Nigeria’s Siltech Produces Electric Vehicles, For A Clean And Elegant Africa
Nigeria’s Siltech produces electric vehicles, for a clean and elegant Africa
Africa's automotive industry has encountered its share of difficulties over the years. Despite the well-documented negative effects of carbon emissions on the environment, petrol engines in cars, motorcycles, and heavy-duty vehicles will continue to dominate the majority of roads worldwide in 2021.
Companies in more developed countries, on the other hand, are embracing clean energy solutions.
Tesla is one of the world's most popular electric vehicle manufacturers, founded by serial entrepreneur Elon Musk. Roadsters are also manufactured by lesser-known companies such as Rimac.
Despite significant progress, African companies lag far behind their global counterparts in terms of renewable energy.
Interestingly, some African entrepreneurs and startups are seizing the moment. Indigenous firms such as Nord and Asian firms such as Hyundai have been researching technology for the Nigerian market.
Increasing the adoption of electric vehicles has proven difficult thus far. However, a certain Nigerian entrepreneur is taking a more gradual approach to clean transportation technology.
Tolulope Williams is a lawyer who is passionate about technology, toys, motorcycling, and travel. And in the late 2000s, he traveled to Asia on several occasions.
Williams attended several trade shows and noticed a trend: he saw several innovations and captivating clean energy technologies. Williams' bike enthusiast side came to the fore when he decided to purchase an electric bike and bring it home to Nigeria.
“I believe that everyone aspires to be a biker. I've always desired a career as a biker. However, I believed I lacked the time necessary to ride or maintain a petrol engine. Thus, while riding an electric bike, I realized how much easier maintenance is and how user-friendly it is,” Williams explains.
The majority of Nigerian roads are notorious for their poor condition and potholes, making them a nightmare for drivers, commuters, and any traveler, regardless of the vehicle they use.
In 2018, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that 39,802 people died in road traffic accidents in Nigeria each year. This means that over 105 people die each day in road accidents in Nigeria. Apart from notoriously bad roads, the country has a history of power outages. Additionally, the World Bank reports that 56.5 percent of the country's population had access to electricity in 2018.
William's decision to bring an electric bike to Nigeria raises the obvious question of who purchases an electric bike in Asia with better roads and more stable power and brings it to Nigeria. To be sure, someone as committed to clean, beautiful technology as Williams is.
When he returned to Nigeria with his bike, he discovered that the suspension was insufficient for the country's roads, having been designed for European and Asian markets with better roads.
Williams decided to take action, which launched him on a journey that resulted in the establishment of Savenhart Investment Limited Technology (Siltech), a renewable energy transportation technology company, in 2012.
As a lawyer by trade with no formal technology training, he relied entirely on his passion.
“To be honest, law was not my passion. If you knew me as a child and visited my room, you would notice toy cars scattered about. I'd arrange things like spaceships; I wouldn't discard them; I'd simply attempt to make something useful out of them.”
Williams admits that he had to learn on the job, gradually grasping the fundamentals of electric vehicles, ranging from two-wheelers to three- and four-wheelers.
Williams was soon able to repair the suspensions, expand the battery capacity, and upgrade the motor controllers on the electric bike he purchased.
Williams is proud of the attention and puzzled looks he received while riding the sleek bike with an unconventionally positioned engine.
Soon afterwards, those in his immediate vicinity took an interest. Ezra Olubi, co-founder and chief technology officer of Nigerian fintech startup Paystack, saw him riding on his street and desired one for himself.
Building a business from a hobby
Following this realization, Williams established Savenhart Investment Limited Technologies (Siltech). However, this time, passion and creativity alone will not suffice. As a result, he immersed himself in additional training and figured out other critical aspects of his business.
“Yeah, there was a lot of YouTube, and I also spent a lot of time in Asia getting educated. Some training courses with the electric vehicle companies with whom I was collaborating,” Williams recalls.
“I then realized that the suppliers are truly the key to all of this. It's about establishing the proper supply chain and ensuring that all of these technologies are covered by the appropriate warranty.”
Williams also had to consider safety concerns and the quality of the products entering the Nigerian market.
“By doing so, we established a robust after-sales service and developed a deep technical understanding of all the products, which enabled us to begin improving them and collaborating with suppliers in the region to develop products specifically for this market.”
With the birth of Siltech, there was a talent barrier to overcome. Electric vehicle manufacturing is not a subject that is taught in Nigerian schools or in conventional auto assembly and repair shops.
Williams explains that the company hires individuals who are already familiar with motorcycles and combustion engines and trains them in the assembly and maintenance of electric vehicles.
“We have approximately ten technical personnel. Additionally, we have additional personnel in charge of areas such as marketing, international partnerships and communications, legal affairs, and so forth,” Williams explains.
