• About
  • Privacy Policy
  • Careers
  • Manage Subscriptions
Sunday, September 24, 2023
TechEconomy
Advertisement
  • News
  • Tech
    • DisruptiveTECH
    • ConsumerTech
      • Phones
      • Apps
      • Gadgets and Appliances
      • Accessories
      • Laptop
    • How To
    • TechTAINMENT
  • Business
    • Telecoms
      • Broadband
    • Mobility
    • Environment
    • Travel
    • Commerce
    • StartUPs
    • TE Insights
    • Security
  • Economy
    • Finance
    • Fintech
    • Digital Assets
    • Personal Finance
    • Insurance
  • Features
    • IndustryINFLUENCERS
    • Guest Writer
    • Appointment
    • EventDIARY
    • Partners
    • Editorial
  • Podcast
  • TECHECONOMY TV
No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Tech
    • DisruptiveTECH
    • ConsumerTech
      • Phones
      • Apps
      • Gadgets and Appliances
      • Accessories
      • Laptop
    • How To
    • TechTAINMENT
  • Business
    • Telecoms
      • Broadband
    • Mobility
    • Environment
    • Travel
    • Commerce
    • StartUPs
    • TE Insights
    • Security
  • Economy
    • Finance
    • Fintech
    • Digital Assets
    • Personal Finance
    • Insurance
  • Features
    • IndustryINFLUENCERS
    • Guest Writer
    • Appointment
    • EventDIARY
    • Partners
    • Editorial
  • Podcast
  • TECHECONOMY TV
No Result
View All Result
Techeconomy
No Result
View All Result

Home » Innovation Hits High in Africa: First Electric Minibus Taxi Coming to South Africa 

Innovation Hits High in Africa: First Electric Minibus Taxi Coming to South Africa 

Joan Aimuengheuwa by Joan Aimuengheuwa
June 9, 2022
in News
0
Sifax
Advertisements

As the fuel price hits historic highs, commuters are starting to feel the pinch of increasing transport fares. 

The typical South African commuter already spends up to 40% of their income on transport and the minibus taxi sector is still struggling from the impact of the last two years on their operations.  However, relief could be possible from an unlikely source – electric minibus taxis. Privately-owned minibus taxis are ubiquitous in sub-Saharan Africa and carry more than 70% of daily commuters.

RelatedPosts

Dr Obiageli Ezekwesili, founder of Human Capital Africa at UNGA

Note from the Human Capital Africa Foundational Learning Roundtable at UNGA

September 23, 2023

LG Electronics Donates Healthcare Equipment to FMC Abuja  

September 22, 2023

A project team of companies and research institutions today announced a research partnership to investigate and advance the feasibility of an electric minibus taxi in South African conditions by testing production vehicles in South Africa in 2023.

For the last five years GoMetro, a global mobility management technology company with its head office in Cape Town, has collected data on taxi operations across South Africa.  

In order to advance e-mobility development locally, GoMetro has convened a project team of innovative companies and researchers to launch a demonstrator project to test the first minibus in South African conditions by January 2023.

The project team, consisting of GoMetro, MiX Telematics, HSW, ACDC Dynamics, and various entities within Stellenbosch University’s Faculty of Engineering, will conduct rigorous and extensive testing in and around the town of Stellenbosch, as well as putting the electrification of the minibus taxi sector firmly on the national agenda by means of an educational roadshow in all nine provinces in the course of 2023.

A number of viable electric minibus taxi models from various markets have been identified, the first of which will be on South African shores by the end of the year. The acceptance and practicality of the model will be extensively tested with taxi owners and drivers, in order to identify the use-cases and conditions where an electric taxi would make the most sense.

“Taxi drivers and owners are very interested and intrigued by the idea of an electric minibus taxi, and are constantly asking us when the first electric minibus taxi will arrive on our shores”, says Justin Coetzee, GoMetro CEO.

“We have built valuable relationships with a large number of taxi associations, and the ever-increasing fuel price is a massive concern among owners, drivers and riders alike, as there does not seem to be any relief in sight. The industry has long acknowledged that business as usual will not suffice – and that change is required, especially after the effects of COVID-19”.

