The Ebikes4Africa Blog - All About Electric Bicycles

Why choose an electric bicycle (E-BIKE) over a conventional bicycle?

Fri, 09 Apr 2021 15:00:44 GMT

Why choose an electric bicycle (E-BIKE)?

All bicycles are fun, and adventurous; however, we cannot bypass the reality that E-bikes are extra-ordinary and simply the smoothest, coolest bikes in Namibia.

But, why is that? A normal bicycle might get you to work, but not with the same speed and ease as an E-bikes can. With a normal bicycle you will be sweaty and tired by the time you arrive at work, but with an E-bike you will be on time, fresh and without breaking a sweat! And our Ebikes4Africa MTB-E, with its 48V 8Ah Li-ion battery, is the ideal ride, providing enough power to commute efficiently — also over longer distances — meaning you have absolutely nothing to worry about when it comes to getting to work on time.

"Ebikes4Africa is the only e-mobility service provider in Namibia…Proudly designed in Namibia, made for Africa."

E-Bike testimonial

One of our valued customers, Andrew Shikongo, can attest to that. Andrew is a 27-year-old supervisor at a popular grocery store located at the centre of Windhoek. For years, Andrew has been thinking about a transport alternative to the taxi to work daily. Since the Covid-19 outbreak, his employer was forced to adapt to the crisis and as a result, his salary was cut. Additionally, the cost of using a taxi went up to N$12 per trip.

Andrew searched online for a bicycle company, and eventually found Ebikes4Africa’s website. He then visited the workshop and shared his interested in acquiring an E-Bike. He also openly shared the fact he had a salary cut, and was desperate for more affordable transport. In the end, he chose to rent one of our MTB-E’s, which has since helped him go to work, without the constant worry of rising taxi fees – and with certainty that he’s always on time!

See the technical specs of our MTB-E here: https://www.ebikes4africa.org/shop/Mountain-Bikes-c51545149

An added advantage to the conventional bicycle is that E-Bikes are better vehicles for manoeuvring traffic. Riding a regular bike on a public road can be dangerous. Since you have to peddle harder to increase the speed and keep up with faster moving vehicles on the road. But with an E-bike, you are more in control of your ride with the display screen showing all relevant parameters, like speed, trip distance, battery and support level. The assistance level can be adjusted, which gives you more control of your E-bike, allowing you to better keep up with the flow of traffic than you would have on a regular bike.

But E-Bikes are not only for urban rides. It also caters to off-road adventures and adventurous people like Breda and his brother, who woke up one day and decided to go on a two-day trip to nowhere using an E-bike. With gear loaded onto the back of an Ebikes4Africa bicycle - they had enough bully-beef, tube patches, warm stuff and excitement with them to take on two days of cycling in the Khomas Hochland. They did not know where they would sleep or where they would find their next water source, “adding just enough danger to our very controlled adventure to make us feel like boys again”, said Breda.

“There were also hills that brought us to tears (rather only me on my mountain bike, my brother on the e-bike looked like he was on a stroll).” E-Bikes came to save the day — designed to make it is easy to navigate hills, Breda’s story is proof that they will mechanism into action and carry you uphill without a struggle.

Another element that is no match for electric-powered bicycles is the wind. Unlike a conventional bicycle, where headwinds can make the trip very tough, with an E-Bike, you will be able to push through the wind without a problem, and since you’re moving with more ease, you are less likely to get knocked over by a stiff wind from the front or side.

Breda Reed and his brother had an epic adventure, which was intensified and supported by the assistance of an E-Bike. For more of their adventure, visit our website under customer stories: https://www.ebikes4africa.org/khomas-hochland-e-bike-adventure

Finally, (and most importantly), moving by E-bike reduces carbon emissions, making it the most eco-friendly mobility alternative out there.

E-Bikes are zero-emission transport, do not pollute the air, and at Ebikes4Africa, we generate more than 80% of our power through solar panels. To reduce the environmental impact of Ebikes4Africa even further, we offer our clients solar charging stations, and daily commuters have the benefit of passing by our stations to swap their discharged batteries for a fully-charged one, for an even more convenient commute.

And, if the electric mountain bike is not really your thing, don’t fear, since we offer a variety of different E-Bikes, and customisable electric two/three-wheelers, suited for various needs.

