Bucketa leading cleantech company pioneering Africa’s first swappable multipurpose battery network has announced the planned launch of its second generation Kore 2 Swap & Go Network.
Details
This system, powered by a proprietary IOT with full edge artificial intelligence capability, is poised to transform the urban energy access landscape in West Africa by acting as a support and offset to the existing electricity grid.
Supported by the Shell Foundation, UK FCDO, Wangara Green Ventures, and Mercy Corps Ventures, Kofa launched Ghana’s first connected battery exchange network around the Kore1 battery in early 2023. After that, the company started building the Kore2 network, which incorporates major developments. These improvements, attributed to Kofa’s upgraded IoT platform, enable fully autonomous battery switching even in areas with low or no internet connection.
The AI-powered network capabilities facilitate significant savings for customers by enabling a high degree of automation and self-repair operations. This not only ensures network reliability but also enables scalability and internationalization. In addition, the batteries in the network have 2.3 kWh capacitymarking a significant increase in over 28% compared to the Kore1 version.
Between the lines
The Kore2 battery has a variety of uses and offers high efficiency power at a cost at least 30% more competitive than gasoline. For example, the Kore2 can power the basics of a small urban shop – a fridge, lights and fans for 15 hours. Not limited to low-power devices, the Kore 2 can power high-powered tools such as drills, engravers and power saws for 2-4 hours. The Kore2 will also power 100km of range for the TAILG Jidi electric motorcycle released in the 1st quarter of 2024.
What happens next?
Kofa, with its upgraded network of 12 strategically located exchange stations in Accra, some of which are solar powered, has the capacity to offer more than 20,000 battery changes per month. The company plans to install an additional 80 stations handling 6,000 batteries by the end of 2024 in several African cities, increasing the capacity of the network to over 100,000 exchanges per month and representing 2,160 tons of CO2 emissions avoided annually just by using the Jidi electric motorcycle.
![](https://techlabari.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/iphone-kofa-app-temp.jpg)
![](https://techlabari.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/iphone-kofa-app-temp.jpg)
Kofa’s battery and swap station network uses advanced network monitoring software that allows all swap stations to stay online 24/7. Whether monitored remotely by Kofa staff or by Kofa’s AI monitoring software, the exchange station network is constantly processing and uploading data that is used to optimize the user experience. For example, a low-power user will navigate to an exchange station with fully charged Kore2 batteries available β and these decisions and calculations are made in real-time based on live data about station capacity and battery charge levels in a scale network.
What they say
Erik NygardCEO of Kofa, commented, βThe launch of Kofa’s Kore2 battery network represents a pivotal step towards accessible and affordable energy in urban centers across Africa. Our network connects users to clean energy anywhere unfettered by wires and cables, while enabling significant gas savings for all users. We look forward to growing our network to bring our batteries to more homes, businesses and vehicles across Africa.β
Read Tech Labari’s EV Mobility Report 2024 in Ghana
Follow us on our WhatsApp channel, Twitterand Instagramand subscribe to our weekly newsletter to make sure you don’t miss any news.
Related