Silently moving through the city When it comes to electro-mobility, most people think of complex technology and expensive brands. However Axel Conrad and Madryn Cosburn of e-Cars Namibia have converted an off-road vehicle with a combustion engine into an electric car, demonstrating that it does not have to cost a fortune.
“We can’t give you a specific answer, but as soon as we know, we can make concrete statements about the price,” Madryn says.
With regards to their car’s range, they wave off the question.
“It’s not about asking what the car can do, but about what it can do for us,” Madryn says. “Most people only use their car to go to work or for shopping. A range of approximately 60 km is quite sufficient for this.”
Should they receive an order from a customer, they say they will first discuss what requirements the owner has of his vehicle.
Silence is golden
The availability of e-Cars in Namibia could be particularly beneficial for the tourism industry. “An electric vehicle is ideal for a game drives because it does not make any noise and you won’t disturb the animals,” Madryn says.
Their prototype is so quiet, it has both men equally excited.
“Imagine that only electric cars would drive in the city. How wonderfully quiet it would be!” Madryn says.
However, silence is not the only advantage: You’ll also be saved a trip to the fuel station with an electric car. “You can charge the car at home from a normal power outlet, which takes about ten hours,” Axel explains. “Theoretically, it would be faster, but then you will need more power.”
For their prototype, the batteries are housed in an aluminium box on the bakkie bed, but this won’t remain so. “This is just the beginning. From now on we’re optimizing,” Axel says.
The batteries that they use are harmless, as Madryn explains: “We use lithium iron phosphate batteries. They’re eco-friendly and fully recyclable, although they are a bit more expensive. The chemicals inside are less dangerous compared to ordinary lithium-ion batteries, and no raw materials like cobalt are needed,” he says.
Cobalt is found in many batteries, with most being mined in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where human rights violations and armed conflict between government forces and militias are recurring.
Unlike many European and American automakers, the two Namibians deliberately want to do without this raw material.
First do no harm
“We really want to do no harm with our batteries,” Madryn says. The batteries for the electric car can be used for about ten years before they have to be replaced. “After that, the batteries can still be used in other devices,” Axel adds.
Both say that their commitment is not based on political conviction. “We’re not doing it because we want to get electric cars on the road at any cost. We’re doing it because it’s the right thing to do here and under our conditions,” Axel says.
With their prototype, the two want to show that technical progress is not only created in Europe and the USA.
“I think electric cars rely too much on expensive car manufacturers,” Madryn says. “We also have a lot to contribute to progress in Namibia. We want to be part of development, not just as consumers.”
Axel agrees: “We want to prove that this is not difficult. It’s not quantum physics – it really is feasible.”
