Key figures of the mitigation activity

Owner

MANDU | consulting / EcoCar Solaire Consortium

Country and scope

Senegal, Dakar

Beneficiaries of the activity

Driver associations and Car Rapide owners

Status

In development

Bringing about clean public transport in Dakar

The mitigation activity EcoCar Solaire will revolutionise Dakar’s informal transportation system by transforming old, diesel-fuelled “Cars Rapides” into modern, environmentally friendly, electric “Cars Solaires” powered with electricity generated by photovoltaic systems. To this end, a network of solar stations will be set up for Cars Solaires to charge or swap their batteries. The activity will not only preserve a cultural symbol, but also upgrade and enable the clean use of a long-proven vehicle. The activity will be based on the existing and well-functioning Car Rapide system, meeting the needs of the population and securing approximately 30,000 jobs.

Contributing to a sustainable development pathway

  • The mitigation activity aims to convert up to 20% of Dakar’s public transportation to renewable energy.

  • The artistically painted Cars Rapides, which provide transportation for the urban population of the Greater Dakar region, will be transformed into electric vehicles fuelled by solar energy.

  • The activity bases itself on the existing Car Rapide transportation infrastructure and secures up to 30,000 jobs.

  • The activity is based on low-tech, low-cost and easily scalable solutions.

  • One main objective of this activity is to preserve Senegal’s cultural heritage and a tourist icon.

"The Car Rapide is one of Senegal’s historical icons. With its innovative approach, and the support of the KliK Foundation, myclimate and MANDU, this programme ensures the ecological transformation of Cars Rapides into Cars Solaires, thereby preserving the historic heritage of Senegal’s national entrepreneurship."

Madeleine Diouf Sarr | Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development

Complementing Senegal’s efforts to green public transport

The government partner of the EcoCar Solaire activity is CETUD, Dakar’s public transport authority placed under the responsibility of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport (MITTD). It has direct access to over 900 Cars Rapides already enrolled in a renewal activity. The EcoCar Solaire activity is further supported by the Directorate of Environment (DEEC), placed under the responsibility of the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development. DEEC is the National Designated Authority/Focal Point for the Green Climate Fund and the UNFCCC. A steering committee, bringing together various government and state agencies, is currently being set up.

Bridging the financing gap

The carbon revenue received from the KliK Foundation through results-based financing (RBF) is needed in order to expand the Car Solaire fleet and the solar power charging infrastructure. More specifically, the financing gap is due to the higher costs of implementing new renewable energy technologies, the necessary knowledge transfer, quality assurance and research & development costs, as well as the coordination process with government agencies and stakeholders. The latter is crucial to integrating the solar infrastructure into existing urban structures.

The KliK Foundation financially supports the following programme components

  • Reducing the cost of solar PV components for the charging infrastructure

  • Reducing the cost of the Car Solaire transformation kit

  • Coordination with government and local authorities