The Kiira Motor Corporation of Uganda has developed a 35-seat bus that includes solar panels on the roof. The bus travels up to 50 miles on two rechargeable batteries. Due to its limited range, the Kayoola is intended for inner-city travel.
Kate Yoder reports on a car company taking advantage of the consistently sunny conditions in Uganda:
"The Kayoola bus, created by Ugandan engineers at Kiira Motors Corporation, sports solar panels on its roof to capture the powerful rays that beam down on the equatorial nation. Quartz reports that the 35-seater can travel up to 80 km (50 mi) on two rechargeable batteries that run off the solar panels.
Yoder also includes details about the intended uses of the bus:
Due to this restricted travel range, the bus is intended for inner-city use rather than inter-city travel. Kiira is hoping that the Kayoola can assist in Uganda’s public transportation problem, according to a local news source.
Yoder also reports that a "prototype of the bus took its first test drive on Jan. 31, and the official launch is set for Feb. 16."
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