1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:02,000 Do you see where I am seated? 2 00:00:02,001 --> 00:00:07,000 This is what we bring you on this episode of R&D Africa on AAU TV. 3 00:00:07,001 --> 00:00:12,000 The spotlight has been put on the young Lawrence Adjei, who has been able to make 4 00:00:12,001 --> 00:00:16,260 this electronic motorcycle from dead laptop batteries. 5 00:00:16,260 --> 00:00:17,890 Stay tuned. We'll bring you more. 6 00:00:26,050 --> 00:00:30,664 In an era where environmental protection, fitness and green travel 7 00:00:30,664 --> 00:00:34,092 are increasingly being valued and practiced by people, 8 00:00:34,402 --> 00:00:37,000 what comes to mind when transportation that allows you 9 00:00:37,000 --> 00:00:38,614 to avoid road traffic congestion, 10 00:00:39,614 --> 00:00:42,000 be green and environmentally friendly is mentioned. 11 00:00:45,883 --> 00:00:49,930 Electric bicycles or e-bikes are equipped with electric devices 12 00:00:49,930 --> 00:00:52,509 activated to assist or replace peddling. 13 00:00:52,985 --> 00:00:55,000 They provide a number of benefits. 14 00:00:55,425 --> 00:00:59,522 They are fuel efficient, faster, reduces traffic congestion 15 00:00:59,522 --> 00:01:01,850 and are mostly non-pollutant. 16 00:01:04,020 --> 00:01:07,439 Inventors mainly rely on batteries such as lithium-ion, 17 00:01:07,641 --> 00:01:08,841 nickel-cadmium, 18 00:01:09,231 --> 00:01:10,852 lithium-cobalt batteries 19 00:01:10,921 --> 00:01:11,921 lead acid, 20 00:01:12,081 --> 00:01:13,801 nickel-metal hydrate, 21 00:01:13,801 --> 00:01:14,851 lithium-manganese 22 00:01:14,851 --> 00:01:18,000 and lithium-ion polymer batteries as the accessories. 23 00:01:18,845 --> 00:01:22,068 Interestingly, a young Ghanaian, Lawrence Adjei 24 00:01:22,068 --> 00:01:26,030 has added to the innovations in the electric bike industry. 25 00:01:26,030 --> 00:01:29,075 He uses sports laptop batteries, which he purchases 26 00:01:29,075 --> 00:01:34,430 from scrap yards and computer shops in Accra to make his unique e-bikes. 27 00:01:34,800 --> 00:01:38,182 He is known to be the first Ghanaian to make electric bicycles 28 00:01:38,182 --> 00:01:42,000 from sports laptop batteries and he is self-taught. 29 00:01:45,471 --> 00:01:50,088 I stay close to Lawrence and I happen to be this co-helper. 30 00:01:50,088 --> 00:01:52,222 This is not my first time riding. 31 00:01:52,472 --> 00:01:54,460 I've been riding for two years now. 32 00:01:54,460 --> 00:01:56,463 The experience is different. 33 00:01:56,621 --> 00:02:00,202 Different. I can't even compare because riding a normal bicycle... 34 00:02:00,202 --> 00:02:01,370 is full of pain. 35 00:02:01,370 --> 00:02:05,740 And then you actually admire the kind of kilometers you need to go. 36 00:02:06,001 --> 00:02:10,339 So this is really different compared to the ones I have ever used. 37 00:02:10,339 --> 00:02:13,700 This has three gears and then the others don't. 38 00:02:14,280 --> 00:02:20,543 It has a brake which charges the battery back when applying, the others don't have. 39 00:02:21,001 --> 00:02:24,537 It has a USB spot which can charge your phone 40 00:02:24,537 --> 00:02:26,250 or use a USB light. 41 00:02:26,541 --> 00:02:28,254 Which the others don't have. 42 00:02:28,811 --> 00:02:32,062 And then it also has a bell, the others didn't have a bell. 43 00:02:32,962 --> 00:02:36,634 And then the brakes are instant stop. 44 00:02:36,794 --> 00:02:38,010 They stop instantly. 45 00:02:38,370 --> 00:02:40,525 Next. Coming to the battery, 46 00:02:40,525 --> 00:02:42,944 it has a large capacity, which you can even 47 00:02:43,204 --> 00:02:45,586 give a house a light. 48 00:02:49,275 --> 00:02:52,640 This is where Mr. Lawrence AJ makes all the inventions. 49 00:02:52,640 --> 00:02:55,647 This is where the creation of electric bicycles 50 00:02:55,647 --> 00:02:58,920 made out of dead laptop batteries happens and 51 00:02:58,920 --> 00:03:01,000 I'm currently here with Mr. Lawrence. 