Ugandan company Kiira Motors Corporation is launching Africa's first solar-powered bus. CEO Paul Isaac Musasizi hopes to greatly expand the country's solar vehicle industry.
Ugandan company Kiira Motors Corporation is launching Africa's first solar-powered bus. CEO Paul Isaac Musasizi hopes to greatly expand the country's solar vehicle industry.
Kiira Motors Corporation
Musasizi says he has always had a passion for engineering. "I would open up the radio, the refrigerator -- every device," he said. "I wanted to build cars and small houses."
Musasizi says he has always had a passion for engineering. "I would open up the radio, the refrigerator -- every device," he said. "I wanted to build cars and small houses."
Aaronkum
"Uganda is one of only 13 countries in the world on the Equator," says Musasizi. "In 2011, I said to my team, let's do an electric bus and let's make sure that the solar system is integrated into it to provide charging infrastructure for the bus."
"Uganda is one of only 13 countries in the world on the Equator," says Musasizi. "In 2011, I said to my team, let's do an electric bus and let's make sure that the solar system is integrated into it to provide charging infrastructure for the bus."
Kiira Motors Corporation
The bus features two battery bulbs, with one connected to solar panels on the roof to provide firepower for the electric motor. The second bulb is available for charging.
The bus features two battery bulbs, with one connected to solar panels on the roof to provide firepower for the electric motor. The second bulb is available for charging.
Kiira Motors Corporation
"In Europe and the U.S., there are a lot of places with solar farms, yet they don't even have the sunlight we do," said Musasizi. "I would be very excited to see solar pumps all over the place providing power to buses and other types of applications for people here."
"In Europe and the U.S., there are a lot of places with solar farms, yet they don't even have the sunlight we do," said Musasizi. "I would be very excited to see solar pumps all over the place providing power to buses and other types of applications for people here."
Aaronkum
Kiira Motors Corporation currently employs 32 people.
Kiira Motors Corporation currently employs 32 people.
Aaronkum