Visit our website for more exciting information: https://www.ebikes4africa.org

Ebikes4Africa at Lunar Cycle 061

Thu, 18 Mar 2021 22:04:35 GMT

Ebikes4Africa's experience

For this year's first edition, March 17, 2021 was chosen as the perfect day to ride under the moon. The ride started at 7.30pm from Secilia Restaurant in Independence Avenue, then on to Maerua Mall, Wernhil Park and past the parliament before returning to the starting point.

You shouldn't have missed it!

About the event

Lunar Cycle 061 is an event that takes place every three month regrouping different kind of cyclists. The event is open to everyone that owns a bicycle and would like to spend some evening time with people with similar interests. Kids, young people and adults get the chance to cycle together and make new friends or business partners.

Our experience

It all started with a busy day in the workshop of Ebikes4Africa for all "workshop guys" (name given to all engineers and technicians carrying out all of the technical work), who needed to prepare the bikes, while in the mean time all office ladies (name attributed to the ladies doing the administration and management work) were planning the "what will happen at the event". By 12.00pm all was decided, bikes were attributed and the most exciting news was the participation of all the ladies. By participation, I mean all ladies decided to be in the saddle and on two wheels!

It is already past 7pm and our team is on the road, the first made up of Christian K, Reinhold and Silva, joining Mr Bernhard and Mrs Marita Walther as co-founders of the company and big motivation for the team. Then 15minutes later, the second team joined coming from Katutura and consisting of Lucas, Lazarus and Steven, together with our ladies Maria, Gabriela and Tuisira. Everyone was in high spirits, including the mood and all that comes with it. There is never been such a crowded place full of cyclists from all over Windhoek to celebrate Namibia on two wheelers - completely carbon free!

After all instructions were given, the excitement couldn't wait no more. People were happy and ready to start with the adventure! E-Bikes or conventional bikes (including vintage) were aligned, males or females ready to go, and for Ebikes4africa, it was a great moment due to the participation of all our ladies on their E-Bikes (Tuisira and Gabriela who, as first timers on a new experience held their breaths while hoping not to get into an accident).

And off we went! The green light was given and just 20 meters into the ride a stubborn car driver showed up and created the first drama of the event – you should have been there to know what it was! The rest of the ride was smooth and in group, with constant joy and excitement everywhere, as we turned around the traffic circles, or moved along the city's roads. As some people never misses out on an opportunity, some skills were displayed by different riders, either by pulling up to the front or back side of the group, or standing on the bike while it is moving.

When we reached Maerua Mall top parking, a group picture was taken before we continued to the next point. You should have seen and admired the little girl on a bicycle next to her father full of joy barking as a dog and a puppy – wonderful! Ladies here and there, riders complaining about nothing, just fun and a great time on two wheels – that was the mood that dominated the group. The team of Ebikes4Africa was finally complete as we were joined by the guys coming from their final deliveries (Benjamin, Emmanuel and Valentine).

Let's take a break just to acknowledge the couple BMW (Bernhard&Marita Walther) who spent a wonderful time together with the team on E-Bikes. The perfect Namibian outfit of Mr B and the professionalism of Mrs M on an E-Bike couldn't be left out. Of course, credit should be given to the ladies, who rode safely and only a smile was a common denominator on each one’s face.

Finally, the starting point was the end destination as well. After the ride, people shared ice-cream together, took pictures, had a small discussion and that was it for this year's Lunar Cycle 061Independence Celebrations. Even though no gift was given, each and everyone went home with a memory, and with a big smile from inside out. Bikes bring people together and Ebikes4Africa is always there to provide you with the necessary assistance – sufficient to go far and fast while always staying friendly to the environment!

Ebikes4Africa – happiness, fun and fitness all in one!

Namibia Tour on an E-Bike

Tue, 09 Feb 2021 13:53:27 GMT

Namibia Tour on an E-Bike

Although there are probably a lot of books written by other adventurers who have traveled through Namibia by e-bike, here’s a short article for those considering exploring the country on an e-bike for a few weeks, where I’ll be sharing some of my experiences and giving some tips that you can hopefully use for inspiration!

About the tour

Namibia is about the same size as Germany and France combined, yet it’s home to only two million people.

