Cape Town – As the world turns to the renewable energy sector to find solutions to bolster supply and mitigate global warming, a young Pretoria entrepreneur and his business partner are making waves through the sale of eco mobility transport.
Jeff Madibeng, through his company RBJ Green Mobility, imports and sells electrically-charged Segways to promote eco mobility in cities.
The Segways are an alternative means of transportation and assist in traffic congestion.
“What we do is we provide a green eco mobile lifestyle. We have ten products in our range. This is an alternative way of moving around. It is used mainly in South Korea, in Europe,” he said.
Madibeng was one of many entrepreneurs who converged in Cape Town this week to exhibit their eco-friendly products and services to delegates at the South African International Renewable Energy Expo.
The Segway or a “Hoverboard” was one of the most popular products that Madibeng had on display. It is a two-wheeled, self-balancing electric scooter which he imports from China.
People took turns to learn how to ride the device which has no handle bars and is operated using a person’s balance and motion.
When a user leans his feet and body forward, the two-wheeler – which Madibeng calls a “Go go” - moves forward. It can carry a body weight of between 120 and 150 kilograms.
While many curious delegates found it tricky to find their balance on the board, some were moving like experienced skateboarders within minutes.
“Basically, you just get on top of it, and you use your body to control it. So if you lean forward, it goes forward, if you lean backwards, it listens to your body and move backwards and if you turn it spins.
“[The Go go] does about 12 kilometres per hour, it gives you a range of between 20 to 50 kilometres, and you charge it for about an hour and battery life is between four to six hours,” he said.
He sells them for R7000.
While Madibeng’s company only sells Segways, he collaborates with other companies to offer other transport solutions.
Also on display was an electric motorbike that uses a lithium battery, and goes up to 60 kilometres per hour – with a battery life of four to six hours for a price of R29 500.
Madibeng’s exhibition happened at a time that the City of Joburg is hosting its EcoMobility World Festival in Sandton to mark Transport Month Streets have been closed to motorists in the Sandton CBD to encourage commuters to cycle and walk.
He said his Segways are a good way promoting eco mobility. – SAnews.gov.za
