From Kenya to South Africa solely powered by the sun
The historic 6,000 km journey, completed on a Roam Air, a solar-powered motorcycle, started on 29 September in Nairobi, Kenya, and ended on 16 October at Stellenbosch, South Africa. Throughout the 17-day journey, the motorcycle was powered by solar energy.
Accompanied by two solar-powered support vehicles, the Roam Air cruised through Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, and Botswana before reaching its final destination. Its record range was 113 kilometres on one charge, and 1,000 km within 18 hours. This expedition indicates African ingenuity and sustainable innovation in electric mobility on the continent, the manufacturer claims.
Commenting on the expedition, Masa Kituyi, Roam’s Product Owner, says: “Completing this journey is a historic milestone for Roam Air, proving that African innovation can thrive. The warm welcomes from local communities showed us how excited people are about electric mobility built here in Africa.”
The solar-powered motorcycle was initially developed in Nairobi by Roam. The company is dedicated to advancing innovation in electric mobility. The Faculty of Engineering at Stellenbosch University and other organisations like SANEDI, Scatec, Charlie’s Travel, and Throttle Pitstop also supported the journey. To forge ahead with research in sustainable transport solutions tailored for Africa, Roam has donated 2 Roam Airs to the Electric Mobility Lab at Stellenbosch University.
“This ambitious journey represents a major leap in showcasing the potential of sustainable electric mobility across sub-Saharan Africa,” said Thinus Booysen, Professor of Engineering and founder of the Electric Mobility Lab at Stellenbosch University. “Despite challenges like adverse weather and technical hurdles, the resilience of our team and the Roam Air motorcycle highlighted the power of innovation and collaboration.”
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