http://learningenglish.voanews.com/content/student-built-motorbikes-hit-the-road-in-kenya/3020067.html Student-Built Motorbikes Hit the Road in Kenya October 29, 2015
[image http://gdb.voanews.com/041A837E-F02A-4A87-BCD9-E50AA63BCBF5_cx0_cy0_cw76_mw1024_s_n_r1.jpg The first electric-powered motorbike is on the road in Kenya. Designed by three Kenyan students, the motorbike is called ecotran video http://av.voanews.com/clips/VLE/2015/10/23/a7a9a588-cb68-43f2-abd8-b0d3224e70b4_hq.mp3?download=1 Student Built Motorbikes ] The number of buses, taxis and other vehicles on Kenya’s roads is growing every day. Now, the country’s first electric-powered motorbike is being made. The bike is designed to cut down on pollution and aimed at low-income communities. Most motorbikes used in Kenya depend on gasoline as fuel. But not this new motorbike. Its energy comes from sunlight. Three university students developed the new ecotran bike. It captures the sun’s energy, stores it in batteries and uses it to charge the electric motor. Robert Achoge is one of the student inventors. "Our hope is that by the fifth year, we will be able to cover the whole of Kenya with the electric motorcycle so as to conserve the environment and provide affordable transport." The students have set up a ‘fueling’ station for the motorbikes in Nairobi. Riders can plug the bikes into any electrical outlet. The small battery can run for 70 kilometers when fully charged. Once the power is used up, the motorbike has to return to the fueling station while another charged battery is connected to the bike. The U.S. African Development Foundation is providing financing for two solar-powered charging stations in the Kenyan port of Kisumu. Each ecotran bike costs about $700. One motorcycle taxi operator says the new bike costs less to operate than bikes running on traditional fuel. "When it comes to buying fuel there's no need. It's basically good for various errands. Even though you won't carry quite a heavy load, you can go with it anywhere." A Nairobi dealership is selling the ecotran bikes. Businessman Kennedy Kusimba hopes they will become popular. "We also know they are more reliable compared to the gas-powered bikes. They are more efficient and they tend to last longer." Ecotran plans to go to market with 40 bikes in 2016. I’m Marsha James. Lenny Ruvaga reported on this story from Nairobi. Marsha James adapted his report for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. Do you use a car, motorbike, bicycle or your feet to get around? Let us know on our Facebook page! ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story motobike– n. a small motorcycle income – n. money that is earned from work, investments, business gasoline – n. liquid made from petroleum and used as a fuel for engines batteries – n. a device that is placed inside a machine to supply it with electricity conserve – v. to use something carefully in order to prevent loss or waste affordable – v. to be able to pay for something outlet – n. a device in a wall into which an electric cord can be plugged in order to provide electricity basically – adv. In a general or basic way various – adj. different from each other errand –n. a short journey that you take to do or get something quite – adv. to a very noticeable degree [© voanews.com] ... http://electric-vehicle-discussion-list.413529.n4.nabble.com/Omondi-s-Pfoofy-off-grid-solar-recharged-electric-scooter-taxi-ave-tp4677888.html Omondi's Pfoofy-off-grid-solar-recharged electric-scooter-taxi $ave$ Oct 04 2015 ... technology developed by students from the University of Nairobi - have built a system they call Ecotran, which captures the sun's energy, stores it in batteries, and uses it to charge a motorcycle's electric motor ... ... Pfoofy Power & Light Ltd http://www.pfoofypower.org/ Pfoofy also offers affordable transportation through the use of electric ... Ecotran involves the recharge of these electric motorcycles through massive solar ... For EVLN EV-newswire posts use: http://evdl.org/evln/ {brucedp.150m.com} -- View this message in context: http://electric-vehicle-discussion-list.413529.n4.nabble.com/EVLN-Student-Built-Electric-Motorbikes-Hit-the-Road-in-Kenya-tp4678459.html Sent from the Electric Vehicle Discussion List mailing list archive at Nabble.com. _______________________________________________ UNSUBSCRIBE: http://www.evdl.org/help/index.html#usub http://lists.evdl.org/listinfo.cgi/ev-evdl.org Read EVAngel's EV News at http://evdl.org/evln/ Please discuss EV drag racing at NEDRA (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NEDRA)
