Roadtripping: How a 6,000km journey will test an African e-bike

In Nairobi, Kenya, a local e-mobility company and a team of researchers from a South African university, have kicked off a 6,000km roadtrip to test Roam Air, an electric motorcycle they say is designed for Africa.

Researchers from the University of Stellenbosch, South Africa, joined forces with Roam, a Kenyan e-mobility company, to test the electric motorcycle on a 6,000km journey from Nairobi to Stellenbosch, powered only by the sun.

According to the University of Stellenbosch in a release, the project marks the first time that electric motorcycles developed in Africa will be covering approximately 6,000km with only solar power as an energy source.

Having left Nairobi on 29 September, the team will journey through Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia and Botswana to arrive in Stellenbosch no later than 18 October, in time for the University’s Electric Mobility Day celebration.

During the trip, the motorcycles will be accompanied by two support vehicles on which solar panels are transported to charge the motorcycle batteries.

PhD candidate and co-researcher on the project, Stephan Lacock, and Masalule Kituyi, product owner of Roam Air are riding the motorcycle.

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After arrival at the University of Stellenbosch, the motorcycle making the trip from Kenya will be officially handed over to the newly founded Electric Mobility Lab, which will launch at the University the same day.

Researchers at the Lab, which forms part of Stellenbosch University’s Department of Industrial Engineering, are spearheading research into electric mobility on the continent. They focus on the region’s unique modes of mobility and the required infrastructure and operational adaptations.

For the project, Roam donated to the Stellenbosch team two of its electric motorcycles for research and testing.

Together, the University and Roam intend to develop and apply research on EVs and the supporting ecosystem, including but not limited to the electric motorcycles, electric vehicle powertrains, local manufacturing and digital pilots for planning for electric urban mobility.

Commenting in a release was professor Thinus Booysen, founder of the Electric Mobility Lab: “We want to educate and to create awareness to show that it can be done – and more importantly that it can be done with green energy.

“We cannot think of a better way to kick-start our research collaboration than testing the motorcycle overland. To do this within the African fraternity of ingenuity is an enormous privilege.”

Added Kituyi: “This journey showcases Kenya’s ability to design and locally manufacture world-class electric vehicles for African conditions. It’s a testament to local innovation, leading the way in sustainable mobility solutions.”

Amongst others, the research team is also interested in seeing the performance of the drivetrain and swappable batteries, as well as the efficacy of the solar recharging solution.

The trip from Nairobi to Stellenbosch is made possible by the support of Scatec, Balancell, Voetspore, Tracks for Africa, Bush Lapa, SANEDI through the LEAP-RE project, and Charlie’s Travel.