52 00:03:01,601 --> 00:03:03,656 Take us through the process involved in the 53 00:03:03,656 --> 00:03:07,000 usage of these batteries to make the electric bicycle. 54 00:03:07,481 --> 00:03:09,640 So you have the batteries here. 55 00:03:09,993 --> 00:03:11,986 So, you just crack them like this. 56 00:03:12,511 --> 00:03:15,121 You sometimes bend it or... 57 00:03:15,891 --> 00:03:16,891 or use a plier. 58 00:03:17,247 --> 00:03:18,267 Okay 59 00:03:21,533 --> 00:03:24,500 You can see that we don't use all the cells. 60 00:03:24,551 --> 00:03:26,054 This one is here, the bud. 61 00:03:26,784 --> 00:03:28,870 -Okay -You can't use this one, so 62 00:03:28,870 --> 00:03:30,063 You find a different one. 63 00:03:30,654 --> 00:03:31,753 Try another one. 64 00:03:38,610 --> 00:03:39,639 Same. 65 00:03:39,639 --> 00:03:42,665 This one is okay. So you take like the motherboard 66 00:03:42,665 --> 00:03:44,180 - of the battery. So... - Okay 67 00:03:44,439 --> 00:03:45,439 So taking them off 68 00:03:46,058 --> 00:03:48,828 [Inaudible] 69 00:03:54,638 --> 00:03:56,965 Then take the cells out like this. 70 00:03:57,463 --> 00:03:58,503 Okay 71 00:04:00,391 --> 00:04:02,780 So in total, how many of these do you need? 72 00:04:03,001 --> 00:04:04,260 I need a lot, but 73 00:04:04,260 --> 00:04:05,991 I only have 6 batteries here. 74 00:04:05,991 --> 00:04:07,001 Okay 75 00:04:07,001 --> 00:04:12,000 Then you test it with the voltmeter to see whether they have some voltage inside. 76 00:04:12,001 --> 00:04:15,000 What is the average voltage you need in the batteries? 77 00:04:15,001 --> 00:04:17,588 I think like 2.5 volts. 2.5 volts is fine. 78 00:04:17,588 --> 00:04:19,131 - Okay - This one is good 79 00:04:19,131 --> 00:04:20,968 - Okay - So then we come here 80 00:04:20,968 --> 00:04:22,840 and test with this machine here. 81 00:04:22,840 --> 00:04:24,759 This one is called Opus. 82 00:04:24,759 --> 00:04:27,096 This one does the capacity testing. 83 00:04:27,096 --> 00:04:30,000 - Okay - So you place the cells inside like this. 84 00:04:30,001 --> 00:04:32,425 So you can see it charging, so... 85 00:04:32,425 --> 00:04:34,940 It will charge the batteries for like two hours 86 00:04:34,940 --> 00:04:36,470 - Okay - Only two hours 87 00:04:36,470 --> 00:04:43,000 After that, the machine will discharge the battery and give you the capacity. 88 00:04:43,159 --> 00:04:44,970 -Okay -Then we take it off. 89 00:04:44,970 --> 00:04:48,360 Then we write the capacity on it. 90 00:04:52,001 --> 00:04:53,951 Comparing the other things too 91 00:04:53,951 --> 00:04:58,000 It has a Bluetooth device in it, which you can use to program your phone. 92 00:04:58,270 --> 00:05:02,309 So imagine I'm going on a high speed, you don't like drop 93 00:05:02,309 --> 00:05:05,000 it on your phone and then it will drop automatically. 94 00:05:05,001 --> 00:05:07,000 It doesn't matter the acceleration. 95 00:05:07,001 --> 00:05:10,000 For the other bikes, they don't have reverse. 96 00:05:10,001 --> 00:05:12,000 You just need to push them back like this. 97 00:05:12,001 --> 00:05:13,778 But then this one has a reverse. 98 00:05:13,778 --> 00:05:15,000 So there is no need. 99 00:05:15,001 --> 00:05:19,000 When the key is on, you just push the button and then you accelerate. 100 00:05:19,001 --> 00:05:21,919 It doesn't accelerate like you're on a top 101 00:05:21,931 --> 00:05:27,000 speed, but it's very strong and it takes you back slowly. 102 00:05:27,250 --> 00:05:31,000 No matter what obstacle, it will take you back slowly. 103 00:05:31,001 --> 00:05:34,000 I think this is all about. 104 00:05:34,001 --> 00:05:37,000 For the other bikes, we do have front shocks. 105 00:05:37,100 --> 00:05:41,800 And then, front shocks, talking about this one, this is filled with air. 106 00:05:41,800 --> 00:05:43,570 It's different from the other one. 107 00:05:43,570 --> 00:05:47,000 The other one is a little air, but more of oil. 108 00:05:47,001 --> 00:05:51,000 But then this one is air, so you stop instantly. 