Co-Founder and CTO of Ampersand, Alp Tilev, says the transition to e-mobility in Africa must be expedited. He shares more on why there is an opportunity to drive the adoption of electrically powered motorcycles that produce less pollution in Africa. Talking about the financial and environmental advantages of electric motorcycles for drivers and the environment.
Historically, Asia has been the birthplace of motorcycles. China, India, Indonesia, and Vietnam are the world’s four largest motorcycle markets. The continent is home to roughly 58% of all motorcycles in the world.
Africa is quickly catching up. According to a report by AMEND and the FIA Foundation, motorcycle usage in Africa has increased from less than 5 million in 2010 to an estimated 27 million in 2022. Because of Africa’s entrepreneurial spirit, 80% of the continent’s motorcycles are used for commercial purposes such as taxis or delivery services.
Although Africa’s contribution to global greenhouse gas emissions is negligible at under four percent, these petrol-powered two-wheelers contribute a significant amount of carbon emissions. As Africa joins the rest of the world in the drive to reduce pollution, there is an opportunity to drive the adoption of electrically powered motorcycles that produce less pollution.
Electric motorcycles are hardly a new concept, but they are relatively new to Africa where they are starting to gain momentum by firmly making their way into the cultural and economic zeitgeist while inching the continent’s travelers towards a lower carbon future.
Adoption of electric motorcycles in Africa has its challenges, the issue of charging batteries being one. Given that a significant proportion of motorcycles on African roads are used for commercial purposes, riders rarely have time to wait for their batteries to charge.
However, there are innovative solutions that can be deployed to address the challenge, and technology is rapidly advancing, providing opportunities for innovators to create long-term solutions to the continent’s most pressing challenges.
On the back of this, we created Ampersand, an electric motorcycle and transportation energy solutions provider that allows riders to stay on the road while their batteries charge. To make this possible, we built a network of charging stations where riders can swap out depleted batteries for fully charged ones in only 2 minutes, saving them over $500 per year by reducing downtime.
Furthermore, each battery has a range of 60-90 km and needs to be replaced less frequently than drivers typically refuel with petrol. This solution not only saves drivers money but also ensures that they have a constant source of power, making electric motorcycles a more viable transportation option.
As the business grew from the initial 20 drivers to the current 800+ vehicles in Kigali and Nairobi, one of the challenges we encountered was keeping track of the batteries and their condition. With hundreds of drivers swapping out batteries every day, being able to track them and ensure they are in good condition is critical to our ability to support more drivers. Consequently, we built AmperOps, an adaptive cloud solution built on Microsoft’s Azure platform that allows the collection of over 15,000 data points and the execution of multiple transactions per second. The system also enables seamless management of battery packs through customizable parameters such as state of health analysis and geofenced alarms for increased security.
Furthermore, the system includes smart maintenance systems that automatically notify the team of required battery or vehicle repairs before they occur. With this level of customization and real-time response, we can gain a thorough understanding of the performance of each swap station, driver, and battery.
In the long run, the advantages of electric motorcycles extend beyond financial savings for drivers and environmental advantages. As Africa continues to industrialize, so will the capacity for designing, building, and assembling motorcycle components. This demonstrates an opportunity for green job growth throughout the value chain, from design to delivery and maintenance. Given that Ampersand users travel over 1.9 million kilometers per month, there is a clear opportunity for electric motorcycles to impact Africa’s transportation industry and for electric motorcycles to become the sustainable lifeblood of public transport systems In fact, we have set an ambitious goal of electrifying all motorcycles in East Africa by 2030, and earlier in Rwanda by 2027.
Without a doubt, electric motorcycles have the potential to be a viable mode of transportation for millions of Africans. Technology will drive change by enabling innovators to create solutions to niche challenges in the adoption of e-mobility. With the right investment, Africa’s transportation industry could be transformed while also creating job opportunities, reducing pollution, and saving drivers money.
Hey gamers, welcome back to my blog where I share my thoughts and opinions on everything related to gaming. Today I want to talk about a big decision I made recently: switching from Playstation to Xbox. Yes, you read that right. I know some of you might be shocked or even angry, but hear me out. I have some good reasons for making this change and I want to share them with you.
First of all, let me say that I have nothing against Playstation. I have been a loyal fan of Sony’s consoles since the PS1 era and I have enjoyed many great games and experiences on them. I still have my PS4 and PS5 and I will continue to play them from time to time. But lately, I have been feeling more drawn to Xbox and what it has to offer.
One of the main reasons is Game Pass. This is a subscription service that gives you access to hundreds of games for a monthly fee. You can download and play any game you want from a huge library that includes new releases, classics, indie gems, and even some exclusive titles. You can also stream games to your PC or mobile device with xCloud. This is a game-changer for me because it saves me a lot of money and time. Instead of buying games at full price or waiting for sales, I can just play whatever I want whenever I want. And if I don’t like a game, I can just delete it and try something else. No regrets, no hassle.