Flexing creative muscles
Siltech can design some of its vehicles in-house while also tweaking those manufactured by other manufacturers to fit the Nigerian market. According to William, the company goes to great lengths to ensure quality.
“As a result, each of these products has been extremely well thought out and tested extensively in a variety of terrains to ensure that they are something that people can use on a daily basis,” he explains.
However, developing vehicles on a large scale for the African market has been challenging. Williams notes that obtaining vehicle components has been challenging due to the need for everything to be customized.
Surprisingly, Williams believes that power has not been a significant issue due to the company's use of a battery swapping technology that enables flexibility. Users can charge their batteries using an inverter, a small generator, or standard power.
“As long as you can charge your laptop and phone, you can charge your electric bike. You can charge your battery at a friend's house or a charge center for the same price as you charge your phone," he submits.
If you live in Lekki, Lagos, for example, some of the bikes can transport you around the neighborhood depending on the size of the battery. Others can transport you between Lekki and Ikeja (a 46km ride). These bikes could cover the 131-kilometer distance between Lagos and Ibadan with two or three interchange stations.
Current model
Williams likes to refer to Siltech as Africa's church of eMobility. The company operates a showroom in Lagos, Nigeria, where customers can make purchases in person, as well as a website and an Instagram page where customers can place orders online.
The company operates distribution centers in Abuja and Port Harcourt, areas with a high demand for its products. Williams reveals that the company sold more vehicles in 2020 and Q1 2021 compared to previous years; he believes the increase in sales was due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“There were fewer people on the move, and fewer vehicles on the roads. That, I believe, increased public awareness of the environment and the impact of gasoline engines,” Williams says.
Nigeria's perceived adoption of clean energy is indicative of a broader global sentiment. Tesla shares increased in value by $14 trillion during the pandemic's peak. The Nigerian government announced the Hyundai-Kona electric vehicle, a made-in-Nigeria vehicle, in 2020.
The company has received no funding to date and is entirely reliant on the sale and distribution of its vehicles.
“As a result, we constantly reinvest in the business. With everything that has occurred, our primary focus has been on reinvesting in the customisation of technology for this market.”
Apart from selling electric vehicles, the company also conducts consulting work for businesses interested in pursuing clean energy vehicle initiatives. Williams previously served as the Head of E-Mobility for MAX.ng, a Nigerian mobility startup, and reveals that one of Siltech's prototypes inspired the MAX E Series 1.
They've taken the consulting project a step further by acting as consultants for security and oil companies interested in utilizing clean, silent electric bikes in their operations.
“We launched Silent Patrol Systems, a very successful security company, with our e-security. We are currently serving as lead consultants for one of the largest security firms in the country, which utilizes electric vehicles to patrol the estates they guard.”
“We are also heavily invested in agriculture. As a result, we have utility vehicles that can also tow loads. Additionally, we are focused on refineries. You know, combustion engines have a limit in the oil and gas industry, and the majority of these complexes are enormous,” he adds.
By assembling a respectable community of users, Williams believes that increased adoption will result in a reduction in the number of cars and motorcycles on Nigerian roads.
But how much does it cost?
Siltech's bikes typically cost around 700k (or $1,700). That is not the kind of money that the average Nigerian salary earner can afford. Fortunately, it provides payment plans for low-wage earners.
“We have three-month, six-month, and twelve-month options.”
However, even on a 12-month payment plan, these EVs would cost 58k ($141), which may be prohibitively expensive for those earning 100k ($243). Additionally, it will be significantly more than Nigeria's 30k ($73) minimum wage, which the majority of Nigerians live on.
Williams promises that the company will produce vehicles at a much lower price point that low-wage earners can afford.
What does the future hold?
Williams is open to anyone working in the field of electric mobility and does not view them as a competitor. He argues, however, that Siltech's years of experience give it an advantage over the majority of competitors.
“In terms of competitiveness, I believe it is a significant advantage. Anyone interested in entering the e-mobility market should contact Siltech.
“Releasing any product in Nigeria is difficult due to the variety of things we have. And now that we've overcome that hurdle, all we want to do is sell. We do not conduct market research on our products. Our products have been evaluated and refined over time,” Williams explains.
Additionally, Siltech intends to open battery exchange stations across the country in the coming months. The pilot will begin at Victoria Island and will then travel to Lekki, GRA, and other areas throughout Lagos.
According to Williams, the launch will serve as a model for expanding into additional Nigerian cities.
Perhaps most exciting is the company's plan to launch Nigeria's first Roadster before the end of the year through a partnership with Abeokuta-based cart manufacturer Lights-Quad-Karts.
Courses and Certification
Fundamentals of Science and Technology Course and Certificate
Information Technology Fundamentals Course and Certificate
Basic Electronics Course and Certificate
