Solar-Poda Concept
Overview
The chaotic non-subsidised Poda-Poda and shared Taxi system in Sierra Leone is very competitive and cost effective when compared with e.g the heavily subsidised Transport for London. In 2010 the UK government paid on average £5 per journey in subsidy for every journey made on London Transport. (British figure based on article given below).
The Solar-Poda takes inspiration from the simplistic but highly successful design thinking behind the famous British Electric Milk floats and pushes this thinking further into this millennium. Pushing this thinking further is intended to be part of the solution to the transportation and environmental issues faced by growing cities such as Freetown and her neighbouring ECOWAS counterparts.
The Solar Poda can give countries like Sierra Leone a strong international recognition as a leader of cost effective and eco-friendly transportation. By designing this vehicle to be manufactured using skills presently available within Sierra Leone can create employment, a strong self sustaining culture and future.
A Milk Float
The Story
It was whilst studying vehicle design comparing the non-subsidised Freetown public transportation systems to that of other countries in the world that I began to realise that the chaotic Poda-Poda and shared Taxi system in Sierra Leone is very competitive and cost effective when compared with e.g the heavily subsidised Transport for London (TFL). The UK government will give TFL £40 billion in grant between 2010 and 2017 but there will still be 1.4 billion a year short fall according to the Mayor of London. According to Transport for London there are 1.1 billion Journeys made on its transport system annually which makes the subsidy per journey to be presently around £5. (British figure based on article given below).
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2008/nov/04/boris-london (Tranport for London Gov. Funding)
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/modesoftransport/londonunderground/1608.aspx TFL annual passenger figures
The Solar Poda like the Milk Float is powered by rechargeable batteries that can last for years powering strong electric motors inorder to advance the Sierra Leonean cost effective tr. The Solar Poda incorporates two motors directly connected to the rear wheels thus eliminating the need for many complex mechanical parts such as the combustion engine, clutch, gear boxes and other mechanical linkages.
Other Advantages of today’s direct drive electric motor is the fact that they can also act as part of the braking system by reversing the current flow. This braking system called Regenerative Braking converts the vehicle’s kinetic energy back into electricity that gives charge to the batteries.
Furthermore the large Solar Roof Panel captures the vibrant long sunshine days of the ECOWAS region and converts it into electricity throughout the day thus reducing the cost of charging the vehicle through other external charging sources.
The silence of an electric motor and the lack of exhaust fumes will be a great benefit in terms of noise and air pollution. Furthermore the Solar Poda is longer giving extra seating capacity per journey. The extra seating capacity combined with the ease of maintenance of this simple vehicle system and the fact that the energy to power the vehicle is gained freely through natural sources will give the operators a higher profits with reduced running cost. This could be a win situation for passenger and drivers because the cost of travelling on the Solar-Poda can be lowered and the income of the operators increased.
The Solar Poda is designed to be constructed with skills abundantly available within the ECOWAS region such as window frame constructors and mechanical welders to build the vehicle skeletal space frame structure. The generator mechanics together with motor mechanics can assemble the battery, motor drive train and drive interface as the automotive body repairer and boat fibre glass repairers construct the lightweight fibre glass body panels. The Solar Poda is a great initiative to improve national image, create employment, a strong self sustaining culture and future.
The Solar Poda can give countries like Sierra Leone a strong international recognition as a leader of cost effective and eco-friendly transportation.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2008/nov/04/boris-london (Tranport for london Gov. Funding)
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/modesoftransport/londonunderground/1608.aspx TFL annual passenger figures
Hi there … all this is very nice and fancy but for sure this is not for sierra leone coz there are lots of probs. to be solved …. for europe and some countries in africa .. that fine but not for sierra leone…. please come down to salone and u will understand what i am talking about….
- masses are not exposed and cant understand the essence of progress
- masses are not educated “i mean that the people think that JSS or SSS that fine for them”
- the old crones because of selfishness and greed would always oppose the gesture
- the masses cant even manage themselves lest i say …
preso Koroma is trying hard but he does not have people who want and willing to work in his direction. .. he just have to be sterner.
we hear in salone do not know the worth of our country, ourselves,our family, and so on… when i say the masses … THEY KNOW THEMSELVES.
lets try to love each other .. care about each other . . love and guard what we have in our mama salone coz it wont be for ever … UNITY IS POWER
Hey Stephan
Very passionate indeed but the politcal issues you mention is prevelant in all countries though Sierra Leone always seem to suffer the most. let us not loose hope and persevre.