WEBVTT 00:00:00.050 --> 00:00:02.000 Do you see where I am seated? 00:00:02.001 --> 00:00:07.000 This is what we bring you on this episode of R&D Africa on AAU TV. 00:00:07.001 --> 00:00:12.000 The spotlight has been put on the young Lawrence Ajay, who has been able to make 00:00:12.001 --> 00:00:16.000 this electronic motorcycle from dead laptop batteries. 00:00:16.001 --> 00:00:17.000 Stay tuned. 00:00:17.001 --> 00:00:18.001 We'll bring you more. 00:00:26.050 --> 00:00:32.000 In an era where environmental protection, fitness and green travel are increasingly 00:00:32.001 --> 00:00:34.402 being valued and practiced by people, what 00:00:34.414 --> 00:00:37.000 comes to mind when transportation that allows 00:00:37.001 --> 00:00:39.602 you to avoid road traffic congestion, be green 00:00:39.614 --> 00:00:42.000 and environmentally friendly is mentioned. 00:00:42.001 --> 00:00:51.000 Electric bicycles or e-bikes are equipped with electric 00:00:51.001 --> 00:00:53.000 devices activated to assist or replace peddling. 00:00:53.025 --> 00:00:55.000 They provide a number of benefits. 00:00:55.425 --> 00:00:58.402 They are fuel efficient, faster, reduces 00:00:58.414 --> 00:01:02.000 traffic congestion and are mostly non-pollutant. 00:01:04.200 --> 00:01:10.000 Inventors mainly rely on batteries such as lithium-ion, nickel-cadmium, lithium-cobalt 00:01:10.001 --> 00:01:16.000 batteries, lead acid, nickel-metal hydrate, lithium-manganese 00:01:16.001 --> 00:01:18.000 and lithium-ion polymer batteries as the accessories. 00:01:18.675 --> 00:01:21.896 Interestingly, a young Ghanaian, Lawrence Ajay 00:01:21.908 --> 00:01:26.001 has added to the innovations in the electric bike industry. 00:01:26.100 --> 00:01:28.424 He uses sports laptop batteries, which he 00:01:28.436 --> 00:01:35.000 purchases from scrap yards and computer shops in Accra to make his unique e-bikes. 00:01:35.001 --> 00:01:37.433 He is known to be the first Ghanaian to make 00:01:37.445 --> 00:01:42.000 electric bicycles from sports laptop batteries and he is self-taught. 00:01:45.001 --> 00:01:50.000 I stay close to Lawrence and I happen to be his co-helper. 00:01:50.001 --> 00:01:52.000 This is not my first time riding. 00:01:52.001 --> 00:01:55.000 I've been riding for two years now. 00:01:55.001 --> 00:01:57.000 The experience is different. 00:01:57.001 --> 00:01:59.460 I can't even compare because riding a normal 00:01:59.472 --> 00:02:02.000 bicycle is full of pain and then you actually 00:02:02.001 --> 00:02:06.000 admire the kind of kilometers you need to go. 00:02:06.001 --> 00:02:11.000 So this is really different compared to the ones I have ever used. 00:02:11.001 --> 00:02:14.000 This has three gears and then the others don't. 00:02:14.050 --> 00:02:21.000 It has a brake which charges the battery back when applying, the others don't have. 00:02:21.001 --> 00:02:27.000 It has a USB spot which you can charge your phone 00:02:27.001 --> 00:02:28.000 or use a USB light which the others don't have. 00:02:28.001 --> 00:02:33.000 And then it also has a bell, the others don't have a bell. 00:02:33.001 --> 00:02:37.000 And then the brakes are instant stop. 00:02:37.001 --> 00:02:38.000 They stop instantly. 00:02:38.001 --> 00:02:43.872 Coming to the battery, it has a large capacity 00:02:43.884 --> 00:02:46.596 which you can even give a house a light. 00:02:49.275 --> 00:02:53.000 This is where Mr. Lawrence AJ makes all the inventions. 00:02:53.001 --> 00:02:56.157 This is where the creation of electric bicycles 00:02:56.169 --> 00:02:59.000 made out of dead laptop batteries happens. 00:02:59.001 --> 00:03:01.000 I'm currently here with Mr. Lawrence. 