It’s quite easy to rent an e-(mountain)bike in Namibia’s capital, Windhoek. Cost: approximately 60-70 Euro per week (www.ebikes4africa.org).

Just buy a detailed map (or download an app) of the country and try to plot a route beforehand (I would suggest a distance of about 50km-100km per day): the range of the e-bike I rented, with an extra battery, was about 75-100 km. This of course depends on the route (Namibia has a few large mountain passes!) and the road surface (mostly gravel). Take enough water with you (at least 6-7 liters a day). Temperatures can easily reach 35-40˚C (95-105˚F) since a lot of the country is desert. I usually started out around 6am, when it was still nice and cool (around 18˚C/65˚F). It can already get up to about 30˚C/85˚F at only 10 in the morning, which is why I always tried to be at my destination by early afternoon. I usually took a break from biking every few kilometers to relax and drink some water, which meant that my average speed was quite low, but it is how I had planned it – I didn’t want the trip to be a very exhausting one.

The amazing journey

A big part of the journey is the preparation and reading travel guides, which, I think, all adds to the excitement beforehand. For example, what kind of bike bags are suitable and what do you all need to take with you for those few weeks on your e-bike tour. For only €15, I bought four really great bike bags on Marktplaats (an online used-items site similar to Ebay). And I took, for example, a small gas burner, a lightweight tent, proper biking gear (good shorts with padding are a must), extra bottle holders and some tools and bungie cords (elastics). It is a common pitfall to bring too much and during my trip I gradually emptied my bike bags, giving items away that I did not need after all.

Part of the preparation is also about planning the route, the distances to be covered and the overnight stays where the batteries can be recharged. I ended up hitchhiking twice because I underestimated the distance and the batteries went empty. People usually stop immediately and usually they have pickups with enough space in the back. On average only about one car went by each hour. Sometimes, when you’re on a bike, people will stop just because they’re curious as to where you come from or where you’re going, bottles of water are spontaneously offered or 'thumbs up' are given. A fully-loaded bike is just something you don’t usually see in Namibia: at least I hadn’t seen any during my trip.

Bernhard Walther from Ebikes4Africa had a bicycle with a 250W motor for me, with a front rack and a rear rack mounted onto it. He gave me an extra tire, tool set and a pump (which was fortunately not necessary), plus two chargers, so that both batteries could be charged at once overnight. Very hand, since it takes about eight hours to charge an empty battery.

After taking a taxi to Bernhard's ebike workshop in Windhoek, it was really just a matter of a short explanation, putting bottles of water and the bike bags on the bike, and then through the city and straight into nature! I actually wanted to rent a bicycle trailer with solar cells (to charge the batteries during the day), but this might be something for the next time.

Crossing through the capital of Windhoek on an e-bike isn’t so easy (no bicycle paths and a lot of traffic), but after about 15 km you are out of the city and you can access the Kupferberg pass via the C26, which consists of a few rather steep hills, with bad (soft sand) road surfaces here and there. But, once you’ve reached the top after a few hours of climbing (and occasionally descending, plus occasionally dismounting!), you actually leave the highland for a few hundred kilometers straight through the desert and it really only goes downhill all the way towards the sea . After about 130 km on the C26, the Gamsberg pass begins, which is about 20 km long (luckily downhill and with beautiful views!).

After about 200 km of cycling from Windhoek you can take the C14 southwards to Solitaire (known for its bakery with really good apple pie, among other things) and then on to Sesriem, where the famous very high red sand dunes can be admired. An excellent smooth asphalt road starts at Sesriem, which is about 65 km long and leads to the Sosusvlei. This was an absolute highlight of the Namibia cycling trip and a route with many photogenic points where you can admire and climb the high sand dunes. You can also take the C14 west to Walvis Bay, on the coast, that for the most part still goes downhill, but it’s a pretty boring stretch. Before Walvis Bay, the asphalt starts again and you can continue to the pleasant coastal site of Swakopmund and admire the Spitskopfe and the Brandberg via the B2 and the D1930, and then via Omaruru and Okahandja back to Windhoek. Or you can rent a car at Walvis Bay Airport, take the bike with you in the trunk of the car and explore Namibia by car and bike!

