Showcasing the potential of sustainable electric mobility across sub-Saharan Africa, an electric motor-cycle powered only by the sun has completed a groundbreaking 6000 km journey from Nairobi, Kenya to Stellenbosch, South Africa.
Researchers from the Faculty of Engineering at Stellenbosch University (SU) joined forces with Roam, a technology-driven electric mobility company in Nairobi, Kenya, to test the Roam Air, a tailored electric motorcycle designed in Kenya for Africa.
The motorcycle team arrived in Stellenbosch on Wednesday morning.
Their journey spanned Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Botswana, and South Africa. On the second last day, the team covered 1000 kilometres in one day to reach the southern tip of Africa.
The Roam Air, donated to SU for research and testing, was powered solely by solar energy on the journey.
After reaching Nairobi on September 27, the team collected the electric motorcycle developed in the Kenyan capital, and led by PhD candidate Stephan Lacock, embarked on their return to Stellenbosch on September 29, travelling through a diverse range of landscapes. Throughout the trip the motorcycle’s swappable batteries were charged exclusively through solar power.
Thinus Booysen, Professor of Engineering and founder of the Electric Mobility Lab at Stellenbosch University said: “Despite the successful completion of the journey, the team faced numerous challenges along the way.
Rainy weather in the beautiful Malawi created difficult travel conditions, poor roads tested the vehicle's durability, and lengthy stops at border crossings added costly delays during precious daylight hours.”
“Some issues with solar connectors that were not made for daily disconnecting and reconnecting further complicated the journey. However, the team’s resilience and commitment to their mission allowed them to overcome these obstacles, showcasing the strength in collaborative applied research and the viability of solar-powered electric mobility solutions on the continent.”
Booysen said the expedition served as a powerful testament to the feasibility and promise of clean, renewable energy in the transportation sector and beyond.
“Believed to be the first time that electric motorcycles developed in Africa have covered the approximately 6 000 km with only solar power as energy source, this project is not only testimony to the sheer determination of the research team, but it also showcases African ingenuity at its best,” Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research, Innovation and Postgraduate Study at SU, Professor Sibusiso Moyo said.
Cape Times