The World Energy Council (WEC) has identified the transport sector as an area where there is still much to be done in terms of efficient and effective use of energy. One opportunity is in the use of alternative energy sources for motor vehicles, the most notable of these being electricity. The concept of electric vehicles is not new, but the innovation that is making this mode of transport viable on a large scale is certainly worth exploring. In particular, we have our own South African innovation and this lecture presents an opportunity to hear first hand what is being done to make electric vehicles viable in the South African context.

In 1996, Kobus became manager of the Rooivalk Development Department. It was during this year that Denel Aviation was awarded ISO 9002 certification and Rooivalk received the Denel Chairman's Award. Kobus was appointed Rooivalk Programme Manager in 1997 and the first production aircraft was handed over to the SAAF 16 squadron in Bloemfontein in 1999, where these helicopters have been in operation ever since.

Kobus then moved to Cape Town where he was appointed as Project Manager of the Southern African Large Telescope (SALT) Project. SALT was completed on budget and in time and inaugurated by President Mbeki in November 2005. Upon completion of the SALT project, he co-founded Optimal Energy in 2005 with Mike Lomberg, Jian Swiegers and Gerhard Swart.