Three things that I will do different next time:

bike shorter distances per day,
bring more than 6 liter of water per day
and pack much lighter

For the rest, enjoy the beautiful (sometimes very unexpected and incredible) views again! Namibia is beautiful and with the right equipment, rented at Ebikes4africa, a proper destination for a beautiful e-bike vacation.

Ebikes4Africa at Nedbank's Desert Dash 2020

Thu, 28 Jan 2021 11:52:49 GMT

Ebikes4Africa's #DashExperience

2020’s Desert Dash was really special. Primarily because for the first time ever since its launch, the event had an e-bike category. Secondarily, because the youngest desert dash solo rider finished among the top 10 and thirdly because we took part, of course, and were the first e-bike team to cross the finishing line!

About the event

As the event’s organizers describe it “You can win it, but you can't beat it. You can catch it, but you can't tame it. The Desert Dash is more than an endurance mountain bike race, it's a wild beast that lures you, challenges you and allows only a few to stay on its back. It's a 373km, 24 hour fight between human and nature, body and mind.”

This statement could not have been more accurate. The Desert Dash is considered as one of the toughest one-day races in the world. Under 24 hours, its participants get to cross the world’s oldest desert, starting from the capital city, Windhoek, to the Atlantic Ocean coastal city of Swakopmund.

Desert Dash riders are known to be extremely fit - both physically and mentally. To arrive at the destination, they have to conquer gravel roads, deep sand and mountains and are exposed to a unique blend of different weather conditions.

Our experience

Immediately after being informed that there would be an e-bike category, we registered a 4-person team without even thinking twice.

There would be no awards for e-bike riders, so our excitement was not on the competition itself. We saw it as an amazing opportunity to strengthen the bond between our team and give everyone in the company the opportunity to challenge themselves. Additionally, it was a great robustness test for our mountain bikes .

Among our 4-person team we had our Workshop Manager, Workshop Assistant, IT & Solar Technician and one of our Delivery Riders. Natanael, Lucas, Silva and Valentin respectively. You can read more about our team here .

Once the riders were defined, it was time to actually get ready for the event. As a culture, all our employees have e-bikes which they use for daily commuting, therefore, although we knew it would not be easy, we had the confidence that with enough practice we could finish the race.

In July, we created a Whatsapp group for communication purposes, defined the training calendar, routes and we went for it.

After long training hours and thousands of kilometers, the effort eventually paid off. Ebikes4Africa team finished the race in under 16 hours, reaching Swakopmund at 07h00, among the first teams in the overall competition to arrive.

If you enjoyed reading our #dashexperience. Show some love by using the icons below to share it with some friends!

Our Solar Impulse Efficient Solution Label

PAR004_DF@heg.com (MartinaAdmin Domain Factory) — Mon, 09 Nov 2020 10:33:29 GMT

#1000Solutions to change the world

We are honoured to announce that after a meticulous assessment process by independent Experts, #Ebikes4Africa has been awarded with the Solar Impulse Efficient Solution Label by the Solar Impulse Foundation .

About the label

The Solar Impulse Efficient Solution Label highlights existing Solutions that are both clean and profitable and have a positive impact on quality of life. The attribution of the Label is made by the Solar Impulse Foundation following a rigorous assessment based on a verified methodology and against several criteria performed by external independent Experts.

To be considered for the Solar Impulse Label’s assessment, a Solution must meet the following eligibility conditions:

A. Membership: The company need to be a member of the World Alliance for Efficient Solutions;

B. Type of Innovation: The Solution must be a physical product, a technology, an industrial process, or a service;

C. Commercialization: The Solution must be already commercialized or aimed for commercialization;

D. Maturity Stage: The Solution must have reached the technical maturity of a prototype at scale 1:1 in a test environment – corresponding to TRL6 - 7.

E. SDG’s of Application: The Solution must contribute to the achievement of at least one of the following five Sustainable Development Goals: SDG 6 Clean Water and Sanitation, SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy, SDG 9 Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities, SDG 12 Responsible Consum

Our company has been published at the #1000Solutions Portfolio.

