Table of contents

• Bodawerk E-Boda Start-up brings electromobility to Uganda
• A combustion engine becomes electric
• Development department drives further projects

Jakob Hornbach / Bodawerk.

counselor

technology & future

Bodawerk E-Boda – Electromobility in Uganda

Bodawerk E-Boda
Start-up brings electromobility to Uganda

A young start-up company called Bodawerk from Uganda has set itself the goal of establishing electromobility in the East African landlocked country. The company was founded by a German emigrant, among others.

Slawomir Niewrzol

06/26/2019

Motorcycles are the most common form of motorized transportation in Uganda. Ugandans rely largely on a model called the Bajaj Boxer 100, which is powered by an air-sensed single-cylinder engine with less than 10 hp. In the capital Kampala alone, 130,000 motorcycles are said to be on the road – 95% of them in business operations.

A combustion engine becomes electric

The young start-up company Bodawerk has now set itself the goal of converting precisely this model and turning it into an electric motorcycle. The reason for this is simple: the company wants to reduce maintenance costs while doing its part to protect the environment. According to the company, the daily battery rental should cost 10,000 Uganda shillings (the equivalent of around 2.40 euros) and thus only half as much as the comparable amount of fuel. Incidentally, the company is offering the conversion free of charge. In addition, new and already converted bikes are offered at a reduced price. New combustion models are said to cost around 4.4 million Uganda shillings (approx. 1,030 euros). The electric motorcycles from Bodawerk, on the other hand, are sold for almost 3 million Uganda shillings (approx. 700 euros). In addition, customers save thanks to the lower maintenance costs.

Jakob Hornbach / Bodawerk.

The team of the young start-up now consists of almost 20 members.

In order to successfully implement the business model, the German entrepreneur Jakob Hornbach, his business partner Ben Lokeris Koriang and the 20-person team would like to set up a network of electric filling stations. The project is currently in a relatively early phase. So far, six prototypes have been put on the bike, with which more than 1,500 kilometers have been covered. In addition, the first commercial tests are currently underway. In the near future, the material should be available for a further 100 conversions. Speaking of the renovation: this should only take an hour. The carburetor, motor, gearbox and the exhaust are removed and replaced with the electric motor, a control unit and a battery. The range should be around 70 kilometers.

Development department drives further projects

The young company is also working on other projects such as an electrically operated wheelchair that is only supposed to cost a quarter of the normal price. Solar-powered refrigerators and an electric tractor are also under development. In general, in addition to the commercial aspect, the company also apparently focuses on the social aspect.

Bajaj.

Most Ugandans travel with a Bajaj Boxer 100.

The information on this article comes from an interview with Jakob Hornbach that appeared in the latest issue of the colleagues at Technology Review.

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