Roam Air Electrical Bike Embarks On Historic 6,000-KM Photo voltaic-Powered Journey From Nairobi To South Africa! – CleanTechnica – Uplaza

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October is transport month in South Africa. One of many highlights of the month is the Smarter Mobility Africa Summit presently being held in Midrand, close to Johannesburg. The Smarter Mobility Africa Summit is an annual gathering that conjures up and connects visionary mobility resolution suppliers, thought leaders, key patrons, and decision-makers from enterprise and authorities to make mobility smarter and extra related in Africa. It has a significant give attention to electrical mobility and micromobility. One other thrilling growth throughout this transport month is the primary ever 6000-kilometer solar-powered electrical motorbike journey from Nairobi, Kenya, to Stellenbosch, South Africa.

In partnership with Stellenbosch College, the Roam Air will journey 6,000 kilometers in an unprecedented showcase of African innovation and can be powered solely by photo voltaic vitality. This expedition marks the primary time an African-designed electrical motorbike will cowl such a distance. The journey goals to check the efficiency of Roam Air’s drivetrain, moveable charging twin batteries, in addition to a conveyable photo voltaic recharging resolution. The moveable photo voltaic charging resolution has a 14.3 kWh Balancell DC battery and 10x545W bifacial photo voltaic panels and can be transported in a assist automobile.

The initiative is a partnership between Roam and Stellenbosch College’s College of Engineering. Researchers on the college’s Electrical Mobility Lab are desirous to see how Roam Air performs in long-distance circumstances, far past its city design. The undertaking may even contribute worthwhile insights into the way forward for electrical mobility in Africa. The Roam Air will journey via Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, and Botswana, earlier than reaching Stellenbosch by October 18th. Two solar-powered automobiles will accompany the motorbike, making certain the Roam Air batteries are charged solely by the solar all through the expedition.

PhD candidate Stephan Lacock and Roam’s Product Proprietor Masa Kituyi will trip the motorbike, capturing real-world efficiency knowledge over various terrain. “This journey isn’t just about whether it can be done — it’s about showing that African innovation, powered by solar energy, can overcome the continent’s unique challenges,” mentioned Lacock. Along with Roam, the analysis workforce will give attention to testing the efficiency of Roam Air’s drivetrain, moveable charging expertise, and photo voltaic recharging programs. The motorbike’s journey will present a novel alternative to evaluate its reliability and effectivity over an prolonged distance beneath numerous environmental circumstances.

The Roam Air, constructed with the African terrain in thoughts, will exhibit its versatility because it takes on this long-distance journey. “This journey showcases Kenya’s ability to design and locally manufacture world-class electric vehicles for African conditions. It’s a testament to local innovation, leading the way in sustainable mobility solutions,” remarked Masa Kituyi.

The collaboration between SU and Roam goals to advance electrical mobility options that aren’t solely sustainable, but in addition sensible for African circumstances. This expedition was made attainable via the assist of SANED through the LEAP-RE undertaking, Throttle Pitstop, Scatec, Balancell, Voetspore, Tracks for Africa, Bush Lapa, and Charlie’s Travels, all of which contribute to the success of this journey. The undertaking goals to spotlight the potential of solar-powered transport in Africa and exhibit that electrical bikes can full long-distance journeys with renewable vitality.

The journey can be documented and there are plans to provide a documentary showcasing the challenges and improvements that emerge as an example the potential for solar-powered mobility throughout the continent. It should culminate in Stellenbosch on October 18th, in time for the College’s Electrical Mobility Day celebration. In the course of the occasion, SU’s Electrical Mobility Lab will formally launch on the Sustainability Institute, marking a major step ahead within the growth of electrical mobility in Africa. A spotlight of the occasion would be the handover of a retrofitted 65-seater electrical bus to Golden Arrow Bus Service, in addition to the formal presentation of the Roam Air motorbike to the Electrical Mobility Lab.

Electrical bikes are gaining traction in Kenya’s motorbike taxi and on-demand supply sectors. 2023 was the primary time that Kenyan motorbike gross sales noticed a noticeable improve within the share of electrical bikes in general new registrations. In 2023, there have been 70,691 bikes bought in Kenya, and a couple of,557 of those have been electrical. Meaning 3.6% of bikes bought in 2023 in Kenya have been electrical, which is nearly 4%. Quickly the market share will attain the important 5% which is mostly considered because the tipping level indicating the beginning of mass adoption.

Photos courtesy of Roam and Stellenbosch College.