A Stellenbosch University (SU) lab recently won two awards for its groundbreaking work and innovation in electrical engineering.
This is according to Thinus Booysen, an SU engineering professor and the director of the Electric Mobility Lab, who received the two awards on behalf of the university at the 2025 Africa Supply Chain Excellence Awards ceremony at Montecasino in Johannesburg on 7 August.
Thinus Booysen, a Stellenbosch University engineering professor and the director of the Electric Mobility Lab, said that he leads the research in converting petrol or diesel vehicles into electric motor vehicles. The 1978 Volkswagen Beetle next to him used to have a traditional internal combustion engine, but now boasts a fully battery-powered electric system, according to a sign displayed in one of the car’s windows. PHOTO: Uendjizuvira Kandanga
The lab received an Outstanding Achievement award in the transport category for a groundbreaking bus and minibus conversion project, which successfully transformed a 2005 diesel commuter bus into a fully electric vehicle, according to Booysen.
The lab also walked away as the winner in the training and talent management category for its role in developing a solar-powered electric motorbike that was used to complete a journey of more than 6 000km from Nairobi, Kenya, to Stellenbosch, from 29 September to 16 October 2024, said Booysen.
“It is a great privilege to receive this award,” said Booysen. “Winning [these] prestigious awards shines an important spotlight on the work we do at SU in developing green technologies.”
The two awards that Stellenbosch University’s (SU) Electric Mobility Lab won at the Africa Supply Chain Excellence Awards on 7 August in Johannesburg. This is according to Thinus Booysen, an SU engineering professor and the director of the Electric Mobility Lab. “This recognition helps to build trust with industry partners, policymakers, and funders and demonstrates that Africa can be a leader in sustainable innovation,” said Booysen. PHOTO: Uendjizuvira Kandanga
‘Vast potential’
Booysen said that the lab aspires to prepare for the electric revolution that faces the region’s transport sector.
“For one thing, this revolution risks many jobs and our fragile electricity networks,” said Booysen. “For another, it brings the opportunity to reduce pollution in our cities and […] improve the livelihoods of millions through more efficient and safer transportation.”
According to Ryno Lacock, the support vehicle driver who handled logistics on the overland motorcycle trip between Nairobi and Stellenbosch, electric vehicles have “vast potential” to improve quality of life in Africa as renewable solar resources can be used to increase mobility to remote off-grid areas.
‘Truly unique’
The project’s conception, the charging station, and the operational plan were developed by the research team at SU, said Booysen. The motorbike was developed by Roam, an electric mobility company in Kenya, he said.
“It is perfectly suited to our environment,” said Booysen. “Our industry partner, Scatec, provided solar power, and Balancell provided the batteries.”
Hans van Toor, the strategy and innovation manager at Roam, said that the journey was a testament to the durability of the motorbike through hot and cold weather, rain, rivers, steep climbs, rough terrain, and long roads. He also said it demonstrated the motorbike’s range, with favourable conditions pushing it to 226km on a single charge.
The solar-powered electric motorbike that was used to complete a journey of over 6 000km from Nairobi, Kenya, to Stellenbosch, according to Thinus Booysen, a Stellenbosch University (SU) engineering professor and the director of the Electric Mobility Lab. “Our transport market is one of the toughest in the world,” said Hans van Toor, the strategy and innovation manager at Roam, an electric mobility company in Kenya. “We need high performance for commercial users to ride high cargo over long distances in one of the most cost-competitive markets globally.” PHOTO: Uendjizuvira Kandanga
Van Toor said that the award shows that original innovation can come from Africa and that Africans do not have to rely on foreign companies to build high-quality and affordable products.
“SU’s lab is truly unique,” said Van Toor. “I have worked with universities for the past 15 years and what SU does really well is combine real-world problems with academic prowess to create actionable, practical solutions, using cutting-edge technology.”