Automatic battery swapping cabinet development for scalability of e-mobility in Uganda

乌干达是非洲增长最快的10个经济体之一，国内生产总值增长率为6.5%（2019年），其首都人口预计到2024年将达到410万。摩的出租车，在东非被称为boda-bodas，是该国最受欢迎的交通方式，因为它们快速且容易到达。大约70%的人定期使用它们。目前，坎帕拉的博达博达数量高达20万，预计到2050年，这一数字将增长近两倍。除了需求之外，电池价格的下降也促进了非洲电动汽车的增长。国家的政策和法律正在适应不断变化的环境，并有利于以具有环保意识的方式替代汽油车辆。汽油摩托车有不受欢迎的缺点。由于燃料成本不断上升，它们的运营成本很高，由于大多数乌干达人目前面临的经济困难，所有者的回报越来越少，他们不能总是提高价格。摩托车噪音大，尾气排放污染严重，严重加剧了全球变暖。为了应对这些挑战，Zembo正在乌干达引进电动摩托车。Zembo在城市交通领域使用了Solar PayGo模式的创新。Zembo为自雇司机提供价格合理的电动摩托车。他们的电池即服务模式允许用户随时在指定的电池更换站更换电池，从而降低摩托车的成本。该公司为每位司机免费提供一块电池，但电池仍归Zembo所有。它运营着一个由30个交换站组成的网络，包括太阳能、混合动力和并网的充电站，为电池充电。这些电池主要由水电（来自国家电网）和太阳能（连接到光伏）充电。该项目包括开发一个自动电池交换站网络，可以更快地进行交换，以提高交换效率，扩大运营规模并扩大太阳能充电站网络。这些电池将被储存在一个充电柜中，在那里它们将通过太阳能和电网的结合来充电。自动换车站将战略性地分布在坎帕拉大都市区。这将使所有的Zembo车手尽可能方便地更换电池；让更换电池变得简单、容易、高效。该项目将是乌干达第一个安装数字交换站的项目，加速向电动汽车的过渡，减轻非洲城市的空气污染和二氧化碳排放，同时降低运营和维护成本。

Uganda is one of the 10 fastest growing economies in Africa with a GDP growth rate of 6.5% (2019) and its capital's population is projected to reach 4.1M by 2024\. Motorcycle taxis, known in East Africa as boda-bodas, are the most popular form of transportation in the country, as they are fast and easily accessible. About 70% of the population uses them on a regular basis. They are currently up to 200,000 boda-bodas in Kampala, a number expected to nearly triple by 2050\. Apart from demand, falling battery prices are contributing to the rise in e-mobility in Africa. Country policies and laws are adapting to the changing environment and are favourable to an environmentally conscious alternative to petrol vehicles.Petrol motorcycles have unwelcome downsides. They are expensive to run due to the ever-rising cost of fuel, giving decreasing returns to the owner who cannot always increase his price due to economic hardships currently faced by most Ugandans. The motorbikes are noisy and emissions from the exhaust are polluting and contribute significantly to global warming.To address these challenges, Zembo is introducing electric motorcycles in Uganda. Zembo is using the innovations from Solar PayGo model in the urban mobility sector. Zembo provides affordable electric motorcycles to self-employed drivers. Their battery-as-a-service model allows riders to swap their batteries anytime at given battery swap stations and reduce the cost of their motorcycle. The company provides a battery for free to each driver but Zembo remains the battery's owner. It operates a network of 30 swap stations, comprising solar, hybrid and grid-connected recharge stations where batteries are charged. The batteries are mostly charged with hydropower (from national grid) and solar (connected to PV).This project comprises developing a network of automatic battery swap stations where swaps can be done faster to increase swap efficiency, scale-up operations and expand the solar recharge station network. The batteries will be stored in a charging cabinet, where they will be charged with a combination of solar and grid energy. The automatic swap stations will be strategically located across the Kampala metropolitan area. This will enable all Zembo riders to swap their batteries as conveniently as possible; making swapping batteries simple, easy, and efficient.This project will be the first in Uganda to install digital swap stations, accelerating the transition to electric vehicles, mitigating air pollution and CO2 emissions in African cities, with lower operating and maintenance costs.