Researchers at De Montfort University (DMU) in Leicester have shown that electric taxis combined with solar-powered microgrids can bring economic and environmental benefits to rural communities in the global South.
An innovative research project led by DMU scientists Dr. Rupert Gammon and Dr. Momodu Sallah has investigated the feasibility of establishing a solar-powered taxi service in the Gambia, Africa and has reported positive results demonstrating benefits beyond transportation.
The study was discussed as part of this year’s Science Festival UK at DMU, ​​where the researchers popped electric vehicles into rooftop solar canopies between rides.
The panels power independent microgrids using one of the most common yet underused renewable energy sources, the sun.
Mini-grids are distribution networks that are not connected to the region’s “main” grid and are also seen as a potentially economical and practical solution for providing power to hard-to-reach areas.
One of the biggest challenges facing any network is that supply and demand must be constantly balanced to avoid equipment damage or network failure. This balancing act becomes even more difficult when most electricity is generated from variable renewable sources such as solar or wind.
One way to solve this problem is to increase demand when there is a lot of renewable energy available, and reduce it when solar or wind energy is not enough. Scientists have found that electric cars can help.
Research has shown that electric vehicles have a large onboard battery and can store electricity generated during periods of surplus renewables for transportation, or even feed it back to the grid during periods when renewables are low – something that can be done with variables. incentives. make this charging mode cheaper than uncontrolled charging.
Transportation is often a barrier to the economic development of rural residents, so having vehicles with lower operating costs – those that use renewable energy rather than fossil fuels – would be beneficial.
Dr. Rupert Gammon, senior fellow at the Institute for Energy and Sustainability at the State University of New York, said: “The results of this study are very promising. In addition to providing a greener solution to the growing energy needs of rural areas in the global South, it also brings benefits to its communities.
“The idea was later adopted in Ghana and turned out to be a successful business proposition, showing us that such projects can indeed have a huge impact on life in sub-Saharan Africa and beyond.”
The study also analyzed the economic impact of electric taxi drivers and calculated that the income of taxi drivers could increase by 250-1300% in local operations and 20 times in tourist areas. These figures vary by vehicle type, microgrid configuration, and passenger type.
The scientists expand on the types of vehicles that may be studied in the future as the most suitable for such projects and suggest: light vehicles such as tuk-tuks (auto-rickshaws) and cargo bikes are the most commercially viable, while electric vehicles and minivans are also show business prospects.
Electric scooters are also a good option, and their use is already widespread in parts of sub-Saharan Africa.