Going Green: Kenyan Physics Teacher Recycling Old Laptop Batteries Into Electric Bikes

• What was meant to be a transport solution for Paul Waweru became a source of frustration when the electric motorbike he had imported stopped functioning within one year
• Given that he is a physics teacher, Waweru harnessed his expertise to create a replacement battery from discarded computer components
• What initially began as a simple endeavor has blossomed into Ecomobilus Bike, a company specialising in retrofitting petrol-powered motorcycles with electric engines

Paul Waweru imported an electric motorbike looking to capitalise on the benefits of going green and cutting down on transport costs.

However, a few months after the physics teacher started using it the two-wheeler stopped working and he was unable to ride to work.

Waweru's electric bike stopped working

It occurred to him that the bike had ground to a halt because its batteries had lost their strength and needed to be replaced, he told TRT World.

While cracking his head over the misfortune, he figured that as someone who's studied Physics, he needed to put the knowledge to use.

That is when he sat down and created an innovative solution that would make use of disused computer parts to power his motorbike.

“I was able to source low-cost batteries and that is how I ended up bumping into laptop batteries," he said, revealing that the old batteries cost less than KSh 100.

Battery runs for 100kms

It was an invention that soon saw Waweru start a side venture which involves collecting frames from old motorbikes, removes the engines, and replacing them with a battery and a motor.

The full-blown hustle has since grown into a company he calls Ecomobilus bike, one that turns petrol-powered bikes into electric machines.

Details indicate that the batteries take hours to charge but the period is shorted to as little as 45 minutes when using a fast charger.

"The charging as compared to the fuelling is much, more affordable,” he says, adding that a fully charged battery can run the bike for up to 100 kilometres.

Product embraced by couriers

Given the high cost of petroleum products in Kenya, Waweru's recycled batteries quickly became a favourite among couriers and delivery drivers.

According to him, most of them have been saving money since ditching petrol fuelled bikes for his electric versions.

“Ecomobilus bikes require zero maintenance because there are no mechanical parts that need to be repaired. We give it at least two years for services because the engines are no longer there, we are dealing with motors,” he continued.

At a time when many cities around the world are struggling with air pollution, electric engines have been seen the perfect solution to the global problem.

Africa Climate Summit 2023

Meanwhile, President William Ruto has officially opened the inaugural Africa Climate Summit at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre and made his keynote address to the delegates at the event.

The head of state arrived at the KICC for the first day of the much-waited conference in an electric car.

He underscored the place of Africa in the fight against shifts in weather patterns whose impacts are already palpable on the continent.