These Vehicles Run on Africa’s Sunlight
The sun is a star that has long powered life on Earth. It provides energy to the plants that feed Earth’s living creatures, helping ecosystems thrive. Now, innovators are finding new ways to harness this constant and natural source of renewable energy.
Thanks to a Tunisian startup, the sun is also helping power cars, according to ElectricCarsReport. These vehicles, which come in car and cargo van models, are making use of one resource Africa has plenty of: sunshine. Though they also use lithium batteries and traditional charging, the company says solar panels can supply over 50 percent of a vehicle’s daily energy needs.
Solar Panels on the Roof
Bako Motors offers two types of vehicles: the B-Van, a cargo vehicle, and the Bee, a tiny two-seater car. The B-Van is built for last-mile delivery and other logistics needs. It has a range of 62 to 186 miles and gets a boost of energy from the solar panels installed on its roof.
The Bee is designed for short trips and urban commuters. It has a range of 44 to 75 miles and can reach speeds of up to 27 miles per hour. The solar panels on its roof also give it more energy.
Bako Motors is also currently developing the X-Van, a third model with both passenger seating and a larger cargo capacity, which could make it useful for a wider range of city-based businesses.
Extending the Range
The idea of Bako Motors’ vehicles is not to replace battery power with solar power, but rather to use the sun in order to expand the range of electric vehicles, CNN reports.
“Among the biggest inhibitors of EV adoption has been range anxiety. If you can tell a person that while the battery itself will give you 250 kilometers (155 miles) of full charge, solar can extend that by another 50 (31 miles), it gives them the confidence to choose EV,” Bob Wesonga, operations and research associate for Africa E-Mobility Alliance, a think tank, tells CNN.
Though the company has plans to expand to other parts of Africa, the Middle East, and even Europe, it continues to focus on local production in Tunisia. More than 40 percent of the parts of every vehicle they create are locally sourced, including the steel and lithium batteries. This helps create jobs and supports the local economy.
In addition, electric vehicle trends within Africa itself tend to be very localized. Customers in some countries, such as Kenya, prefer motorbikes, while other countries, such as South Africa, prefer four-wheel vehicles. Right now, Bako Motors is creating vehicles suited for Tunisia’s needs. Soon, it will start to build solar-powered vehicles suited to the diversity of needs throughout the African continent and beyond.
Companies like Bako Motors show the power of electric vehicles when it comes to clean transportation. Through creativity, ingenuity, and a better understanding of natural resources, the future is bright.
