Kumasi Technical University students manufacture self-charging electric vehicles.

              SourcE 3news 

                            Education News    Ghana 

Kumasi Technical University students manufacture self-charging electric vehicles.

Kumasi Technical University (KsTU) has unveiled an electric vehicle fitted with regenerative braking technology.

This marks a significant step in locally driven innovation in sustainable transport.

The five-seater vehicle, named 'Nimde3 Hyiren REV,' was developed within six months by three final-year students as part of their Bachelor of Technology (BTEC) in Automotive Engineering program.

The project was supervised by the head of the Automotive and Agricultural Mechanization Department, Professor Prince Owusu-Ansah, with support from industry players.

The key feature of the vehicle is its regenerative braking system, which allows the battery to recharge automatically while in motion, especially when the driver slows down or applies the brakes.

This innovation contrasts with conventional electric vehicles, which require stationary charging at designated points when their batteries run low.

This initiative, according to the university, responds to the global shift towards sustainable mobility while adapting such technologies to Ghana’s transport and energy needs.

The vehicle, which can reach up to 150 kilometers per hour, was unveiled during a durbar to climax the university's 70th-anniversary celebrations on Saturday, March 28, 2026.

The vice-chancellor of KSTU, Professor Gabriel Dwomoh, announced that the university had advanced existing electric vehicle concepts by introducing regenerative capabilities.

He praised the collaboration between academia and industry, stating that “this is what we can achieve if academia and industry come together."

He also touched on other innovations developed by the university, including a multi-purpose rocket stove, a multi-purpose food dryer, a fish smoker, an RC feeder, drones, an electronic food warmer, a mini-cement mixer, and an air quality monitor.

“I wish to call on our partners, the government, and the private sector to join us as we embark on the next phase of our journey. That is, focusing on digitalization, artificial intelligence, and sustainable engineering,” he said.

The vehicle was built entirely from scratch and represents a departure from existing electric vehicles that rely solely on external charging.

He explained that the team aimed to develop a system that enables continuous charging during operation.

“With our innovation, as the driver reduces the vehicle’s speed or steps on the brake while driving, the generator will automatically charge the battery."

“This is to prevent the battery from running low before being charged. For instance, it can travel from Kumasi to Konongo and back without the battery being charged,” he indicated.