Battery box aims to solve rural African electricity problems

BBOXX is a young start-up intent on creating new and sustainable energy solutions in developing countries. The company is dedicated to solving the problem of rural electrification in an innovative, sustainable and cost effective manner. Made up of Laurent Van Houcke and his colleagues, who are also the founders of e.quinox, a charitable organisation at Imperial College London, Bboxx aims to use local knowledge combined with global research to create a paradigm shift in rural electrification.

 

Their main technology is portable AC battery boxes which are capable of outputting 60Wh of 240/110V 50/60Hz at max 80W electric power through a conventional socket. These battery boxes can be charged through in-built solar panels or through a standard wall charger (included with the box). This technology was developed from the recognition that the main barrier towards rural electrification is the distribution of electrical power. Their flag ship model, BB5, is currently produced in Rwanda and can power, among others devices, mobile phones, radios, shavers, lights and fans.

 

According to Van Houcke, Africa has experienced a mobile phone boom with the number of users having increased dramatically from 50 million in 2003 to 250 million users in 2008. In many African countries, such as Rwanda, up to 85% of the population lives in rural villages with limited access to grid electricity, but with ample access to sunlight.

 

Bboxx have set up a manufacturing facility in Rwanda and have sold their first production batch of 1500 laptop battery boxes, the company having launched the business in March 2010. BBOXX has also created a partnership with Energie Solutions Durbales in Central African Republic for the representation and distribution of BBOXX's energy solutions. The company hopes to expand to other African countries and to set up a production facility in China by the end of this year.