Chobe unveils first electric game drive vehicle
Thalefang Charles | Tuesday November 11, 2014 15:49
A South African company called Freedom Won has cleverly converted the vehicle from fuel to electric powered. Instead of using the normal diesel or petrol fuels, the EV is fitted with electric motor and batteries, which are charged after the vehicle travels an average distance of 100km.
The Land Rover Defender 130, now called “Freedom 3” (because it was the third vehicle at Freedom Won to be converted to electric, in August 2014) was the pioneer game drive EV. Another EV, Freedom 5, will be launched in February 2015. Freedom Won has also delivered a game viewing boat dubbed Freedom 4. It was converted in September 2014. Speaking at the unveiling ceremony, Chobe Game Lodge general manager, Johan Bruwer, said the introduction of electric vehicles and boats was in line with their sustainable eco-tourism strategy, which had led them to partner with Freedom Won. He added that they would convert 10 vehicles and six more boats in the near future.
Chobe Holdings Limited chief executive officer Jonathan Gibson narrated the “dream” that he said had started over a decade ago.
“One of my many dreams has been for us to have electric game vehicles and boats. We even built the concept of electric boats into the Chobe National Park Management Plan. The electric game drive vehicle is remarkable... It is non-polluting. From an energy perspective, it is incredibly cost effective to operate,” he said.
Botswana Tourism Organisation board member Thilo Naicker, applauded the strides made by Chobe Game Lodge as a “leader and trendsetter in eco-tourism initiatives”. She stated that Chobe Game Lodge was one of the facilities that had piloted the Eco-tourism Standards, and continued to develop responsible tourism initiatives like investing in pioneering an electric vehicle. Naicker described the unveiling of the electric vehicles as an opportunity to showcase best practice initiatives achieved by Chobe Game Lodge as well as Botswana as a preferred sustainable tourism destination.
Chobe District Commissioner, Dr. Temba Mmusi, thanked the Lodge for its selflessness in promoting sustainable eco-tourism in the region. He said the partnership between Chobe Game Lodge and Freedom Won had a bigger window of opportunity available for extension into government projects and programmes.
Freedom Won co-owner, Antony English noted that his company was delighted to be part of the history makers in the green technology. He also added that had it not been for the media some people would still be battling with prototype concepts.
English disclosed that it had cost R370,000 (P303,000) to convert a single Land Rover, and R260,000 (P213,000) to convert a single boat. He said Freedom Won charged R250,000 (P205,000) for a smaller vehicle. Chobe Game Lodge, which is owned by Botswana Stock Exchange listed Chobe Holdings, is a certified eco-tourism facility. In 2012 the lodge was awarded the highest eco-tourism Level recognised in Botswana.