Based in Tunis, German-Tunisian startup Bako Motors manufactures solar-powered three-wheelers for delivery services. They cut fuel expenses and reduce pollution on the city's congested streets.
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:00 Congested streets are a fact of life in Tunis, the capital of Tunisia.
00:13 And that means a lot of pollution.
00:16 The city centre is teeming with delivery vehicles.
00:19 If they were solar-powered, air quality would be vastly improved.
00:24 A German Tunisian start-up has taken note and is manufacturing solar-powered three-wheelers.
00:31 There's no need for charging stations because the vehicles have panels on the roof.
00:37 We choose the three-wheeler because the three-wheeler is very efficient and they don't consume a
00:43 lot of energy.
00:44 The weight is very light and if the weight is very light and we have a very small motor,
00:52 a very small electric motor of 1,500 watts, if you put 500 watt panels, it fits together.
01:02 It's an ideal solution for Adnan Elouz, who has a wholesale business.
01:08 He's bought one of the vehicles and has calculated that he's saving the equivalent of about 150
01:14 euros in fuel expenses a month.
01:19 With electric engines, the maintenance is very easy.
01:23 There's no radiator, no oil change, almost nothing that needs servicing.
01:29 And the engine is robust and very good quality.
01:35 The German Tunisian start-up has sold 146 solar-powered vehicles in Tunisia and is now
01:42 planning to open branches in Saudi Arabia and then Lagos, Nigeria, where hopefully they'll
01:48 soon be helping reduce pollution, just as they are here in Tunis.
02:02 And how about you?
02:04 If you're also doing your bit, tell us about it.
02:07 Visit our website or send us a tweet.
02:11 Hashtag DoingYourBit.
02:16 We share your stories.
02:17 (upbeat music)