When people talk about electric vehicles and bikes, they often focus on range and charging time. Kenya’s Roam and a team of researchers from Stellenbosch University in South Africa recently collaborated to explore the range of an e-bike assembled in Africa.
Labeling the mission Recharging Hope, this collaboration showcased African engineering, where the e-mobility company offered its Kenyan-assembled Roam Air for a 6,200 km journey from Kenya to South Africa.
It was a project aimed at stress testing Roam’s products and proving they are ready for the diverse African terrain.
“The Roam team didn’t build us a custom expedition vehicle. They walked to the end of the factory floor and picked two random bikes straight off the production line,” the researchers write on their blog.
READ: Roam Unveils East Africa’s Largest Electric Motorcycle Plant
The Roam Air used for the journey has a top speed of 117 km/h. With a 3.24 kWh capacity, one battery can power the vehicle for up to 80 kilometers before needing a recharge.
This journey was one pushing for the adoption of green, renewable energy abundant on the continent as the team recharged the bike batteries using solar panels mounted on accompanying vehicles.
It also tested the Roam Air’s capabilities, covering 1009.3km in a single day, a feat the team claims is a world record.
“We tested the Roam Air to the limit by riding 1009.3 km in one day, unofficially breaking the record for the furthest that an electric motorcycle has ridden in one day,” the Recharging Hope team writes.
Something that stood out in their mission is the persistent trade barriers that limit intra-African commerce.
The Recharging Hope team claims, “We couldn’t get the Kenyan-manufactured motorcycles in South Africa. The best way was to import it via Hong Kong, which would’ve taken months and would’ve been very expensive.”
