De-polluting African cities remains a priority on the continent: metropolitan cities such as Lagos and Dakar currently have the highest concentration of fine particles on the planet. Although electric mobility is struggling to gain a foothold in Africa, it is nevertheless an excellent opportunity to improve air quality by developing the electrification of urban transport modes.
In Abidjan, Ivory coast, Bluebus electric buses have been in service since 2013 on the Félix Houphouët Boigny university campus. Equipped with solar panels on the roof, they are powered by lithium-ion batteries. Elsewhere in the country, new bush cabs have appeared: two meters high, they are covered with photovoltaic panels, with a range of 140 kilometers/87 miles.
In Senegal, the Dakar-Diamniadio-Airport Blaise Diagne TER line, which came into service during the year, operates in dual mode: even if it is not totally electric, it represents a major advance compared to 100% diesel lines.
Other examples are multiplying in major cities, with a potentially electric tramway in Ouagadougou by 2025, and the development of electric ferries in Lagos to favor lagoon transport.
Several projects are underway on the continent to promote individual electric mobility. This is the case in Lagos, with 50 vehicles from the Carbon Credit Network company already in circulation. These vehicles are adapted to cab and delivery companies and have a range of 200 kilometers/124 miles.
In Togo, the first African solar vehicle was launched in 2016. Equipped with a rechargeable battery and a 250-watt solar panel, its commercialization has begun, with the objective of lowering costs and limiting its purchase price. In another very concrete example, electric cars made in Germany are being tested in Ghana: a small vehicle with a battery made from 600 individual parts, compared to the usual 10,000.
Traduit par : Alane Bibang
