An electric motorbike developed in Kenya has completed a journey of more than 6,000 kilometres between Nairobi and Stellenbosch, South Africa, without using a single drop of fuel. The challenge, driven by the African company Roam, set out to demonstrate that sustainable mobility can be adapted to even the most demanding environments on the African continent.
The trip, which took place between 29 September and 16 October 2024, crossed countries such as Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia and Botswana. The protagonist was the Roam Air, an electric motorbike designed specifically for rough terrain and long journeys. With a top speed of 90 km/h and a weight of 220 kilos including battery, the bike managed to withstand stretches of tarmac, dirt and mud, covering a daily average of more than 350 kilometres.
The most striking aspect of the challenge was not the distance or the time, but the energy source used. All battery recharging was carried out using solar energy. A support system with vehicles equipped with photovoltaic panels made it possible to charge removable batteries, which were exchanged on the fly without stopping the bike's progress. The range per charge exceeded 100 kilometres in some stages.
Along the way, the team faced extreme temperatures, heavy rain and even encounters with wild animals in the vicinity of the Zambezi. Even so, the bike maintained its performance and even managed to cover more than 1,000 kilometres in less than 18 hours on its last day, according to the company.
The project had the collaboration of the University of Stellenbosch, which at the end of the journey received two units of the Roam Air model for its electric mobility research laboratory. Professor Thinus Booysen, one of the driving forces behind the initiative, highlighted the value of the experience as a demonstration that clean energy can play a real role in the transformation of transport in Africa.
With this achievement, Roam seeks to position itself as an African benchmark in the manufacture of electric vehicles adapted to the local environment. The company hopes that this feat will contribute to changing the perception of the continent's technological possibilities and usher in a new era of sustainable mobility in Africa.
Source: roam-electric.com; energiseafrica.com