Help us understand how to test electric boat business models in Casamance, Senegal (open invitation)
On the waterways of Sinesaloum and Casamance, Senegal, there are large populations of scattered rural communities who depend on boats for fishing and transportation.
However, with fuel costs averaging approximately 25% of a fisherman’s daily income, petrol boat engines are expensive to both run and maintain, driving down the incomes of local people.
Informal fuel depots (crates of petrol-filled glass bottles) line the waterways, presenting not only a safety risk, but an environmental hazard, while the motor engines themselves are a major polluter, driving away local wildlife through noise and emissions.
Therefore, whilst motor boats are a key source of livelihoods in the region, they come with numerous challenges.
The proposed solution
By integrating solar charging stations in strategic locations, we believe that battery-powered boats can provide a cheaper, greener, safer alternative to water mobility.
Electric motors require less maintenance and are more cost-effective than petrol motors. Reduced noise could enhance wildlife conservation and attract eco-tourist initiatives, providing an opportunity to strengthen local livelihoods. Battery charging could be used to support cold chains for local producers to get crops to market, positively affecting local income generation.
We need your help
- Do electric motors improve the livelihoods of boat operators?
- Will boat operators accept the change to solar charged electric motors?
- Which types of motor and battery work best?
- What is the best business model to operate the system?
To help us find the answers to these questions, FCDO is excited to be hosting a virtual Tech Exploration Session to learn from previous experiences and explore how we can turn this idea into a reality.
Sounds great, how can I get involved?
If you have experience in:
- Electric vehicles or;
- Battery charging stations
We would love for you to join us. Please put this date into your diary:
Time: 13:00–14:00 GMT Thursday 11th November
Location: Online
And register to attend by filling out your name and contact details on this form
We do not expect to have the answers at this stage. We are looking for different perspectives to raise the challenge and opportunities you foresee and share any lessons learnt that you think we can benefit from. We are hoping to take these learnings forward as we identify a partner that can operate locally in Senegal.
