Bako Motors is turning heads in Tunisia with their solar-powered electric vehicles that could redefine the streets of Africa. These innovative cars, including a delivery van and a two-seater city vehicle, are utilizing the continent’s abundant sunshine to charge up to 31 miles a day. Talk about cutting fuel costs! Founder Boubaker Siala highlights that these solar cells provide over 50% of their energy needs, which is a game changer in areas lacking robust charging infrastructure.
What makes this venture even more remarkable is the emphasis on sourcing materials locally, with about 40% of the components coming from within Africa. The B-Van, priced at around 25,000 Tunisian dinars, offers an impressive cargo capacity of 800 pounds, making it perfect for local artisanal markets. Bako Motors plans to ramp up production to 8,000 vehicles per year, aiming for a 5 to 10% share of the projected one million vehicle market in Africa. It seems like the future really is bright—just like these solar vehicles!
As electric vehicles become more mainstream, how will this influence the way we think about transportation in places that are traditionally reliant on fossil fuels? If this trend catches on, we could be looking at a totally different driving experience in the near future.
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Local Lawton
Local Lawton is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.