The aim of testing different models over the coming months, is to establish which vehicle will be best suited to the South African public transport industry, and what spectrum of operations are conducive to the range capabilities of the vehicles. In addition to testing the vehicle itself, the project team wants to engage with the automotive sector and policy makers to encourage proactive discussions with the government around the reduction of duties and the promotion of the adoption of electric vehicles in the transport sector.

“Since MiX Telematics is at the forefront of innovation and leveraging new technologies to improve fleet operations and efficiency,  we are very excited to be part of this pioneering initiative. We have seen the adoption of electric and hybrid vehicles increasing exponentially in Europe, and so look forward to learning how we can support these solutions in the South African context,” says Catherine Lewis, Executive VP of Technology at MiX Telematics.

Professor Thinus Booysen, Research Chair in the Internet of Things at Stellenbosch University, will lead the team of testing experts. “The informal taxi sector must transform to EVs, but little is known about their energy requirements. This unknown is overshadowed by our energy scarcity and coal dependence on the electricity supply side. This collaborative project will ensure we are prepared for and carefully manage this exciting transition,” says Booysen. The electric minibus taxi will be showcased at the Stellenbosch University campus.

According to Dr Bernard Bekker, Associate Director of Stellenbosch University’s Centre for Renewable and Sustainable Energy Studies (CRSES), the future electrification of the transport section in South Africa raises significant technical and regulatory challenges related to integrating electric transport into our existing grid infrastructure.

These challenges are in many ways unique to South Africa, where minibus taxis will potentially represent a much larger proportion of the future electrical fleet than for example Europe or the USA.

“The availability of a real-life electric minibus taxi to inform our research activities will provide very valuable inputs into addressing these challenges.”

“The minibus taxi is ubiquitous in the South African landscape moving millions of people over the years, contributing to getting South Africa to work – unfortunately in an environmentally unsustainable manner. ACDC Dynamics is proud to be part of the change that will be brought to this industry as it adopts electric/battery powered taxi’s through our capabilities to supply battery charging networks across the country,” says Mario Maio, Founder and Managing Director of ACDC Dynamics.

“HSW is passionate about bringing manufacturing local. The Western Cape has all the technical skills and resources to set up manufacturing facilities in support of such an initiative. There are already existing Electronic Manufacturers who have world class capabilities in the Manufacturing of electronic products such as Barracuda Holdings who is one of HSW’s key customers as evidence that this type of hi-tech manufacturing technology is already available locally,” says Ryan Webb, Managing Member HSW.

Electric vehicles (EVs) are heralded as a silver bullet to globally decarbonise the transport sector. The development of low-carbon transport in cities is part of the global agenda to delay climate change and relates to many of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.

While EV sales have increased substantially in the Global North and many global vehicle manufacturers plan to stop production of combustion engines as early as 2030, in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), the transition to EVs continues to be painstakingly slow. This research project aims to accelerate this transition to cleaner and greener mobility.

Advertisements
innovation
AIT
Advertisements
Tags: Dr Bernard BekkerFirst Electric Minibus TaxiGoMetroProfessor Thinus Booysen
ShareTweetSend
Previous Post

Esther Bewaji Emerges Champion in Nigeria Info’s ‘I Beg to Differ’ Student Debate

Next Post

PAU Appoints Ngozi Okpara Acting Dean of SMC

Joan Aimuengheuwa

Joan Aimuengheuwa

Joan thrives at helping individuals and businesses scale via storytelling...

Related Posts

Dr Obiageli Ezekwesili, founder of Human Capital Africa at UNGA
News

Note from the Human Capital Africa Foundational Learning Roundtable at UNGA

by Techeconomy
September 23, 2023
0

The Harvard Club New York played host to a landmark event, the Human Capital Africa (HCA) Roundtable on the learning...