00:03:01.001 --> 00:03:03.432 Take us through the process involved in the 00:03:03.444 --> 00:03:07.000 usage of these batteries to make the electric bicycle. 00:03:07.001 --> 00:03:09.640 So you have the batteries here. 00:03:09.993 --> 00:03:11.986 You just crack them like this. 00:03:12.511 --> 00:03:14.441 You sometimes bend it or use a plier. 00:03:20.103 --> 00:03:24.500 You can see that we don't use all the cells. 00:03:25.001 --> 00:03:26.294 This one is here, the bud. 00:03:26.894 --> 00:03:27.820 -Okay -You can't use this one. 00:03:28.590 --> 00:03:29.783 You find a different one. 00:03:30.654 --> 00:03:31.653 -Try another one. 00:03:38.610 --> 00:03:39.889 Same. 00:03:39.914 --> 00:03:40.813 Okay 00:03:40.938 --> 00:03:44.114 So you take the motherboard of the battery. 00:03:54.638 --> 00:03:57.560 Then take the cell out like this. 00:04:01.001 --> 00:04:03.000 So in total, how many of these do you need? 00:04:03.001 --> 00:04:04.000 I need a lot. 00:04:04.001 --> 00:04:07.000 But I only have 6 batteries here. 00:04:07.001 --> 00:04:12.000 Then you test it with the voltmeter to see whether they have some voltage inside. 00:04:12.001 --> 00:04:15.000 What is the average voltage you need in the batteries? 00:04:15.001 --> 00:04:17.128 I think like 2.5 volts. 00:04:17.152 --> 00:04:19.152 2.5 volts fine. 00:04:19.153 --> 00:04:20.006 Okay 00:04:20.031 --> 00:04:23.000 So then we come here and test with this machine. 00:04:23.001 --> 00:04:25.000 This one is called Opus. 00:04:25.001 --> 00:04:28.000 This one does the capacity testing. 00:04:28.001 --> 00:04:30.000 So you place the cells inside like this. 00:04:30.001 --> 00:04:31.000 So you can see it charging. 00:04:31.001 --> 00:04:37.000 It will charge the batteries for like 2 hours, maybe 3 hours. 00:04:37.001 --> 00:04:43.000 After that, the machine will discharge the battery and give you the capacity. 00:04:43.001 --> 00:04:45.000 -Okay -Then we take it off. 00:04:45.001 --> 00:04:48.800 Then we write the capacity on it. 00:04:52.001 --> 00:04:56.000 Comparing the other things to, you have a Bluetooth 00:04:56.001 --> 00:04:58.000 device in it which you can use to program your phone. 00:04:58.050 --> 00:05:02.599 So imagine I'm going on a high speed, you can just drop 00:05:02.624 --> 00:05:05.000 it on your phone and then it will drop automatically. 00:05:05.001 --> 00:05:07.000 It doesn't matter the acceleration. 00:05:07.001 --> 00:05:10.000 For the other bikes, they don't have reverse. 00:05:10.001 --> 00:05:12.000 You just need to push them back like this. 00:05:12.001 --> 00:05:14.000 But then this one has a reverse. 00:05:14.001 --> 00:05:15.000 So there is no need. 00:05:15.001 --> 00:05:19.000 When the key is on, you just push the button and then you accelerate. 00:05:19.001 --> 00:05:21.919 It doesn't accelerate like you're on a top 00:05:21.931 --> 00:05:27.000 speed, but it's very strong and it takes you back slowly. 00:05:27.250 --> 00:05:31.000 No matter what obstacle, it will take you back slowly. 00:05:31.001 --> 00:05:34.000 I think this is all about. 00:05:34.001 --> 00:05:37.000 For the other bikes, we do have front shocks. 00:05:37.100 --> 00:05:42.000 And then, front shocks, talking about this one, this is filled with air. 00:05:42.001 --> 00:05:43.000 It's different from the other one. 00:05:43.001 --> 00:05:47.000 The other one is a little air, but more of oil. 00:05:47.001 --> 00:05:51.000 But then this one is air, so you stop instantly. 