Kenyan students create solar-powered bikes

Three final year students from the University of Nairobi, Kenya have built solar-powered bikes.

The students took three conventional motorcycles, ditched the standard engines and replaced them with electric motors and batteries. Currently the batteries have to be removed to be charged at a charging station built especially by the students, and have a range of roughly 43 miles. But the students supply the bikes with several batteries to ensure riders always have one with plenty of juice.

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They’ve already built 35 of the solar-powered Ecotran bikes, which have been leased to licensed riders. The group have also received funding from the United States African Development Fund to further develop their idea.

While a solar-powered motorcycle with a range of 43km may not be of great use in the gloomy UK, it’s easy to see how much of a success it could be in countries with weather similar to Kenya. By drawing the power to charge the batteries from the sun the students ensure their bikes have zero carbon footprint.

 

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