The National University of Science and Technology (NUST) is
developing Zimbabwe’s first prototype electric bus which it expects to improve
the country’s public transportation system.
Aleck Ncube, acting director of the NUST Innovation Hub,
says the Faculty of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering will be working
with Wise-Africa Technologies in a private- public partnership project that is
set to introduce the latest technology of an integrated electric trolley train
bus.
“We are so excited about it and we hope that this project
will quickly come to fruition as it will help solve some of the challenges we
face as a country,” he says.
Commuters across the country are struggling to access
cheaper and affordable transport as the Zimbabwe United Passenger Company
(ZUPCO )is still working to build its fleet.
A sharp increase in fuel prices has also seen a spike in
kombi fares leaving commuters frustrated and in need of more ZUPCO buses which
are affordable and accessible.
Trolley train buses are being used in most developed and
developing countries to ferry people in different cities with a positive impact
on congestion, pollution and time.
This has health and environmental benefits.
NUST and Wise Africa have since signed an agreement to
develop and commercialise the electric trolley bus specifically tailor-made to
suit the needs of Zimbabwe, Africa and the world in general.
Wise-Africa Technologies is an emerging company experienced
in technological innovations in the vehicle systems category.
The development of an electric trolley bus is one of the
major projects to be facilitated through the NUST Innovation Hub under the
Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development
innovation programmes.
Engineer Frank Mazvuru was the lead engineer in the design
of the integrated system of the electric trolley bus.
The vehicle will be powered by both the hydroelectric and
solar ernergy.
“The new trolley bus is a well-developed concept which has
been researched from the year 2006,” Eng Mazvuru says.
“The new mechanism which will be fitted on our designed
compatible train bus will allow smooth and efficient power distribution as the
bus moves.
“Most developed countries which are using trolley buses
will adopt our designed system which has less maintenance costs and cheaper as
well as efficient applicability. If the system can be cheap in a developing
nation, it means that even in a developed country it will be way cheaper.”
Says software programmer of Wise-Africa Technologies, Mr
Wilfred Pondiwa: “We have seen how the Government of Zimbabwe is coping with
mass transport challenges by introduction of ZUPCO buses which are at the
moment failing to meet the demand.
“An introduction of the 185-seater electric bus will aid in
filling the demand gap. This project is long overdue as it is necessary in
curbing the challenges faced by passengers due to high fares, safety risk and
poor services offered by commuter omnibuses (kombis).”
The electric prototype trolley bus will have a carrying
capacity of 185 passengers.
It will use advanced technologies that include mobile
software applications to allow tracking of buses by passengers on each
designated route, prior electronic payments and emergency rescue services.
In addition to this, it will use an automated driving
system which will be monitored by the driver, advanced seating arrangement and
an interior that meets world-class standards.
The trolley bus will be tested and run on the existing mass
urban transportation system which accommodates the limited infrastructure
without the need to construct new roads.
The lead engineer and designer hopes the project will
eventually attract an investor when it reaches the commercialisation stage
after tests.
Local materials will be used to make all the major
components of the bus — covering batteries, body coach building, electronics
and other components.
Zimbabwe has been working to improve its public
transportation system to facilitate the movement of people within a city or to
remote locations.
It has been striving to build a system that is affordable,
convenient, reduces congestion and offers bus services that are clean and
efficient.
The Government wants all public transport buses to be
clean, to embrace the cashless models, be economical and produce fewer
emissions by 2020.
In addition, it wants bus services to be accessible to
people with disabilities. Herald
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