Read more
LG Electronics Donates Healthcare Equipment to FMC Abuja

LG Electronics Donates Healthcare Equipment to FMC Abuja  

September 22, 2023
Africa-America Institute

Africa-America Institute Honours MTN Group for Helping in Africa’s Digital Transformation

September 21, 2023
Babajide Sanwo-Olu Bursary

Sanwo-Olu Approves N375.4m Bursary for Lagos Indigenes

September 21, 2023
HP Work Relationship Index

Majority of People Worldwide Have Unhealthy Relationship with Work – HP Work Relationship Index Shows

September 20, 2023
President Tinubu’s Address at the 78th UNGA

President Tinubu’s Address at the 78th UNGA

September 20, 2023
Next Post

PAU Appoints Ngozi Okpara Acting Dean of SMC

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

I agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Advertisements
Ad 15
Insurance Meet Tech
Advertisements
ADVERTISEMENT
  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
​Sodiq Tijani Toju Africa

Meet Sodiq Tijani, a Product Expert and Entrepreneur Banking the Unbanked

March 2, 2023
Product Led vs Sales Led Business Models

Product Led vs Sales Led Business Models: What Startups Should Know

January 10, 2023
Samsung Galayx A04e - Cheapest Samsung Phones in 2023

Cheapest Samsung Phones in 2023

September 11, 2023
Sodiq Tijani Youcloudpay

How Sodiq Tijani is Empowering African SMEs for Economic Growth

February 9, 2022
Google Cybersecurity Scholarship

Google Recognizes Shortage of Cybersecurity Experts in Africa, Announces Scholarships

22

Ad Dynamo Has Eyes on Nigeria – CEO

19

Digital Marketing in Africa: Bringing Much-Needed Skills to Nigeria’s Youth

16

Ad Dynamo by Aleph Group Launches free Digital Academy

14
QoS - Drop Call Rate among MTN Airtel 9mobile and Glo

QoS: Drop Calls Rates for MTN | Glo | Airtel | 9Mobile by Enextgen

September 23, 2023
Emirates aircraft

Emirates to Scale up London Heathrow Flights from October

September 23, 2023
Dr Obiageli Ezekwesili, founder of Human Capital Africa at UNGA

Note from the Human Capital Africa Foundational Learning Roundtable at UNGA

September 23, 2023
NCC Talent Hunt through Hackathon

NCC Extends Submission of Application for Hackathon to September 30

September 23, 2023

Follow Us

APPLY

NCC Talent Hunt through Hackathon
Apply

NCC Extends Submission of Application for Hackathon to September 30

by Admin
September 23, 2023
0

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has extended the deadline for submission of applications and entries into the 2023 Talent Hunt...

Read more

WomenPreneurs

Hiring in South Africa by Jessica Hawkey redAcademy
WomenPreneurs

Women in Business: Q&A with Jessica Hawkey, Founder & MD of redAcademy

by Techeconomy
August 22, 2023
0

"Jessica Hawkey is the Managing Director of redAcademy"

Read more

BusinesSENSE For SMEs

Managing Difficult Customer
BusinesSENSE For SMEs

Five Keys to Managing Difficult Customers

by Techeconomy
August 23, 2023
0

You will at one point in your business be confronted with dealing with difficult customers. So, mastering the right strategies...

Read more
  • About Us
  • Career
  • Contact Us
  • Policy

© 2023 Techeconomy - Designed by Opimedia.

No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Tech
    • DisruptiveTECH
    • ConsumerTech
      • Phones
      • Apps
      • Gadgets and Appliances
      • Accessories
      • Laptop
    • How To
    • TechTAINMENT
  • Business
    • Telecoms
      • Broadband
    • Mobility
    • Environment
    • Travel
    • Commerce
    • StartUPs
    • TE Insights
    • Security
  • Economy
    • Finance
    • Fintech
    • Digital Assets
    • Personal Finance
    • Insurance
  • Features
    • IndustryINFLUENCERS
    • Guest Writer
    • Appointment
    • EventDIARY
    • Partners
    • Editorial
  • Podcast
  • TECHECONOMY TV

© 2023 Techeconomy - Designed by Opimedia.

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.