The Project
By using innovative and climate-friendly technologies, Eco Car Solaire aims at converting Dakar’s famous icons – the artistically painted ‘cars rapides’ – into a solar-powered, environmentally friendly means of transportation, as well as save the jobs that depend on them.
The main focus is on sustainable urban mobility for all. EcoCar Solaire sees itself as a beacon for an environmental sound modern African city. With a socially just and climate-friendly transformation of the lively metropolis, public transportation should become climate-neutral and accessible to all population sections.
The Solution
The solution proposed by Eco Car Solaire, a project initiated by mandu|architexture & urbanizm, is to convert the cars rapides into solar-powered vehicles. A conversion kit developed in collaboration with the Swiss institute Ökozentrum, a pioneer in the area of e-mobility, will enable local mechanics to convert the cars rapides into cars solaires.
Together with Senegalese solar companies and the CETUD, the Executive Council of Public Transport of Dakar, EcoCar Solaire will build up a network of solar-power stations where the new minibuses can recharge their batteries. Operationally, the cars solaires will be managed by a cooperative formed by the association of car rapide bus drivers, which will also ensure the knowledge transfer.
Benefits of the Cars Solaires
100% renewable solar power
0% air pollution 0% CO2
no adverse health effects on inhabitants, users and drivers
30,000 secured jobs in the informal sector
strengthening of the local economy
knowledge transfer and creation of new jobs
recycling and use of existing resources
low-tech, low-cost and easily expanded solution
maintaining the cultural heritage and tourism icon of Senegal
Get Involved
In order to fully convince the Senegalese government and investors of the benefits of the Eco Car Solaire, we want to build one or two pilot buses at the Ökozentrum in Switzerland and then drive the car solaire from Zurich to Dakar in a test trip.
Part of the necessary funding is already secured thanks to our financial partners. By launching a crowdfunding campaign we want to raise the remaining capital needed for this pilot phase.
We are running out of time. The Senegalese government has begun to scrap the robust cars rapides, maintained by a large network of skilled mechanics, in order to pave the way for an official, diesel-powered bus transportation system.
If we act fast, we can salvage the remaining cars rapides, convert them into cars solaires and secure the 30,000 jobs linked to them. For this, we need your help!
Support our crowdfunding campaign and help us build one or two car solaire pilot buses! By doing so, you will make a positive contribution to climate protection and strengthen local economic structures in Dakar.
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Background
The public bus networks of many African cities, which have the highest urbanisation rate globally at 4.87% per year, are barely functioning (in Dakar only 7%).
Moreover, the official public bus networks cannot be used in the informal neighbourhoods with narrow and often poorly maintained roads. Gradually minibuses stepped into this breach and now provide most public transport (Dakar: 60%).
At the same time, these minibuses contribute to a significant part of the air and climate pollution. The latest air pollution figures in Dakar are alarming.
For several decades, the cars rapides have provided the largest and especially the poorest part of Dakar’s urban population with an opportunity for urban mobility and therefore secured many jobs.
80% of Dakar’s citizens depend on low-cost public transport to connect the city centre with the neighbourhoods on the periphery, passing narrow and often poorly maintained streets of the informal neighbourhoods (“slums”).
However, that is to end now. The Senegalese government wants to replace the robust cars rapides with a new formal diesel-powered bus system. Unfortunately, this will mean the loss of about 30,000 jobs and the know-how of operators, drivers and repair shops, as well as the image that characterises Dakar.
This is where EcoCar Solaire steps in by transforming the old cars rapides into modern, environmentally friendly, and cost-effective cars solaires accessible to all sections of the population.
From Zurich to Dakar
Do you wish to support our project?
Would you like to participate in a prize draw and win a free seat in the first car solaire test trip from Zurich to Dakar?
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Partners & Organisations
Team
Mandu dos Santos Pinto
mandu|architexture & urbanizm
Initiator, Coordination and Project Development
Carmela Ahokas Houben
mandu|architexture & urbanizm
Communication
Mario Vögeli
Ökozentrum
E-mobility
Joy Frempong
Museke association
Knowledge Transfer
Edouard Diatta
mandu|architexture & urbanizm
Participatory Processes
Donato Ponzio
Museke association
Administration and Finances
Daniel Habte
Museke association
Legal
Rosanna Burelli
mandu|architexture & urbanizm
Organisation and Social Media
Contact
ecocar@museke.ch
Eco Car Solaire / Museke Verein
Erlachstrasse 36, 8003 Zürich
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