusiastic entrepreneurs believe that electric cars can become very accessible in Romania
In Maramures, the Romanian region that shares a border with the Ukraine, sleepy villages authentically preserve traditions that are centuries old as part of their daily lives. Inhabitants of this area keep the rural culture and crafts of their Dacian ancestors alive to an amazing extent. The famous, and distinctly unique, Wooden Churches of Maramures, have been recognised by UNESCO as important to the world’s collective heritage and have put this north western Romanian region firmly on the map for many visitors.
What is perhaps less known about Maramures, is that Baia Mare, the capital of the region, is also home to a group of entrepreneurs who are about to help change the landscape of electric car manufacture.
The GTG Group, initially a large textile manufacturer turned EV assembly start-up, aims to produce the cheapest “made in Romania” electric car, entering the market at an estimated 11,888 Euros, with their GTG Oxygen EV.
Inspired by Elon Musk’s ingenuity and the way he is revolutionising transport both on earth and in space, Gheorghe Muresan, GTG’s manager, and his team have attempted within the minimal Romanian market resources, to produce cheap electric cars developed by an Italian designer.
Muresan is quoted as telling MEDIAFAX: “We are a group of enthusiastic entrepreneurs who believe that electric cars can become very accessible to everyone. We believe we can find the solution so that each of us, sooner or later, becomes the owner of an electric car that will solve the immediate problem of moving from point A to point B in a city”.
MEDIAFAX reports that the project, which is currently in the implementation phase, amounts to 1.5 million Euros. European funding makes up 74% of the investment with the remaining 26% coming from the GTG Group’s own funds. The assembly line in Baia Mare includes a testing line and is set to begin operation in the first quarter of 2019. Phase one is expected to deliver 4000 cars, 10 per shift, with the first two vehicles already being assembled in Baia Mare and two further vehicles being assembled by a partner in Bucharest.
GTG have stated they expect to reduce their delivery time from 3 months to 2-3 weeks once their assembly line is fully operational. They state that they will produce two models, the Oxygen EV two seater and the Ozone EV 4 seater. The vehicles will comfortably take passengers, at a maximum speed of 55-60 km/h, around city traffic and will operate on an overnight battery charge from a 16-amp socket, which can easily be installed in any garage. Consumers will be offered 2 versions, the cheaper gel battery-powered option and the faster charging lithium battery option.
The future is looking bright for EV’s according to reports. With market prices slowly on the decline, the affordability of such vehicles makes them a tangible choice for the majority of the population, and helps reduce atmospheric pollution, increase air quality and reduce noise pollution. A promising outlook for city life.