Speech at the launch of the e-cargo bike at the Innovation Hub. Pretoria
Deputy German Ambassador, Dr Rudiger Lotz
MMC for Transport Sheila Senkubuge
The anywhere.Berlin team, Oliver Higson and Stefan Knorr
Christoph Henseler from the GLI:X team
Advocate Pieter Holl from the Innovation Hub
Dr Mathetha Mokonyama of the CSIR
Ladies and gentlemen
This launch of the cargo ebike is the culmination of a project which has been a work-in-progress for the more than 12 months. At the heart of the success of this project has been the successful partnership that was forged between the Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport and the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety in Germany.
The launch today is the project outcome of the Joint Declaration of Intent signed between the former German Vice-Minister and the Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport.
We often speak about Transformation, Modernisation and Reindustrialisation but to achieve the outcome of such a society we need to develop our capacity as a country to innovate. The cargo ebike represents technological innovation that can help to take us forward.
Stefan and Oliver of the anywhere.berlin team has shown us that we can turn our ideas into products, and then into an industry of local manufacturing and beneficiation through our ingenuity. The cargo ebike which they have produced through months of sweat capital and seed funding from the German government demonstrates that we can introduce a transport innovation locally.
The cargo ebike is a game changer for several reasons. It provides us with another mode of transport - a low cost entry into the transport sector that can support micro-enterprises. It gives us the opportunity to reduce our carbon footprint by shifting from petrol to electric propulsion. It empowers us to manufacture locally and by doing so to further our national interests through import replacement. The cargo ebike is a small step forward towards reindustrialisation.
On Wednesday the cargo ebike was introduced in Sharpeville as part of our partnership with the SKDP, a Non-Profit-Organisation, based in the area and the CSIR. I was told that the ebike was welcomed with great enthusiasm and the video flighted earlier by the anywhere.berlin team shows that this mode will work and add value to our communities
The pilot which we will be conducting in the community will give us information on the feasibility of using the bike in a township setting. The bike will be fitted with a GPS that will give us data showing its ruggedness, safety and mileage covered in terms of its business model. At the moment the waste harvester pulls a trolley; it is a very hard way to make a living, but it is an honest way to do so. We believe that the cargo ebike would enable them to move much more product from the collection point to the selling point and by doing so will increase their income to earn a decent living.
Of course this innovation and implementation on our roads will require a we regulatory framework on cargo ebikes, which falls within the pedelec global regulations.
I have been informed that the Department and anywhere.berlin teams met with the Innovation Hub to discuss the idea of locating the smart-micro factory at the Innovation Hub, when that phase of the project is ready to be implemented. Once again, it shows that if we can produce the necessary synergies to grow and develop our economies. It is a win-win situation and outcome.
We would like to express our appreciation and thanks to the German Federal Government, the anywhere.berlin Team, the CSIR and the Innovation Hub for partnering with us in launching this technological innovation in our province.
Enquiries:
Media Liaison Officer
Ms Melitah Madiba
Cell: 073 644 9935
