Universal Solar E-Kit

Mobility and power enable improved quality of life and economic development but current rural vehicle and power solutions in underserved parts of the world, like sub-Saharan Africa, have either very limited utility or are too expensive to be broadly deployed. 

Our proposed innovation addresses both issues. Instead of building vehicles from scratch or importing vehicles, we plan to enable local entrepreneurs to retrofit existing low speed vehicles (e.g. providing power assist to a wheelbarrow or an ox cart, substituting an internal combustion engine on a 3-wheeled tuk-tuk, etc.) using a solar e-kit that comprises a solar panel, battery, motor and electronics, together with Afreecar's novel and intuitive  software that makes integration straightforward using commonly available smartphones. 

The solar e-kit’s affordability and increased utility will allow vehicle owners to generate much more profit because it improves productivity by leveraging synergies between electricity and transport.

It is understood that electricity and transport are critical enablers for economic development and that financially sustainable business solutions do not currently exist for the majority of the world's underserved population. A retrofit solar e-kit lowers the cost of providing electricity and transport and creates many synergies for productivity enhancement because it provides electricity, mechanical power take-off and transport. 

The cost to import a complete vehicle is high because of tariffs and creates no local manufacturing capability. The other extreme is to build a vehicle locally from scratch but this is difficult because there may not be the expertise and the end-product may not have the required cost, quality, reliability and durability. In both cases, vehicles (motorized or non-motorized) are only used for transport, limiting utility and productivity. 

A solar powered electric vehicle can be both a source of (reliable) electricity and transport in many parts of developing world. Instead of single point solutions, this converts existing basic human-powered vehicles into "swiss army knives" stimulating new synergies between electricity, transport and mechanical power to provide additional sources of revenue (e.g. charging cellphones while transporting crops to market or while pumping water for irrigation), thus making the purchase more attractive.

The universality of the solar e-kit is integral to keeping costs down and ensuring it can be applied and shared across multiple, different vehicles. This will also make spare parts and repair easier, if necessary.

Our solution involves developing a universal software, electrical and mechanical interface and attachments that can work seamlessly across a variety of different vehicle types (tricycle, wheelbarrow, ox cart, tuk-tuk, etc.). Moreover, our solution works with a smartphone to ensure that the correct components (battery, motor, solar panel, etc.) are specified and ordered by the end-user or vehicle assembler, and that the end-user is then led through the process of integrating the solar e-kit into their chosen vehicle in an intuitive manner as possible. Finally, the integration is validated and authenticated, and that the end-user understands the expected performance and limitations of the assembled vehicle before using it.

A wheelbarrow with integrated solar e-kit has been built and is ready for pilot program testing. Smartphone software has also been developed. A provisional patent has been filed with US Patent Office. 

The typical user might be a rural farmer, who are the foundation of the economy in most African countries. Rural farmers are currently dealing with the adverse effects of climate change, which is delaying the rains and reducing crop yields. The harvested crops are often left to spoil on the farm because there is no easy way to transport them outside the village to local markets. Should the farmer manage to transport crops to the local market, they will need to be sold immediately to prevent further deterioration and this also causes the farmer to make less money. 

Replacing the ox with the solar e-kit allows the farmer to plant more valuable crops and have predictable irrigation (using electric powered water pump) and to plant 3 times a year, tripling their income. They could grow more valuable (horticultural) crops and raise the ox for skin and meat instead of work (which reduces their value at end of life). 

A market research study took place in Zimbabwe (rural areas and Harare) and in Kenya (Nairobi) in early March  2020; this confirmed strong interest in building the solar e-kit and pilot program testing vehicles equipped with the solar e-kit in small-scale farms. 

The Universal Solar E-Kit is a cost effective way to deliver sustainable power and transport to the underserved populations (who often are blessed with year-round sun). 

Transport and power are not ends in themselves but help women, in particular, and enable economic development, improve standards of living and quality of health and life. Once economic conditions have been improved then other benefits (e.g access to education and healthcare resources) become economically viable - for example, a group of farmers can pool together resources to buy a schoolbus with funds from increased income enabled by the solar e-kit.

