Sudan’s electric Rickshaws reduce costs and help the environment

Mohamed Samir, a Sudanese entrepreneur, watches proudly as workers make garishly colored rickshaws. These rickshaws are unique in North Africa because they run on electricity.

Three-wheeler vehicles in Sudan include tuk-tuks for passengers and motorbike tricycles that can carry goods. In Khartoum alone, there are tens of thousands of motorbike tricycles.

However, Sudan is now in a severe economic crisis. This was made worse by political unrest that followed a military coup last Oct.

Samir, a 44-year-old engineer, said that people who use fuel-run rickshaws are often in pain and know the value of what they are offering at the North Khartoum factory.

“We want to provide solutions.”

There are also important environmental impacts.

The United Nations Environment Programme warned that smoking petrol-powered cars, in addition to fuelling climate change and causing air pollution, in a 2020 report.

It added that the emissions from the three-wheelers reduce vision, cause damage to vegetation, and lead to respiratory diseases in people.

Samir said that the UN’s sustainable development goals for the future include protection of the health, fight against poverty and protection of environment.

He added, “It also makes less noise.”

“Daily income doubled”

Samir had to overcome years of hard work to get his factory running. But once he opened it, business has been steady. Since last year, Samir has sold over 100 tricycles and 12 passenger bikes.

Since the coup, fuel costs have more than doubled. Drivers are now waiting in line for hours to fill up their tanks at filling stations due to fuel shortages.

Drivers complain about earning less than they spend.

Bakry Mohamed, a fruit vendor, sold his old petrol-powered scooter-tuk to buy an electric tricycle.

Mohamed said that the vehicle used to cost more money than it brought in. He also uses his vehicle for carrying a stall selling fruits on the streets. “Plus, I had the worry of where to get fuel and where to change my engine oil.”

Mohamed is proud to show off his electric tricycle.

Mohamed stated that it was extremely cost-efficient. “There are no fuel queues anymore. I only have to charge it once and it runs the whole week. My daily income doubled.”

Some drivers may struggle to make the switch at first, but Samir said that there haven’t been any major complaints. Electric batteries require less maintenance than gasoline-run engines.

He stated, “It is new, and they’re not used to electric vehicles.”

Sunshine power

The three-wheelers are fully charged in about eight hours. A tuk tuk tricycle can cover 80 to 100 kilometres (50-60 mi) while a rickshail can travel between 100 and 120 kms.

Despite the economic crisis, Sudan’s electricity supply has also suffered, with frequent power outages.

The government increased electricity prices in January. Households saw an increase of approximately 500 percent in their bills.

Samir stated that electric rickshaws are still far more efficient and cost-effective than other alternatives.

Samir stated that the cost of charging the battery is still lower than the cost of fuel, with one electric charge costing less per litre than half a litre.

Others, gazing upwards at Sudan’s year-round sunshine and escaping dependence on the power grid, have also done so.

Amjad Hamdan Hameidan bought several electric-powered Rickshaws and now has his three-wheeler on-the-go.

Hameidan stated, “I use flexible solar panel,” “We put them on top of the Rickshaw while we drive, and it charges the batteries.”

Samir believes that his factory is helping Sudan keep up in a fast-developing global world.

Samir stated, “Everything that is powered by fuel will soon be replaced with electricity.” “We have the opportunity to keep up the pace with the rest,” Samir said.

2022 AFP