A Solar Powered Car for Africa

A Part 5 student of the Electronic and Electrical Department of Obafemi Awolowo University in Nigeria has built a solar powered car, proving that students everywhere are capable of great achievements. On his own, Oyeyiola Segun took around 12 months to plan for and build the environmental machine which runs on Wind and Solar energy. All the energy derived from both these two sources are converted to run the simple car. There are different means of obtaining energy from these two sources but ‘I picked the one that is cool for my car,’ Segun explains.

Segun using finite resources and a sharp and versatile mind worked to build something fresh that most would consider inconceivable at for an estimated 1 million Naira (around KES 525 000). The detrimental effects of fuel combustion such as climate change led Segun to think of building a car that does not run on fuel. Segun wanted to produce a car that functions effectively at a reduced cost of maintenance. “I believe you know the price of fuel in this country (Nigeria) is almost going beyond the reach of a common man?” he says.

“Another thing that distinguishes my car from the common ones you see around is that you can know the state of the car through your mobile phones. I wrote software that you can install, which will give you the basic information about the car while in your room.”

By state of the car Segun means the functionality of the car; “like the battery level, the weather conditions, the distance you can cover during different weather conditions. In case you have a bad weather,” he says. The car also has a GPS in it that helps to know the location of the car. Environmentally friendly, and smart, this car seems to have it all.

“Rome was not built in a day,” is the message Segun sends to his fellow students. “It is better to start anything you want to do now and never, I repeat, never expect someone to believe in your dreams because they may not understand it as you do. Endeavor to follow your heart and do what will make you happy and that which will not affect your fellow being negatively.”