Having recently visited Zimbabwe and Kenya, there are limitations with the current transport solutions. A basic “vehicle” is a wheelbarrow but it has limited cargo carrying capacity. An ox cart increases cargo capacity but has several disadvantages (it needs land and food, the harness damages the skin and hard work lowers the quality of meat, and both lead to lower prices when the ox is sold). Tricycles carry more and travel faster than a wheelbarrow but are more expensive and may be challenged on rough roads. Motorized options (e.g. motorbikes and tuk-tuks) are more capable but are expensive and have high operating costs. Electric vehicles are simpler to maintain and have lower energy costs but initial cost is high and charging infrastructure is barely existent. Mechanical power tools tend to be single purpose and fixed in one area.

No one is developing a standardized and universal solution that can be retrofitted locally to a wide variety of existing vehicles - this is the key to maintaining affordability and familiarity. Our solution, uniquely, will convert basic, non-motorized machines (wheelbarrows, ox carts) into "swiss army knives" that can deliver improved transport, and electricity and power take-off for mechanical devices.

Afreecar's socially inspired innovation balances the business need to develop intellectual property that can be monetized with a "sustainable" licence fee, while empowering local communities with affordable and sustainable power/transportation and enabling them to capture as much of the added value as possible in terms of manufacturing components, vehicles and providing business services. 

The core technology of our solution is not the e-kit itself (which comprises readily available and continuously improving batteries, solar panels, motors and electronics) but is in the integration of the e-kit into a wide variety of commonly used vehicles. This integration involves software, electrical and mechanical coupling of the e-kit to the vehicle to ensure the correct components are ordered, that integration has been completed correctly and that the resulting vehicle performance is as expected. This needs to be done in an intuitive a manner as possible, using commonly available smartphone, QR code and user interface best practices.

The solar e-kit business model will leverage local partnerships with e-kit and vehicle assemblers, charging system developers and vehicle operators. This model of building up local manufacturing economies can be replicated from one market to another or a partner may develop an export capability and serve regional or even global markets.

The solar e-kit eliminates the need to build new vehicles or import vehicles. The ability to retrofit existing vehicles is a huge enabler for keeping costs down and if this approach is successful it can also reduce greenhouse gases (when the solar e-kit is replacing fossil-fueled engines) because the existing fleet is far larger than the new vehicle market, especially in the developing world. The solar e-kit can be customized for different customer needs ranging from low speed, low range agricultural applications (our initial focus) towards more traditional automotive versions.

Having worked at GM, Qualcomm and Google (Waymo) in senior engineering leadership positions I am familiar with cutting edge technology developments being applied to mobility in the areas of electric, connected and autonomous vehicles. I can say clearly that the Afreecar solution requires no technology to be invented or developed (although improvements are always beneficial). We are integrating technologies that are being developed for the Power, Automotive and Communications industries (solar panels, batteries, vision sensing and QR codes, etc.) Applying it first to rural African applications with more relaxed performance constraints and greater potential to transform lives and raise economic development could allow Africa to leapfrog rest of the world and encourage other regions to adopt similar solutions (low speed electric vehicles, harnessing solar powered roof and re-using batteries at end of life) to promote local employment in vehicle design / development / assembly, and to reduce plastic waste (that could be used to make structural components for the vehicles, using local 3D printing for example) and greenhouse gas emissions because no fossil fuels are being used and the electricity is being generated from solar panels. 

For example, some cities in Europe may ban cars from the city center in the next few years, and this could pave the way to introduce low speed EVs for moving people and goods inside those areas.

When Afreecar visited Zimbabwe recently to understand rural communities' needs for power and transport we learnt that climate change was delaying the rain each year from September to November and shortening the rainy season by 2 months. This reduces crop yields and creates great hardship. If they had access to a water pump they felt they could have predictable irrigation, have three planting seasons a year and grow more valuable crops. Moreover, they also need ways to keep their crops cool prior to sale and to transport them to markets. All of these requirements could be met with a solar powered electric vehicle that would provide transport and electricity every day of the year. Afreecar's mission is to make solar powered electric vehicles affordable and this requires an aftermarket or retrofit approach to the existing non-motorized vehicle that already exists (wheelbarrow, ox cart, tricycle, etc.). We were told that if economic development could emerge from this innovation (raising incomes 3-5 times with improved crop yields/values and higher prices at market with less spoilage) then it would be feasible for the farmer(s) to pool their new resources together to fund a schoolbus that could transport the children in the village to a local school. Education is the key for the next generation to have a better standard of living than their parents.

