By Muhibwa Hillary.
Kampala, Uganda. (News Of The South) – A solar powered bus has been unveiled in Kampala, Uganda. The 35-seater bus named Kayoola Solar Bus runs on batteries charged by solar panels attached on the rooftop. The bus has been produced by Kiira Motors Cooperation, the agency that merged out Makerere University’s College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology research program.
While unveiling the bus, Prof Sandy Stevens Tickodri-Togboa, one of the founders of the project, and now the country’s Minister of State for Higher Education, Science and Technology said that, “the development of Kayoola Solar Bus represents our commitment to championing the progressive development of local capacity for vehicle technology innovation, a key ingredient for institutionalizing a sustainable vehicle manufacturing industry in Uganda”.
The batteries can power the bus for up to 80 kilometers when fully charged. And the solar panels on top can add on about 12 kilometers.
According to Isaac Musasizi, Kiira Motors Cooperation, (KMC), chief executive officer, the bus was built at a cost of Ush 500 million, which is about $144,094.. If it is mass produced, each bus would cost up to $58,000 or £40,000, which Musasizi says is a competitive price. The first 305 cars from KMC are expected to be rolled off the assembly line by 2018.
KMCs vision is that by 2039 the company should be able to manufacture all the parts and assemble the vehicle in Uganda. By then, KMC plans to have produced over fifty thousand more units.
KMC already has two other types of vehicles; the Kiira EV, an electric car and Kiira EV SMACK a hybrid vehicle.
Kayoola Solar Bus will be officially launched by President Yoweri Museveni later this month in Kampala.
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