Ghana Students Build Electric Car That Charges While Driving

Three university students in Ghana just built an electric car that charges itself while driving, tackling one of the biggest barriers to electric vehicle adoption.

The five-seater vehicle, named Nimde3 Hyiren REV, was created in just six months by final-year students at Kumasi Technical University. They unveiled it on March 28, 2026, during the university's 70th anniversary celebration.

The breakthrough lies in its regenerative braking system, which captures energy every time the car slows down or brakes and feeds it back into the battery. Unlike typical electric cars that need frequent charging stops, this vehicle can travel continuously as long as it keeps moving.

Professor Prince Owusu-Ansah, who supervised the project, explained that the car can make the 90-kilometer round trip from Kumasi to Konongo without needing a single recharge. The vehicle reaches speeds up to 150 kilometers per hour, making it highway-ready.

The team built everything from scratch rather than converting an existing car. This allowed them to design the regenerative system into every part of the vehicle's operation, maximizing energy recovery with each trip.

Why This Inspires

This project shows what's possible when universities invest in student innovation. Vice-Chancellor Professor Gabriel Dwomoh highlighted how bringing together academic knowledge and industry support creates real solutions to real problems.

The students proved that developing nations don't need to wait for technology from abroad. They can build it themselves with the right training and resources.

Ghana has struggled with transportation costs and pollution from aging vehicles. This homegrown electric car offers a path toward cleaner, more affordable travel that doesn't depend on imported fuel or expensive charging infrastructure.

The university plans to refine the design and scale up production for larger vehicles. Professor Owusu-Ansah said anyone interested can have a custom vehicle built within six months, potentially launching a new local industry.

The students have shown their peers across Africa that sustainable transportation isn't just possible, it's buildable right now with determination and engineering skill.