Call for cyclists! Join our #NoPetrolNoProblem contest & win exclusive prizes

PAR004_DF@heg.com (MartinaAdmin Domain Factory) — Mon, 14 Sep 2020 13:58:49 GMT

#NoProblemNoProblem

The hashtag #NoPetrolNoProblem is about raising awareness to the current status quo which is Covid-19 .

Our aim is to have other different editions of the contest in the following years and continuously get more people cycling rather than using cars. As we know, part of the measures to avoid the spread of the virus is to avoid crowded places. Additionally, taxi and petrol prices in Namibia continue to increase. Without forgetting the importance of drastically reducing our carbon footprint. That is why we are bringing this campaign, and as a way of encouraging more people to join the movement and make it fun, we turned it into a competition.

How does it really work?

To participate in this campaign you are motivated to send as many pictures as you want throughout your day, as a demonstration that you are replacing a private or public car with a bike.

We have no specific restrictions on the format of the pictures to be send. Nonetheless, we strongly encourage all the participants to ride safely and engage in fun activities with the bikes. Cyclists are also required to send a short video talking about how they feel about taking part on the competition and why winning the prize would be important to them.

We also want to educate people on what we are all about, our various projects and the values we stand for.

Contest Period

07th September – 30th September 2020

What are the prizes to be won?

For the 1st place: An Electric Bicycle Conversion Kit worth N$ 10,000

For the 2nd place: A Month-free Rental of One of Our E-bikes worth N$ 3,000

For the 3rd place: A Weekend-free Rental of Two E-bikes worth N$ 1,800

How to join the contest?

1. Follow us on all our social media platforms [Facebook: Ebikes4Africa | Instagram: @ebikes4africa ]

2. Take a picture of yourself with your bike

3. Post it on your social media accounts

4. Use the following hashtags on your post descriptions: #NoPetrolNoProblem, #ShareTheRoad, #Ebikes4Africa

5. You can also send your pictures to our whatsapp

*Disclaimer: the number of entries are unlimited, there are no restrictions regarding the age-group and the more pictures you send the greater will your chances of winning be.

Electric Bikes for Entrepreneurship

PAR004_DF@heg.com (MartinaAdmin Domain Factory) — Wed, 09 Sep 2020 12:35:23 GMT

The experience:

Leonard Hambelwa is an entrepreneur and founder of GOG Trading, a small enterprise selling perfumes around Windhoek.

Khomas Hochland E-Bike Adventure

PAR004_DF@heg.com (MartinaAdmin Domain Factory) — Tue, 18 Aug 2020 13:59:58 GMT

The experience:

As the old saying goes "The best times in life are usually random, unplanned and completely spontaneous." Imagine waking-up one day and deciding to go on a two-day trip to nowhere using an E-bike? Read the full story first-hand from Breda himself...

When I was a primary school kid my mom used to send me to the store with a small amount of cash to buy one or two essential goods. For her, it was a favour, for me, it was the coolest adventure ever. Going on a mission, with a feeling of independence and the challenge of planning how to transport the groceries was exhilarating for my adventurous spirit.

Sadly, as we get bigger and our world smaller, these adventures become fewer, but that doesn't mean that the adventurous spirit ever fades away. It is alive and waiting for us to seize an opportunity to break into the world of challenges and uncertainty.

I recently crossed paths with an opportunity of the same magnitude as a grocery store adventure: I was once again pedalling through our neighbourhood, side-by-side with my brother, but not heading to the shop. No. We were heading into the wild.

Gear loaded onto the back of an Ebikes4Africa bicycle and my own bicycle fitted with a rack from our E-bike friends - we had enough bully-beef, tube patches, warm stuff and excitement with us to take on two days of cycling in the Khomas Hochland. We didn't know where we would sleep or where we would find our next water source, adding just enough danger to our very controlled adventure to make us feel like boys again.

In these two days I connected with my brother, and with nature. There were moments of serenity that brought us to tears. There were also hills that brought us to tears (rather only me on my mountain bike, my brother on the e-bike looked like he was on a stroll). We had an epic adventure and it was only possible because of the awesome gear we could hire from Ebikes4Africa.

Electric Bikes for Daily Commuting & Community Service

PAR004_DF@heg.com (MartinaAdmin Domain Factory) — Fri, 14 Aug 2020 08:43:17 GMT

The experience:

Lazarus is a young man who currently works at Katutura Hospital, well-known for the various social initiatives he started towards youth development. He purchased one of our Full-suspension Mountain Bikes for commuting on a daily basis.