109 00:05:51,001 --> 00:05:53,000 And you see for the back too. 110 00:05:53,001 --> 00:05:55,000 It's also different for the back. 111 00:05:55,150 --> 00:05:57,347 Actually, the other bikes, when you are riding 112 00:05:57,347 --> 00:06:00,721 and then you pass through a pothole, you feel some pains in your waist. 113 00:06:00,721 --> 00:06:02,420 But then this one, you don't feel. 114 00:06:02,420 --> 00:06:05,000 You just go through and then you're okay. 115 00:06:05,001 --> 00:06:08,165 So anytime you are riding this bike, it makes 116 00:06:08,177 --> 00:06:11,000 you feel like go more, go more, go more. 117 00:06:11,150 --> 00:06:14,700 It's really nice to have one of these bikes. 118 00:06:18,860 --> 00:06:20,625 My name is AJ Lawrence. 119 00:06:20,650 --> 00:06:23,000 I live in Kaswa in the central region of Ghana. 120 00:06:23,075 --> 00:06:25,934 At age 11, when Lawrence discovered his talent, 121 00:06:25,946 --> 00:06:31,000 he acquainted himself with playing with electronic gadgets such as computers. 122 00:06:31,425 --> 00:06:34,170 A year after his interest in that field grew, 123 00:06:34,182 --> 00:06:37,000 he picked up the mantle of repairing bicycles. 124 00:06:37,001 --> 00:06:40,000 Until date, he still repairs a number of bikes. 125 00:06:40,100 --> 00:06:44,000 So far, Lawrence has made and sold four e-bikes made by himself. 126 00:06:44,125 --> 00:06:49,810 Current bicycle presents upgraded features from the ones he has made in the past. 127 00:06:49,810 --> 00:06:51,831 Professor Jay looks forward to contacting 128 00:06:51,831 --> 00:06:54,220 universities for collaborations and partnerships 129 00:06:54,250 --> 00:06:59,000 in order to take his innovative ideas to the next level. 130 00:06:59,001 --> 00:07:04,000 He has dreams of using solar to propel his bikes in future, but needs collaborations 131 00:07:04,001 --> 00:07:06,927 and partnerships with universities and technical 132 00:07:06,939 --> 00:07:10,000 institutions to scale up production from prototype 133 00:07:10,450 --> 00:07:12,000 to commercialization. 134 00:07:12,150 --> 00:07:15,005 In such partnerships, he seeks to train technical 135 00:07:15,017 --> 00:07:18,000 students to improve their knowledge on electronics. 136 00:07:21,900 --> 00:07:23,761 I have a question. 137 00:07:23,786 --> 00:07:26,767 So this experiment only works when you are using the spot 138 00:07:26,767 --> 00:07:29,380 or dead laptop batteries or you can use brand new ones. 139 00:07:29,380 --> 00:07:31,160 You can use brand new ones for sure. 140 00:07:31,160 --> 00:07:32,190 Okay 141 00:07:32,190 --> 00:07:33,230 Okay. 142 00:07:33,230 --> 00:07:36,000 So now on charging the bicycle, how is it charged? 143 00:07:36,001 --> 00:07:39,184 It's charged with this charger here. 144 00:07:39,184 --> 00:07:40,952 This one is a custom built charger. 145 00:07:40,952 --> 00:07:42,540 It's not like the normal charger. 146 00:07:42,540 --> 00:07:44,980 It will take like maybe 12 hours, 6 hours to charge. 147 00:07:44,980 --> 00:07:46,010 Ok 148 00:07:46,010 --> 00:07:47,689 This one does around like 3 hours. 149 00:07:47,689 --> 00:07:49,171 Okay. 150 00:07:50,801 --> 00:07:52,270 And did you make it yourself? 151 00:07:52,270 --> 00:07:53,359 Yes. 152 00:07:53,359 --> 00:07:54,740 I bought the parts. 153 00:07:54,740 --> 00:07:55,810 Okay. 154 00:07:56,081 --> 00:07:59,700 So with the parts that you worked on, can you run us briefly 155 00:07:59,701 --> 00:08:02,200 through the process, how you came to that conclusion? 156 00:08:02,301 --> 00:08:04,800 For this one, it's a server power supply. 157 00:08:04,801 --> 00:08:05,820 Okay. 158 00:08:05,820 --> 00:08:07,500 It's in light service. 159 00:08:07,601 --> 00:08:11,326 You know, light service, they have a lot of computers inside. 160 00:08:11,450 --> 00:08:13,395 So they have very good processor. 