00:05:51.001 --> 00:05:53.000 And you see for the back too. 00:05:53.001 --> 00:05:55.000 It's also different for the back. 00:05:55.150 --> 00:05:57.084 Actually, the other bikes, when you are riding 00:05:57.096 --> 00:06:01.000 and then you pass through a pothole, you feel some pains in your waist. 00:06:01.001 --> 00:06:02.000 But then this one, you don't feel. 00:06:02.001 --> 00:06:05.000 You just go through and then you're okay. 00:06:05.001 --> 00:06:08.165 So anytime you are riding this bike, it makes 00:06:08.177 --> 00:06:11.000 you feel like go more, go more, go more. 00:06:11.150 --> 00:06:14.700 It's really nice to have one of these bikes. 00:06:18.860 --> 00:06:20.625 My name is AJ Lawrence. 00:06:20.650 --> 00:06:23.000 I live in Kaswa in the central region of Ghana. 00:06:23.075 --> 00:06:25.934 At age 11, when Lawrence discovered his talent, 00:06:25.946 --> 00:06:31.000 he acquainted himself with playing with electronic gadgets such as computers. 00:06:31.425 --> 00:06:34.170 A year after his interest in that field grew, 00:06:34.182 --> 00:06:37.000 he picked up the mantle of repairing bicycles. 00:06:37.001 --> 00:06:40.000 Until date, he still repairs a number of bikes. 00:06:40.100 --> 00:06:44.000 So far, Lawrence has made and sold four e-bikes made by himself. 00:06:44.125 --> 00:06:50.000 Current bicycle presents upgraded features from the ones he has made in the past. 00:06:50.001 --> 00:06:51.831 Professor Jay looks forward to contacting 00:06:51.843 --> 00:06:54.000 universities for collaborations and partnerships 00:06:54.250 --> 00:06:59.000 in order to take his innovative ideas to the next level. 00:06:59.001 --> 00:07:04.000 He has dreams of using solar to propel his bikes in future, but needs collaborations 00:07:04.001 --> 00:07:06.927 and partnerships with universities and technical 00:07:06.939 --> 00:07:10.000 institutions to scale up production from prototype 00:07:10.450 --> 00:07:12.000 to commercialization. 00:07:12.150 --> 00:07:15.005 In such partnerships, he seeks to train technical 00:07:15.017 --> 00:07:18.000 students to improve their knowledge on electronics. 00:07:21.900 --> 00:07:23.761 I have a question. 00:07:23.786 --> 00:07:28.117 So this experiment only works when you are using the spot 00:07:28.142 --> 00:07:30.000 or dead laptop batteries or you can use brand new ones. 00:07:30.001 --> 00:07:31.000 You can use brand new ones for sure. 00:07:31.001 --> 00:07:32.000 Okay. 00:07:32.001 --> 00:07:33.000 Okay. 00:07:33.001 --> 00:07:36.000 So now on charging the bicycle, how is it charged? 00:07:36.001 --> 00:07:39.504 It's charged with this charger here. 00:07:39.529 --> 00:07:40.952 This one is a custom built charger. 00:07:40.977 --> 00:07:42.275 It's not like the normal charger. 00:07:42.300 --> 00:07:44.800 It will take like maybe 12 hours, 6 hours to charge. 00:07:44.800 --> 00:07:44.976 Okay. 00:07:45.100 --> 00:07:47.099 This one does around like 3 hours. 00:07:47.100 --> 00:07:47.671 Okay. 00:07:50.801 --> 00:07:52.500 And did you make it yourself? 00:07:52.501 --> 00:07:53.200 Yes. 00:07:53.201 --> 00:07:54.300 I bought the parts. 00:07:54.301 --> 00:07:55.100 Okay. 00:07:56.901 --> 00:07:59.700 So with the parts that you worked on, can you run us briefly 00:07:59.701 --> 00:08:02.200 through the process, how you came to that conclusion? 00:08:02.301 --> 00:08:04.800 For this one, it's a server power supply. 00:08:05.001 --> 00:08:06.000 Okay. 00:08:06.601 --> 00:08:07.500 It's in light service. 00:08:07.601 --> 00:08:11.326 You know, light service, they have a lot of computers inside. 00:08:11.450 --> 00:08:13.715 So they have very good processor. 