Another reason is the backward compatibility. Xbox supports playing games from previous generations of consoles, including the original Xbox, Xbox 360, and Xbox One. This means you can enjoy your old favorites or discover new ones without having to switch consoles or buy remasters. You can also benefit from improved graphics, performance, and features on newer hardware. For example, some games support FPS Boost, which increases the frame rate up to 120 fps, or Auto HDR, which adds high dynamic range lighting to older games. This makes playing old games feel fresh and new.
The third reason is the controller. I know this might sound trivial, but the controller is very important for me as a gamer. It’s the main way I interact with the games and it affects my comfort and enjoyment. And I have to say that I prefer the Xbox controller over the Playstation one. It feels more ergonomic and natural in my hands, the triggers are more responsive and adaptive, the thumbsticks are more precise and durable, and the battery life is longer. Plus, I like the design and color options better.
These are just some of the reasons why I switched from Playstation to Xbox. Of course, there are other factors that might influence your choice, such as exclusive games, online services, community, etc. But for me personally, Xbox offers more value, variety, and quality than Playstation right now. And that’s why I made the switch.
What do you think? Do you agree or disagree with me? Have you ever switched consoles or are you loyal to one brand? Let me know in the comments below. And don’t forget to like and subscribe for more gaming content. Thanks for reading and happy gaming!
Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming the world of work in unprecedented ways. From automating tasks to enhancing creativity, AI is reshaping how we perform our jobs and what skills we need to succeed. But will AI really take jobs from tech experts, or will it create new opportunities for them?
The answer is not simple or straightforward. AI will have different impacts on different sectors, occupations, and regions. Some jobs may be eliminated or reduced by AI, while others may be augmented or created by it. Some workers may benefit from increased productivity and efficiency, while others may face displacement and skill gaps.
According to a report by the American University School of International Service, AI will lead to increased levels of productivity, specialization in job roles, and increased importance of “human skills” like creativity, problem-solving, and quantitative skills. Although AI will increase economic growth, these gains will not be evenly distributed.
The report also identifies four types of workers who will be affected by AI:
Workers whose tasks are mostly automated by AI. These workers may face job loss or significant changes in their job content and requirements. They will need to reskill or upskill to adapt to new demands or find alternative employment.
Workers whose tasks are mostly augmented by AI. These workers may benefit from improved performance and efficiency, as well as new opportunities for innovation and collaboration. They will need to learn how to use AI tools effectively and leverage their human skills.
Workers who use AI to create new products or services. These workers may enjoy higher incomes and market power, as well as greater autonomy and flexibility. They will need to have advanced technical skills and entrepreneurial mindsets.
Workers who provide services for AI. These workers may experience increased demand and job security, as well as more variety and complexity in their work. They will need to have specialized knowledge and skills related to AI development, maintenance, regulation, or education.
As we can see, AI will have both positive and negative effects on the tech job market. The key challenge is how to ensure that workers are prepared for these changes and can benefit from them. This requires a coordinated effort from governments, employers, educators, and workers themselves.
Some possible solutions include:
Investing in education and training programs that equip workers with relevant skills for the future of work.
Providing career guidance and counseling services that help workers navigate transitions and opportunities.
Supporting innovation ecosystems that foster entrepreneurship and new business models.
Promoting social protection policies that protect workers’ rights and welfare.
Encouraging social dialogue among stakeholders that fosters trust and cooperation
AI is not a threat or a blessing for tech experts; it is a reality that we need to embrace with caution and optimism. By anticipating its impacts on our jobs and preparing ourselves accordingly, we can make sure that we are not left behind by this technological revolution.
The Twitterverse is filled with lots of rumors about the social media platform and some fear this is the end as droves of Twitter employees resign. So many ask, is Elon Musk saving or killing Twitter?
In recent months, there have been reports of Twitter employees quitting en masse as morale at the company plummets amidst new management turmoil and concerns about its future prospects. Although Twitter had its own issues before Musk came along, now there’s a very real possibility that he could make them even worse – or even cause Twitter’s demise altogether.
There’s no doubt that Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk is one of the most influential people on Twitter. He has nearly 117 million followers and his tweets often make headlines. Like when he tweeted that he was “considering taking Tesla private at $420,” it sent shockwaves through Wall Street and the tech world. Truth is the tesla stock price did rise up high to $402 but has since plummeted to under $200.
Musk is known for being disruptive, so maybe it shouldn’t be surprising that he would try to do the same with Twitter. After all, this is a guy who wants to put humans on Mars and revolutionize transportation with self-driving cars. But some people are worried that his latest antics could be detrimental to Twitter – or even kill it off entirely.
Here’s why people are feeling this way about Elon Musk at Twitter
He’s a polarizing figure
There’s no denying that Musk is a brilliant entrepreneur and innovator. But he’s also a very polarizing figure, and that could be bad for Twitter. On the one hand, he has legions of diehard fans who will follow him wherever he goes (including Twitter). On the other hand, there are plenty of people who can’t stand him – and they’re likely to avoid Twitter if they know Musk owns it. This could further split an already divided user base and make it even harder for Twitter to attract new users (or keep the ones it has).