Commuting by an Electric Bike to Work Everyday

Fri, 31 Jul 2020 13:40:31 GMT

The experience:

Andrew Shikongo is a 27-year-old supervisor at a popular grocery store located at centre of Windhoek.

For years, Andrew has been thinking about a transport alternative to the taxi to work on a daily basis. Since the Covid-19 outbreak, his employer was forced to adapt to the crisis and his salary was cut. Additionally, the cost of taxi went up to N$14.

Andrew searched online for a bicycle company and eventually found our website. He then visited our Workshop and shared his interested in acquiring our bike. He also openly shared the fact he got a salary cut.

Through Nedbank’s bicycle financing plan, he pays N$500 every month (for three years to pay for the bike’s cost of N$15.000 plus the bank interest) for his E-bike.

Today, Andrew commutes for around 25 km per day travel to work and back. Using a taxi, he used to spend an average of N$36 per day and 720 monthly. Today he is able to use the same amount to cover his bicycle payment and still saves N$220.

In addition to using the E-bike to commute to work, he also uses it during weekends to visit his family, and buy groceries for his family.

Andrew is very happy with his change in lifestyle and how he is able to support the environment. He saves not only on money, but is also a contributor on reduction of CO2 emissions.

A taxi emits about 75 grams of CO2 per km, and an average of 375 kilograms every month, this represents 4.5 tones yearly.

Ebikes4Africa - Our Last Mile Delivery Bike

Tue, 28 Jul 2020 09:54:19 GMT

Meet our Deliver-E-Bike!

The Deliver-E is a state of the art electric cargo E-Bike with high quality components and a powerful BAFANG back hub motor.

It is designed to carry loads up to 150 kg, with an extended wheelbase, a high torque hub motor and 20x4inch broad fat bike tires to give plenty of grip on any road condition.

A step through frame facilitates usage in the city and gives delivery companies a more sustainable and efficient vehicle.

Click here to view all our models

Ebikes4Africa at the Entrepreneurship World Cup 2019

Tue, 28 Jul 2020 09:54:18 GMT

We joined the world's largest entrepreneurship ecosystem!

About the competition:

The Entrepreneurship World Cup (EWC) is an international competition organized by the Misk World Forum in partnership with the Global Entrepreneurship Network launched at the beginning of 2019.

In average the cup has around 100,000 entrepreneurs from all over the world and at different development stages. The competition delivers a total of USD $ 5 million in prizes, but also provides participants with new investment opportunities, as well as commercial connections and different forms of advice.

Watch the video to understand what took us to such a prestigious competition!

E-bikes are the future of mobility - discover why

Tue, 28 Jul 2020 09:54:16 GMT

Namibia's Best Social Impact Startup 2019

In 2019, Ebikes4Africa was selected as Namibia's Best Social Impact Startup by the Southern Africa Startup Awards. In the above video, our Co-founder and Managing Director, Marita Walther, talks about the challenges Windhoek faces due to the shortage of adequate, safe and affordable public transport. and why we believe that e-bikes are the future of mobility.

Find out how Ebikes4Africa contributes to Eco-Tourism in Namibia

Tue, 28 Jul 2020 09:54:15 GMT

Ebikes4Africa and Eco-Tourism

Ebikes4Africa is Namibia's first solar-powered electric bicycles - making urban & rural mobility more sustainable, one cycle at a time.

We have initiatives and projects in various fields, in this video, we illustrate how we have been helping the tourism industry become more environmentally conscious.

People testing e-bikes for the first time - Ebikes4Africa Experience

Tue, 28 Jul 2020 09:54:14 GMT

Experimenting an e-bike for the first time!

We took our bikes to the road and asked random people to have a ride. Watch the video and check-out how they reacted to riding an e-bike for the first time.

EBikes4Africa - The Main Idea

Tue, 28 Jul 2020 09:54:12 GMT

Get to know what Ebikes4Africa is all about!

Ebikes4Africa is on a mission to develop and support alternative transport and energy infrastructure in Africa, in this video our co-founder Bernhard Walther, shares our story.