Volkswagen rolls out electric tractors in Rwanda
Volkswagen Group Africa (VWA) has announced the start of operations of a modern farming pilot project in Gashora, Rwanda, that will see the roll-out of specially developed VW-badged electric tractors (e-tractors) for use by farmers in the area.
The GenFarm Project aims to facilitate electric-powered, mechanised farming services for rural areas in Africa, while also providing mobility services for the transportation of goods and people.
Preparations for the construction of what is called an empowerment hub, or e-hub, at the Gashora facility are under way, and are expected to be operational by the first half of next year.
Equipped with PV power and energy storage systems, the hub will provide clean energy, training, storage space and business space for farming cooperatives in Gashora.
VWA signed a memorandum of understanding with the Rwandan government in June last year to provide land for the GenFarm Project.
The project is being rolled out in partnership with Volkswagen Mobility Solutions Rwanda, Volkswagen Group Innovation Centre Europe, the Rwanda Institute for Conservation Agriculture, the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit, and other partners.
Volkswagen Group Innovation Centre Europe is supplying the e-tractors and other equipment for the project from Wolfsburg, in Germany.
“We want to offer various services in the empowerment hubs,” explains Volkswagen Group Innovation MD Dr Nikolai Ardey.
“The unique selling point of the project is the use of the battery swap system.
“In this way, the battery becomes part of the hub's energy infrastructure, as well as energy storage for the tractor.
“We are growing our footprint in Africa and regard Rwanda as a key growth market,” adds VWA MD Martina Biene.
The agricultural sector currently accounts for 25% of Rwanda’s GDP.
VWA is headquartered in Kariega, in South Africa’s Eastern Cape province.
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