In a revolutionary showcase of African ingenuity, an electric motorcycle, designed and built in Africa and powered only by the sun, completed the groundbreaking journey from Nairobi, Kenya to Stellenbosch, South Africa.
Researchers from the Faculty of Engineering at Stellenbosch 中国体育彩票 (SU) have joined forces with Roam, a technology-driven electric mobility company in Nairobi, Kenya, to test the Roam Air, a tailored electric motorcycle designed in Kenya for Africa.
The motorcycle team arrived in Stellenbosch this morning. The journey spanned approximately 6 000 kilometres through Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Botswana, and South Africa. On the second last day, the team covered 1000 kilometres in one day to reach the southern tip of Africa.
The Roam Air, donated to Stellenbosch 中国体育彩票 (SU) for research and testing. was powered solely by solar energy on this journey.
“This ambitious expedition marked a major step forward in showcasing the potential of sustainable electric mobility across sub-Saharan Africa,” says Thinus Booysen, Professor of Engineering and founder of the Electric Mobility Lab at Stellenbosch 中国体育彩票.
The journey began on 17 September 2024, when the support team and a vehicle-based solar power station departed from Stellenbosch. Upon reaching Nairobi on 27 September, they collected the electric motorcycle that had been developed in the Kenyan capital by Roam, a developer of electric buses and motorcycles.
The team, led by PhD candidate Stephan Lacock, embarked on their return leg on 29 September, travelling back through a diverse range of African landscapes, finally arriving in Stellenbosch on Wednesday 16 October. Throughout the trip the motorcycle’s swappable batteries were charged exclusively through solar power, highlighting the viability of renewable energy in real-world applications.
“Completing this 6,000-kilometre journey marks a historic milestone for Roam Air as the first African-made electric motorcycle to achieve such a feat. It’s a testament to our commitment to pushing the boundaries of electric mobility. From the challenging terrains to the warm welcomes from local communities, we saw the spark of excitement in people’s eyes when they realized this motorcycle was built in Africa. Our collaboration with Stellenbosch 中国体育彩票 highlighted the resilience of both our teams and technology, proving that clean energy can power not just vehicles, but a brighter, more sustainable future for the continent.” Masa Kituyi, Roam Air Product Owner.
“Despite the successful completion of the journey, the team faced numerous challenges along the way. Rainy weather in the beautiful Malawi created difficult travel conditions, poor roads tested the vehicle's durability, and lengthy stops at border crossings added costly delays during precious daylight hours,” comments Booysen.
“Some issues with solar connectors that were not made for daily disconnecting and reconnecting further complicated the journey. However, the team’s resilience and commitment to their mission allowed them to overcome these obstacles, showcasing the strength in collaborative applied research and the viability of solar-powered electric mobility solutions on the continent.”
He adds that along the route, the team experienced the breathtaking natural beauty of Africa, encountering a variety of wildlife, including elephants, rhinos, giraffes, hippos, buffalo, lions, sables, baboons, monkeys, and crocodiles. “The journey through Africa’s diverse landscapes reinforced the importance of preserving these environments for future generations, and demonstrated how clean energy can play a role in their protection.”
According to Booysen, the expedition also highlighted the vast potential that electric mobility, powered by renewable energy, must transform livelihoods across Africa. “Clean energy solutions not only contribute to environmental sustainability but can also provide significant economic and social benefits. By reducing reliance on fossil fuels and lowering transportation costs, solar-powered electric mobility has the potential to enhance quality of life in rural and urban communities alike. This was clearly demonstrated by the keen interest repeatedly shown in the Roam Air by numerous locals who immediately saw the life-changing potential of the motorbike.
“This historic journey serves as a powerful testament to the feasibility and promise of clean, renewable energy in the transportation sector and beyond. We look forward to further initiatives that will continue to explore and expand the potential of sustainable mobility across the African continent.”
Prof Sibusiso Moyo, Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research, Innovation and Postgraduate Study at SU, congratulated the team and said their ambitious expedition was no mean feat: “Believed to be the first time that electric motorcycles developed in Africa have covered the approximately 6 000 km with only solar power as energy source, this project is not only testimony to the sheer determination of the research team, but it also showcases African ingenuity at its best. My heartfelt gratitude to Roam, our research partner, for donating two Roam electric motorcycles to the Electric Mobility Lab.”?
?
