THE University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) has designed an electricity car, which is now used to provide services at the 47th Dar es Salaam International Trade Fair (DITF) to leaders and elders.
Speaking to the ‘Daily New on Saturday’ at the DITF grounds yesterday, the UDSM Head of Communications and Marketing, Dr Doto Kuhenga said the car is part of their product under the College of Engineering and Technology (CoET)
“This car is now being removed from our booth because Tantrade wants it to be used to drive through VIPs from one part to another but will also help those who have walking difficulties such as the elderly and the people who are sick,” Dr Kuhenga said.
He said the car is unique because it uses cheap electricity.
“We have plans to make more cars for the future use especially during exhibitions of this nature,” said Dr Kuhenga.
Mr Yahya Mohamed, an electrician from UDSM Engineering Department said the car has been developed to reduce the high costs of running operations.
“The running cost will be much better because this car uses electricity, which will reduce the cost of fuel consumption.
Mr Mohamed said the car is required to be charged for three or four hours and then it can travel about 100 to 120 kilometres before recharge.
“We have received various orders from institutions including hospitals and security organs.
“We have been by some hospitals who want ambulances, and some requests from Police Force, so we are planning to organise and see how we can venture into mass production,” said Mohamed
Mohamed said by estimating the car will be sold between 5m/- to 12m/-. Mr Mohamed said 80 per cent of the raw materials used to make the car come from within the country.
When closing the Research and Innovation Week Exhibition last year, Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa directed UDSM to commercialise their researches.
