Solar-powered scooters have now transformed the tuk-tuk business in Kenya.
The tuk-tuk business previously heavily relied on expensive fossil fuel, which saw boda boda operators ferrying people from one point to another in Kenyan cities and towns digging deep into their pockets. But now, solar-powered scooters have come to alleviate this issue.
Shift from Fossil Fuel to Solar-Electric Mobility
With many vehicles being a hybrid of fuel and electricity, tuk-tuk scooters have taken this to a new level; they are a hybrid of solar and electricity.
To make matters more interesting, according to a tour of Ocean Yard by a YouTuber, a store that assembles and sells scooters, the tuk-tuks can charge using a normal charging socket like the one used at home.
Solar Charging and On-the-Go Power Support
The tuk-tuks take 8 hours to be fully charged, something that can be done overnight, and per full charge, the scooters can cover up to 150 km while cruising on three wheels.
To make this even more interesting, they utilise tokens of KSh 70 per full charge, which is roughly KSh 2 per kilometre, compared to petrol-powered tuk-tuks, which use about KSh 50 per kilometre for fuel. The speed limit of solar-powered scooters is capped at 90 km/h.
On top of the scooter tuk-tuk, there is a solar compartment where the owner of the e-mobility vehicle can install 300-watt solar panels that charge and recharge it during the day as they move around.
What is needed is constant exposure to sunlight for the battery to charge and power the eco-friendly vehicle from one point to another. Boda bodas can also charge while waiting for the next customer.
Improved Earnings for Operators
This makes boda boda operators, whose businesses are classified under small and medium enterprises, realise reasonable margins since they are able to save on fuel and even on charging.
The scooter owner may only need to charge at most once a week. Most scooters have faced challenges with charging infrastructure hindering their adoption in Kenya, but it seems tuk-tuk scooters have solved this problem. The ability to power them with a normal socket allows users to even charge them at the office if they do not rely on solar charging.
Comfort, Safety, and Design Features
The solar-powered tuk-tuk scooters are also comfortable and have all the necessary safety measures.
They have seat belts and are comfortable enough to carry four people without much congestion, unlike fuel-driven vehicles. They produce zero noise and offer a serene environment while cruising—it is truly comfortable on three wheels.
Low Maintenance Advantage
Since they have no engine that requires regular servicing, the cost of maintenance is low. One may only incur costs for minor repairs, such as fixing dents in case of accidents, but not for the core functionality of the vehicle, since it has fewer moving parts.
The cost of acquiring this eco-friendly mobility tuk-tuk, according to Ocean Yard, is KSh 300,000, where an interested customer can pay a deposit and wait for about two months for it to be shipped from China.
This cost is not much higher than petrol-powered vehicles, which locally cost up to KSh 280,000. The difference can easily be recovered from the reduced costs of fuel and maintenance.
Solution amid global crisis
Solar-powered scooters are the most appropriate option for many boda bodas operating within towns, especially at a time when fuel prices have surged due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz occasioned by the Iran–US war, now in its second month.
With long queues being witnessed at petrol stations, solar-powered scooters come in handy to alleviate this issue, allowing operators to run their businesses with confidence and without worrying about fuel shortages.
Solar-powered scooters have come as a surprise to many Kenyans. Just as they were beginning to adapt to electric mobility as the future, solar innovation emerged, taking the Kenyan transport system to another level.