Our plan is to test our prototype and software on a local farm (Metro Detroit) due to COVID Travel Restrictions. By 12/31/2020 we would be in a position to plan shipment to either the rural farm in Zimbabwe (where we have been invited to pilot test and serve a community of 20-30 people) or in a community inside Kenya (working with a Nairobi "maker space"/incubator that is interested to partner with Afreecar in building the vehicle and has connections all over Kenya for pilot testing). 

I am convinced that the economic benefits will be so profound and easily understood that this solution can scale quickly across either of the countries where will pilot test and beyond to other parts of sub-Saharan Africa. Within 5 years, the number of people served by this solution could exceed 100,000 because it does not require local farmers to buy a new vehicle and the economic payback period should be ~ 1 year.

My goal in 2020-2021 is to test the vehicle prototype in an urban farm setting (probably in nearby Detroit, given COVID concerns with travel) to demonstrate the utility of the vehicle and the proprietary software/electrical/mechanical coupling solution. We have clear interest from partners in Kenya and Zimbabwe to help with solar e-kit and vehicle production as well as pilot program testing.

Beyond 2021 pilot program I am confident that there will be support inside Kenya and/or Zimbabwe to run with this solution and apply solar e-kits to existing low speed, non-motorized vehicles (with e-kit and vehicle production and operation both occurring locally in those countries in order to create good quality jobs and to keep import costs down). I can easily imagine opportunities for exporting these solutions to other neighboring countries as well.

Afreecar intends to use the modest "sustainable" licensing income, derived from e-kit production, and reinvest this into further development and promotion of activities in other parts of the world (both developing world, like rural India, and in the developed world with car-free zones and campuses, for example).

The main barriers are non-technical as no technology needs to be invented. Local companies that supply generators may be threatened from greater use of solar powered solutions. The answer here is to work with local decision makers and incentivize them to support the e-kit innovation as it creates jobs and economic development and raises standards of living. 

Theft and abuse of the vehicle are potential issues that need to be addressed through highly reliable production techniques, clear instructions on vehicle capabilities and risks of abuse, and potential technology solutions (e.g. alarms that sound if the vehicle is being stolen or if it is being overloaded).

Please see previous answer

2 full time staff, 3 part time staff, 2 support staff at Altair that is supporting this program and funds to pay for 2-3 University students 

My background in the Auto Industry and connections within the Auto Supply community gives me the credibility and network to help develop this solution, receive funding (from Foundations) and pro bono support from progressive organizations. I have done volunteer work in Mali, South Africa and Sri Lanka, which has helped create this passion in me to support people in the least economically developed regions of the world. 

I am supported by another ex-GM colleague with executive career positions leading manufacturing, operations and last-mile logistics at Anheuser-Busch (with responsibility for their operations in sub-Saharan Africa, SE Asia and Latin America). This combination of skills, experiences and networks gives Afreecar a strong foundation.

In addition, Afreecar has access to strong technical minds in the area of automotive engineering (ex-GM colleagues), software development (a University professor) and legal/IP support (ex-GM colleague) and owns the enabling IP in this space.

Altair Inc. - vehicle prototypes

Oakland University/OUInc. (incubator) - smartphone software

Organizations that are willing to support the build of vehicle prototypes, software development and transport costs to Africa while providing Afreecar with the IP rights to protect the innovations and ensure the licensing model is effective (i.e. low enough to ensure the e-kit solution is affordable and sustainable, but just enough to sustain continued business development and expand markets beyond Africa, and to refine the software to enhance the value proposition to end users). 

There has to be a viable business model in order for the solution to be developed and to scale, but my interest in developing the universal e-kit solution is to support economic development in underserved communities, not to make money.

Providing sustainable power and transport to underserved communities will generate economic development across the developed world, raising the standard of living for billions of people. Afreecar's solution is to leverage existing vehicles in order to keep the cost as low as possible, to harness solar power to keep ongoing costs as low as possible, to develop smartphone software to ensure the same e-kit can be applied to many types of vehicles and can be integrated as easily and intuitively as possible to prevent damage and abuse when the vehicle is operated. Afreecar's business model emphasizes creation of local employment (which also raises the standard of living) with a minimal "sustainable" license fee to fund engineering to ensure the e-kit continues to improve and to fund business development to ensure that the e-kit solution can be promoted all around the world.