161 00:08:14,185 --> 00:08:18,319 And this one here is called step up converter 162 00:08:18,319 --> 00:08:19,578 Okay 163 00:08:19,578 --> 00:08:22,318 So if you take 3 volts and pass 164 00:08:22,342 --> 00:08:25,175 Then it coverts you to 84 volts 165 00:08:25,199 --> 00:08:27,199 Okay 166 00:08:27,223 --> 00:08:29,841 Now on the features of your bike 167 00:08:29,841 --> 00:08:35,655 What features does your bicycle have that ones in the market do not have? 168 00:08:35,679 --> 00:08:38,252 This one has everything programmable. 169 00:08:38,276 --> 00:08:41,822 You can choose the programm that work on your phone. 170 00:08:41,846 --> 00:08:43,846 Okay, okay. 171 00:08:45,016 --> 00:08:48,289 It also has like phone charging to charge your phones. 172 00:08:48,992 --> 00:08:52,252 It also has Evergine brake. 173 00:08:52,276 --> 00:08:56,076 That means when you hit a break it charges a bike 174 00:08:56,127 --> 00:09:02,173 So like you don't try to use like Venoma Veperseto stop when you hit a break 175 00:09:02,197 --> 00:09:04,630 It does it instantly in a break 176 00:09:06,766 --> 00:09:10,458 How do you respond to support this project? 177 00:09:10,458 --> 00:09:11,866 How have you been doing it? 178 00:09:11,891 --> 00:09:13,170 Believing in myself. 179 00:09:16,943 --> 00:09:19,843 Okay, so my challenges when I was working on a bike 180 00:09:19,868 --> 00:09:23,000 was, at first I didn't have a welding machine and a spray machine. 181 00:09:23,001 --> 00:09:25,710 So I take it to welders and sprayers. 182 00:09:25,710 --> 00:09:28,330 But they take your money and they wouldn't do the work. 183 00:09:28,330 --> 00:09:32,000 I decided to buy the welding machine and the spray machine. 184 00:09:32,100 --> 00:09:35,000 Then started learning welding and spraying myself. 185 00:09:35,001 --> 00:09:39,380 So it took me like a week or two to learn all. 186 00:09:39,380 --> 00:09:41,576 Sometimes my friends always discouraging me 187 00:09:41,576 --> 00:09:44,000 that it won't work and you're always wasting 188 00:09:44,001 --> 00:09:47,000 your time on this thing, go find a job and get some money. 189 00:09:47,001 --> 00:09:49,600 My challenges about financing is like sometimes 190 00:09:49,612 --> 00:09:52,570 I don't really get the money in bulk to buy the parts. 191 00:09:52,570 --> 00:09:54,650 So like I'll buy one maybe this month, the 192 00:09:54,650 --> 00:09:57,000 next month I'll buy the one and they all like 193 00:09:57,001 --> 00:10:00,000 take shipments, which like is a lot of cost. 194 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. 195 00:10:09,000 --> 00:10:11,833 Lawrence intends to set up a permanent working 196 00:10:11,845 --> 00:10:15,000 place for himself, create employment for 197 00:10:15,001 --> 00:10:19,000 interested inventors and give back to society. 198 00:10:19,025 --> 00:10:21,937 Lawrence Adjei is not only putting the African 199 00:10:21,949 --> 00:10:25,000 continent on the map, he has also distinguished. 200 00:10:25,400 --> 00:10:28,188 himself as one of the many undiscovered great 201 00:10:28,200 --> 00:10:32,000 minds in Africa who can do more with a little push. 202 00:10:32,001 --> 00:10:35,722 This is where we end this interesting, revealing 203 00:10:35,734 --> 00:10:39,200 and educative episode of R&D Africa on AAU TV. 204 00:10:39,200 --> 00:10:42,480 Don't forget that next time the spotlight could be put on you. 205 00:10:42,480 --> 00:10:45,094 So if you have any innovations or inventions 206 00:10:45,106 --> 00:10:49,001 out there, contact AAU TV and we'll be at your doorstep. 207 00:10:49,050 --> 00:10:52,013 Follow us on YouTube, on Facebook and on all 208 00:10:52,025 --> 00:10:55,000 our social media platforms for more content. 209 00:10:55,001 --> 00:10:56,850 My name is Maame Ekua Otuakoa Nyame. 210 00:10:56,850 --> 00:10:59,200 Until next time, it's a wrap! 211 00:10:59,200 --> 00:11:14,000 [Music].