A Race to Zero: Charged for the Future!
Picture this: The hum of electric vehicles and bikes gliding silently through bustling city streets, powered by innovation and a commitment to sustainability.
Three years ago, something exciting happened!
- By: Maame Yawson
- May, 2024
Our team partnered with Siemens Stiftung and the German government’s International Climate Initiative to explore electrifying Ghana’s last-mile delivery market with e-bikes. It was a unique opportunity for us to test new ideas and business models and contribute to the country’s electric mobility space. We wanted to promote sustainable transportation and see what we could do to help with Accra’s energy transition challenges.
Fast-forward to 2024, where our confidence in the future of Accra’s EV transportation reached the summit! To celebrate and promote this progress, Impact Hub Accra hosted an exciting new event—the inaugural ‘Race to Zero‘ festival. This annual festival celebrated leaders in the energy transition movement, fostered discussions, and challenged our community to strive for zero emissions.
A Race to Zero was a unique opportunity for our community to be part of something special and to connect with like-minded individuals who share our vision for a more sustainable future.
Day One:
Valerie Labi delivered an insightful talk on the crucial role of collaboration in shaping the future of electric mobility in Ghana. She emphasized that achieving sustainable transportation solutions requires a collective effort from various stakeholders.
Erik Nygard provided a comprehensive overview of EV charging infrastructure in Ghana and Africa, stressing the importance of government policies, technology, and market competition.
Ruka Sanusi took us on an inspiring journey, diving deep into possibilities for the future of transportation in Ghana. She asked the hard-hitting questions: Can Ghana achieve electronic mobility at scale? Her thought-provoking discussion highlighted the immense power of transformational leadership in elevating the industry. Ruka emphasized how visionary leaders can pave the way for the widespread adoption of electric vehicles, creating a ripple effect of positive change.
Day Two:
Constance Swaniker, Founder and CEO of Design Technical Institute (DTI), was a major force for Day 2 of the festival, leading deep talks with moderator Will Senyo on the relationship between the TVET educational landscape and the employment scene. It was a moment of intense introspection for all, figuring out the best ways to Cultivate Tomorrow’s Technical Innovators to drive Ghana’s electric mobility forward.
When we think equality now, we think of no other than Lesley Arthur, Founder and CEO of Cubica Energy, and her formidable team as they powered attendees through a riveting session, highlighting gender quality in the electric mobility Industry in Africa/Ghana. It was an immersive experience, with peak engagement from all and sundry true testament to the evolution of technology, the power of inclusion on productivity, and the future of work regarding DEI.
If you could write a letter to Future Accra, regarding the future and sustainability of its transportation system, what would you tell it?
The Unsung Alphas
Accra’s transportation landscape has undergone a remarkable transformation, unfolding in a way no one could have predicted. Highly instrumental in adopting electric motorcycles for their deliveries and dispatch riders, our highlight ‘chargers’ have spun a new narrative in our city’s transportation evolution.
These heroes work hand in hand with another unlikely group to charge us into an EV future: the young pioneers in e-mobility, who tirelessly work in the background, engineering practical and implementable electric mobility solutions we could’ve only dreamed of a decade ago.
‘Unsung Alphas of E-mobility‘ is an audiovisual exhibition highlighting these unlikely heroes of EV adoption in Ghana and is a testament to the remarkable achievements of our “Charge 2022” workshop participants. Their story is one of inspiration and hope, reminding us of the power of individual action and how an innovative spirit paves the way for a greener and more sustainable future in transportation.
Dear Future Accra
‘Dear Future Accra’ is an audiovisual capsule featuring the thoughts of the everyday Ghanaian, as well as experts in the tech and e-mobility fields. We took the podcast for a quick test run, asking one question:
Would you get an EV or a fuel-powered vehicle with $50,000?
