Motorcycle taxi operators in Kisumu County will soon ride pollution free motor bikes.
Solar-powered rechargeable motorcycles which run on a technology developed by three students from the University of Nairobi have hit the market.
R. Achoge, C. Ogingo and J. Ogola, final year students at University of Nairobi, have built a system called Ecotran, which captures solar energy and uses it to charge motorcycle’s electric motor. Before being transformed into alternating current, the energy is stored in batteries.
They have even set up a fueling station and installed 40 photo voltaic solar units, each with the capacity of generating 250 watts of electricity.
Through their company, Pfoofy Solar Ltd, the students are importing motorcycles from china, modify them and lease them out. They are now powering 40 more bikes which they say they will lease to 40 riders who they have trained on road safety.
"Having been awarded $100,000 by the USADF and Power Africa, we are now up-scaling the solar project,” said Pfoofy Solar manager Achoge.
The technology has lower operating costs advantages as well as environmental benefits as compared to fossil fuelled motorcycles, but the riders say the only challenge is that the electric bike has low acceleration and cannot work in hilly terrains.
According to World Health Organization survey, air pollution causes an estimated 176,000 premature deaths a year in Africa with motor industry being the main source of air pollution.
Some of the motorcycles are already in operation in Nyakach and Urudi in Kisumu.