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This project has been successfully funded on 29. December 2019. Thanks to the 106 boosters that made it possible!
car solaire
A sustainable, solar-powered minibus for Dakar!
MUSEKE Verein
Zürich, CH
Project Overview
EcoCar Solaire wants to convert Dakar’s fossil-fuel-powered shared taxis into solar-powered cars solaires, offering a large portion of the Senegalese metropolis' inhabitants environmentally-friendly mobility. With this solution, everyone can afford to travel to work, school or university without causing any pollution harmful to climate and public health, and the market women can continue to transport their goods for sale at the local market.
24%
16.094 CHF
of 65.000 CHF
Crowdified
hurray!
106
Boosters
supported project
Funding goals
-
Stage 1:
15.000 CHF
100% funded
-
Stage 2:
35.000 CHF
5% funded
-
Stage 3:
55.000 CHF
0% funded
-
Finish Stage:
65.000 CHF
0% funded
The test trip from Zurich to Dakar should be conducted using solar energy only. In order to supply the pilot buses with solar power while on the road, the EcoCar Solaire team wants to take along a solar tent. Wherever the bus stops, the tent will also provide shade and serve as a gathering place. With this final funding stage of 10,000 CHF we can prove that it is fully possible to travel in a car solaire from Zurich to Dakar without using any form of fossil fuel!
For several decades, the beautifully painted cars rapides have provided transportation to thousands of Dakar commuters every single day, taking them to work, university or to the market place. They also make it possible for the market women to sell fish and vegetables in the local markets. In short: the car rapide guarantees urban mobility. For urban transportation to continue contributing to the well-being of social and economic structures in Dakar, the MUSEKE Association, in collaboration with the project initiator mandu|architexture & urbanizm, engineers from Ökozentrum and other partners, has decided to take action. The goal is to prevent the cars rapides from being scrapped and to, instead, convert them into vehicles run on renewable energy. EcoCar Solaire sees itself as a beacon for a sustainable and inclusive means of transport for a growing African city.
80% of Dakar's inhabitants depend on affordable public transport, which connects the inner city with outlying areas. It has been particularly crucial for the means of transport to have access to the narrow and often poorly maintained streets of the informal sectors, the slums. But, the robust cars rapides are to be replaced by a new official bus transportation system. Unfortunately, the new buses service different routes and are equally diesel-powered and therefore add to the already alarming levels of air pollution.
What's more, without the cars rapides, it will become impossible for the market women to supply the informal sectors with the basic stock of food such as vegetables and fish, simply because the introduced new bus system will not drive to those areas, or accept the transport any goods. This would have a fatal impact not only on the infrastructure and knowledge built up over the decades by the cars rapides operators, drivers and repair garages. Dakar would also lose a part of Senegal's cultural heritage and some 30,000 jobs, which depend on the car rapides transport system – reasons enough for introducing the car solaire as an alternative solution!
What's more, without the cars rapides, it will become impossible for the market women to supply the informal sectors with the basic stock of food such as vegetables and fish, simply because the introduced new bus system will not drive to those areas, or accept the transport any goods. This would have a fatal impact not only on the infrastructure and knowledge built up over the decades by the cars rapides operators, drivers and repair garages. Dakar would also lose a part of Senegal's cultural heritage and some 30,000 jobs, which depend on the car rapides transport system – reasons enough for introducing the car solaire as an alternative solution!
The solution proposed by EcoCar Solaire is to convert the cars rapides into solar-powered vehicles. Based a concept proposed by mandu|architexture & urbanizm and in collaboration with the Swiss institute Ökozentrum, a pioneer in the area of e-mobility, a conversion kit will be developed, which 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 with renewable energy.
Operationally, the cars solaires will be managed by a cooperative formed by the association of car rapide bus drivers. This will make sure the knowledge and expertise gathered over the years in the informal mobility sector can be maintained.
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 with renewable energy.
Operationally, the cars solaires will be managed by a cooperative formed by the association of car rapide bus drivers. This will make sure the knowledge and expertise gathered over the years in the informal mobility sector can be maintained.
In order to fully convince the Senegalese transportation officials, who have the authority to approve such a project, of the benefits of the EcoCar Solaire, we need to build one or two pilot buses. In response to any remaining doubts as to the suitability of the converted solar buses, we are planning to drive the car solaire from Zurich to Dakar in a test trip!
But we are running out of time. According to a government program, many of the existing cars rapides are currently being scrapped. The sooner we act, the more of the remaining minibuses can be salvaged and secured for the EcoCar Solaire project.
For us to be able to secure the minibuses, organise the transport to Switzerland and buy the material needed to build two pilot buses, we need your help!
Thanks to your financial contribution, we can create a totally new and modern way of mobility for urban Africa, without compromising the environment or the inhabitants!
Together we can create a chapter in history for the benefit of the environment and future generations!