00:08:14.265 --> 00:08:18.599 And this one here is called step up converter 00:08:18.679 --> 00:08:19.487 Okay 00:08:19.578 --> 00:08:22.318 So if you take 3 volts and pass 00:08:22.342 --> 00:08:25.175 Then it coverts you to 84 volts 00:08:25.199 --> 00:08:27.199 Okay 00:08:27.223 --> 00:08:30.471 Now on the features of your bike 00:08:30.495 --> 00:08:35.655 What features does your bicycle have that ones in the market do not have? 00:08:35.679 --> 00:08:38.252 This one has everything programmable. 00:08:38.276 --> 00:08:41.822 You can choose the programm that work on your phone. 00:08:41.846 --> 00:08:43.846 Okay, okay. 00:08:45.016 --> 00:08:48.289 It also has like phone charging to charge your phones. 00:08:48.992 --> 00:08:52.252 It also has Evergine brake. 00:08:52.276 --> 00:08:56.076 That means when you hit a break it charges a bike 00:08:56.673 --> 00:09:02.173 So like you don't try to use like Venoma Veperse to stop when you hit a break 00:09:02.197 --> 00:09:04.630 It does it instantly in a break 00:09:07.546 --> 00:09:10.433 How do you respond to support this project? 00:09:10.458 --> 00:09:11.866 How have you been doing it? 00:09:11.891 --> 00:09:13.170 Believing in myself. 00:09:16.943 --> 00:09:19.843 Okay, so my challenges when I was working on a bike 00:09:19.868 --> 00:09:23.000 was, at first I didn't have a welding machine and a spray machine. 00:09:23.001 --> 00:09:26.000 So I take it to welders and sprayers. 00:09:26.001 --> 00:09:28.000 But they take your money and they wouldn't do the work. 00:09:28.001 --> 00:09:32.000 I decided to buy the welding machine and the spray machine. 00:09:32.100 --> 00:09:35.000 Then started learning welding and spraying myself. 00:09:35.001 --> 00:09:40.000 So it took me like a week or two to learn all. 00:09:40.001 --> 00:09:41.966 Sometimes my friends always discouraging me 00:09:41.978 --> 00:09:44.000 that it won't work and you're always wasting 00:09:44.001 --> 00:09:47.000 your time on this thing, go find a job and get some money. 00:09:47.001 --> 00:09:49.600 My challenges about financing is like sometimes 00:09:49.612 --> 00:09:53.000 I don't really get the money in bulk to buy the parts. 00:09:53.001 --> 00:09:54.920 So like I'll buy one maybe this month, the 00:09:54.932 --> 00:09:57.000 next month I'll buy the one and they all like 00:09:57.001 --> 00:10:00.000 take shipments, which like is a lot of cost. 00:10:00.001 --> 00:10:05.000 So when I get like funds to buy them in bulk, I think it will help the process. 00:10:09.000 --> 00:10:11.833 Lawrence intends to set up a permanent working 00:10:11.845 --> 00:10:15.000 place for himself, create employment for 00:10:15.001 --> 00:10:19.000 interested inventors and give back to society. 00:10:19.025 --> 00:10:21.937 Lawrence Sajai is not only putting the African 00:10:21.949 --> 00:10:25.000 continent on the map, he has also distinguished. 00:10:25.400 --> 00:10:28.188 himself as one of the many undiscovered great 00:10:28.200 --> 00:10:32.000 minds in Africa who can do more with a little push. 00:10:32.001 --> 00:10:35.722 This is where we end this interesting, revealing 00:10:35.734 --> 00:10:40.000 and educative episode of R&D Africa on AAU TV. 00:10:40.001 --> 00:10:42.000 Don't forget that next time the spotlight could be put on you. 00:10:42.001 --> 00:10:45.094 So if you have any innovations or inventions 00:10:45.106 --> 00:10:49.001 out there, contact AAU TV and we'll be at your doorstep. 00:10:49.050 --> 00:10:52.013 Follow us on YouTube, on Facebook and on all 00:10:52.025 --> 00:10:55.000 our social media platforms for more content. 00:10:55.001 --> 00:10:57.000 My name is Mami Okwa Otoa Kwanyam. 00:10:57.001 --> 00:10:58.000 Until next time, it's a wrap! 00:10:58.001 --> 00:11:14.000 [Music].