Africa’s first solar electric car born in Togo

Reduce C02 emissions from road traffic; this is the objective that the world of energy has set for itself by launching this Thursday in Lomé the first solar electric vehicles in Africa. The launch of these vehicles on the African market in general, and the Togolese one in particular, responds, according to the designers, to the need for African states to move towards a more respectful mobility not only of the ecology, but also of the health of users.

“The World Health Organization estimates that around 3 million people die each year worldwide due to pollution from road traffic. According to the results of a recent study by researchers from the National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS-France), C02 emissions from road traffic are the second source of pollution in African cities after open dumps. This shows how important eco-responsible transport is today in our countries, “said ETOH Kossi, Managing Director of the world of energy.

Manufactured in Togo, these machines – motorcycles, tricycles and 4-wheel vehicles in particular – combine the solar system with the electric motor. They have a rechargeable battery and a 250 watt solar panel. These hybrids, which have an average speed of 60km, allow – at full load – to cover an average of 180km, and have a price of between 1,200,000 CFA francs and 3,200,000 CFA francs depending on the range.

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For manufacturers, the establishment of the production unit in Togo and charging stations for these devices throughout the territory will create thousands of jobs in the country.

“Our prospects for the coming periods are the increase in the autonomy of the battery of vehicles in order to improve the distances traveled, the creation of charging stations in all corners of Lomé and the development of our products in solution freight transport at the terminal, in luxury cars or in passenger cars. We also plan to train young Togolese technicians in the maintenance of these types of vehicles, ”they explain. The assembly units of these cars will be installed in the coming days in two other African countries (Mali and Côte d’Ivoire).

According to the International Energy Agency (AEI), nearly 1.5 million solar electric cars were sold worldwide in 2015 and few to Africa. However, CNRS studies predict a tripling of anthropogenic pollution on the continent between 2000 and 2030. The adoption of green mobility may help reduce the extent of the phenomenon.