But we are running out of time. According to a government program, many of the existing cars rapides are currently being scrapped. The sooner we act, the more of the remaining minibuses can be salvaged and secured for the EcoCar Solaire project.
For us to be able to secure the minibuses, organise the transport to Switzerland and buy the material needed to build two pilot buses, we need your help!
Thanks to your financial contribution, we can create a totally new and modern way of mobility for urban Africa, without compromising the environment or the inhabitants!
Together we can create a chapter in history for the benefit of the environment and future generations!
Would you like to experience the unique test trip with the first car solaire in person? By supporting our project with at least 100 CHF – with or without goody – you will automatically be entered into our prize draw. You could be the lucky winner of a free seat for the trip from Zurich to Dakar!
Would you like to support the project or purchase one of our great goodies, but don't have a credit card at hand or are outside Switzerland? Then transfer the desired amount directly to the following account of the Museke Association with the note: EcoCar Solaire and the desired Goodie:
Owner: MUSEKE Association // Address: Posftach, 8021 Zurich, Switzerland
IBAN: CH26 0900 00001539 1520 4 // BIC: POFICHBEXXX
Note: EcoCar Solaire (and optionally desired goodie)
Please also email us at ecocar@museke.ch so that we can track your deposit right away. Thank you very much for your support!
Owner: MUSEKE Association // Address: Posftach, 8021 Zurich, Switzerland
IBAN: CH26 0900 00001539 1520 4 // BIC: POFICHBEXXX
Note: EcoCar Solaire (and optionally desired goodie)
Please also email us at ecocar@museke.ch so that we can track your deposit right away. Thank you very much for your support!
MUSEKE Verein
Zürich, CH
By promoting sustainable and innovative solutions as well as bringing new impulses to sustainable urban development, the MUSEKE Association wants to counteract the steadily increasing inequalities faced by the rapidly growing cities of the South. In parallel to this, participatory development processes must be strengthened and social equity ensured.
With its projects, the MUSEKE Association also commits to climate protection and environmental objectives and strongly advocates a thrifty and efficient use of available resources, as well as sustainable production with local value added, with benefits to everyone.
Mandu dos Santos Pinto
Zürich, CH
Architect and Social Entrepreneur | mandu|architexture & urbanizm, Director
It was first in Luanda and then in Dakar that I got to know the share taxis called Kandongueiros and cars rapides. I was very impressed. These fully self-organised informal transportation systems meet the challenge to bring a large part of the city inhabitants to their working places and to provide transportation for the city markets. Based on the idea to develop a more sustainable means of transport, the EcoCar Solaire project was born. To me, when developing sustainable, urban mobility, it is essential for it to build on the local entrepreneurs and strengthen the social and economic structure of the city.
Mario Vögeli
Langenbruck, CH
Technical Development | Ökozentrum, Head e-mobility
As Head of the Research and Development Division at Ökozentrum, I specialise in cars with electrical drive. The biggest motivation for me to participate in this project is to use the knowledge we have built up in this area at the Ökozentrum for the realization of a sustainable project in Dakar, therefore contributing towards global climate justice.
Donato Ponzio
Zürich, CH
Administration and Finances | MUSEKE Association, Treasurer
Successful business processes require solid financial and administrative structures. This is most familiar to me as Division Head at the Office for Economy and Labour in Zurich, fiduciary and consultant. It is with keen interest that I administer such a meaningful project as EcoCar Solaire.
Joy Frempong
Berlin, CH
Knowledge Transfer | MUSEKE Association, President
From the very beginning, we at the MUSEKE Association have been convinced by the EcoCar Solaire project. In particular, we find the approach of using existing economic structures and available know-how in combination with modern, environmentally-friendly technologies, very appealing. It is an innovative concept very much worthy of support.
My role in this project is to strengthen the exchange between North and South and encourage the knowledge transfer in both directions, thus making the project successful in the long term.
Edouard Diatta
Dakar, CH
Participatory Processes | mandu|architexture & urbanizm
The car rapide is not only a means of transport; it also represents a social and economic institution. In order to develop a sustainable means of transport for a city in Africa, merely introducing a new technology isn´t enough: The society involved must be included in the process. With my expertise in the area of participatory processes, I can make a vital contribution. My task will be to facilitate a mutual exchange of information and ideas between various stakeholders and experts, in order to ensure a successful project implementation by matching the well-established system of cars rapides with the renewable technologies of EcoCar Solaire.
Carmela Ahokas Houben
Zürich, CH
Communication| mandu|architexture & urbanizm
When I first heard of the EcoCar Solaire project I could just picture it: a beautifully painted and colourful African minibus, running by solar power, driving along the high street in Zurich, passing by luxury watches and haute couture shops, destination: Dakar. This might sound like pure fiction, but it isn’t... this is happening right now! The big impact this could have on the people in Dakar, as well as being an excellent example of responsible thought and action in our world is why I am so passionate about this project. With my experience in communication and fundraising I can help towards this positive change.
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