An electric motorcycle powered by the sun is on its way from Nairobi to Cape Town as part of a potentially groundbreaking energy project driven by Stellenbosch University.
The motorcycle, designed and manufactured in Kenya, is the first from the continent to attempt such a lengthy trip. It is being charged by solar panels carried by two support vehicles for the 6,000km route that traverses much of Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Botswana and South Africa.
Upon arrival in Stellenbosch in mid-October, the Roam Air motorcycle, along with an identical model, will be donated to the university’s newly established Electricity Mobility Lab, which is researching green energy solutions for Africa’s transport challenges.
“We want to educate and to create awareness to show that it can be done — and more importantly that it can be done with green energy,” said Prof Thinus Booysen, the Electric Mobility Lab founder, whose research team will collaborate with the company to develop electric vehicles for the African context.
“We cannot think of a better way to kick-start our research collaboration than testing the motorcycle overland. To do this within the African fraternity of ingenuity is an enormous privilege.”
Two drivers will take turns on the motorcycle, one of them Stellenbosch University student Stephan Lacock.
“The emphasis is not on the whether such a trip can be done as there have been other similar journeys in the world, but rather to showcase African ingenuity and collaboration between SU and Roam to overcome African conditions with green solar energy,” Lacock said, marking the start of the journey on Sunday.
Roam spokesperson Hans van Toor said the motorcycle was specifically designed for African conditions, with a view to allowing frequent use in an urban setting.
He told TimesLIVE Premium the motorcycle was “designed for the African use case; to be able to move heavy cargo and people across any terrain.
“As less than 20% of the roads across Sub Saharan Africa are paved, the Roam Air is designed for these conditions. This is one of the reasons why other electric two-wheelers often struggle in Kenya and across Africa.
“As an original equipment manufacturer, Roam has designed the motorcycle (and our buses) ourselves. We owned the intellectual property and manufacture locally. This allows us to provide a home charger, so that riders can ride anywhere, charge everywhere. To increase flexibility, most common maintenance jobs can be done by a standard mechanic, with standard parts. We do provide public charging and after sales service stations but they are for convenience, rather than necessity.”
The company has already launched an electric bus, also made in Kenya.
Van Toor said the enthusiastic market response to electric motorcycles was due partly to cost savings and partly to environmental awareness.
“The fact that motorcycle or 'boda' riders earn 30% more during the financing period and 80% more post-financing is what really accelerates adoption. Due to lower maintenance cost and requirements, electric motorcycles have a longer lifetime, which adds to the cost savings post financing. The higher disposable income means more available income for education, healthcare or expanding to a small fleet of bodas,” he said.
“What is exciting about electric mobility here is that together the economic and ecological benefits accelerate adoption.”
The motorcycle is designed to carry a payload of 220kg and has a top speed of 90km/h.
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