He loves stirring up drama
Musk isn’t afraid to stir up a little (or a lot) of drama – and that could cause problems for Twitter. For one thing, it’s likely to attract even more trolls and negativity to the platform. And secondly, it could turn off potential users who are put off by all the fighting and name-calling. In other words, Musk might end up doing more harm than good for Twitter in the long run.
Elon Musk is not afraid to speak his mind (and ruffle some feathers)
Musk isn’t afraid to speak his mind – even if it means ruffling a few feathers. For example, he’s been known to criticize other tech companies and their products. And while that might be entertaining for some people, it could also backfire on Twitter. If Musk starts attacking the platform itself or its users. After all, nobody likes being criticized – especially not in public!
He has a huge ego
There’s no denying that Musk has a huge ego – and that could be problematic for Twitter. For one thing, he’s likely to get into arguments with other users who don’t agree with him or who challenge him in some way. And secondly, his ego could lead him to do something rash like quitting Twitter altogether if things don’t go his way (which would be pretty bad for the platform).
I don’t think Elon Musk wants to buy Twitter for 44 billion dollars only to sink it. He will at least try to either make it work or salvage some of his investment money. He has so far admitted to being wrong with some of his decisions. Elon is also planning to reduce his time at Twitter and find a new CEO to run the company. The coming days and Elon’s decisions will let us know if he is trying to save or kill Twitter.
Photo: Elon’s Twitter account. Editors note: 85% of the content for this post was generated by testing out an AI-powered writing assistant.
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Do you see that guy in the middle of the photo below all fashioned up like a top CIA, MI5 agent? He is Amazon’s founder and former CEO, Jeff Bezos. He currently is the Executive Chair of the Amazon Board, where he focuses on new products and early initiatives by the company.
In recent years he leapfrogged Bill Gates to become the world’s richest man for five years continuously. Like Elon Musk the guy is pretty much into lots of stuff, commercial astronaut, rockets et al.
In the end we are our choices. Build yourself a great story.
Jeff
Back to the image featuring Vin Diesel and Dwayne Johnson. This wasn’t for an amazon advert of how they are currently outmuscling Microsoft or Google. Neither is it a battle session between Cortana, Alexa, or Siri. lol 😃 it is a Photoshop meme that went viral.
Here below are some worthy notes from Jeff Bezos that shaped his life growing up. I hope you’ll catch a thing or two that will resonate or spur you on.
Keep inventing, and don’t despair when at first the idea looks crazy.
Jeff
Jeff Bezos says:
Take on things you don’t know how to do and do them. It makes you resourceful.
Each time you have a setback, using resilience and resourcefulness, invent your way out of the box.
Minimize your regrets. You don’t want to be cataloging your regrets.
In the end, we are our choices. Build yourself a great story.
Without a willingness to fail, you cannot innovate. Because most innovations won’t work.
Anytime you are doing something new and are criticized, you must figure out if those critics have validity.
Keep inventing, and don’t despair when at first the idea looks crazy.
You have to accept that your business is an experiment and it might fail.
The most important thing is to be customer obsessed. Don’t satisfy your customers, figure out how to absolutely delight them.
Those are a few nuggets to get you going. Have a lovely weekend and cheers!
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Are you new to the trading world and ready to make the transition from a demo account to a real live account? Like many beginners, the question is how much money will I need to start the journey. This post will go straight to the point and give you an idea of what to know.
Before you start trading it is important to focus on learning, learning more and practising the skill. Next, put in hours and hours of practice with a demo account till you feel you have a strategy and are profitable. Being profitable is having a streak of more wins than losses consistently for a long duration. So let’s say you have done this and are ready to move on to the next stage. That’s moving on from using a demo account to a real and live trading account. It will be advisable to use an amount that doesn’t mean much to you, one you are willing to lose. This amount will vary per person but if you can lose one hundred dollars ($100) or equivalent start with that. For someone else, this amount could be less or more.
Trading a 0.01 lot size to grow your account
Start with one hundred dollars and use the 0.01 lot size. Doing this prevents you from blowing your live trading account with one trade. Practise taking out trades and sticking to your plan. Yes, you need a plan and you’ll need to stick to it. Trading is said to be a get-rich slow method, doing otherwise can lead to not sticking to plan and over trading, which will lead to losing everything.
You really need to have a plan and a strategy to prevent you from jumping into every trade. When you have a plan, you wait for your setup and stick to your risk management. This will help you build consistency, and master your psychology and emotions.
When you are doing this and everything is going well, meaning you have grown the account from about one hundred to two hundred, you can now add more or just keep growing it. Just don’t go crazy and throw your whole life savings in there.
Losses are part of trading so don’t be afraid of failing, let failure teach you a lesson and don’t give up. Go back to the drawing board, backtest and learn more. All the best in your trading journey.
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