New documentary series ‘Recharging Hope’ on electric mobility to debut at Stellenbosch University
Stellenbosch University will premiere its seven-part documentary Recharging Hope at STIAS on 19 February 2026, showcasing the solar-powered motorbike that travelled 6 000km from Nairobi to Stellenbosch alongside other locally developed electric vehicles.
Image: Supplied
Stellenbosch University will debut a new documentary series spotlighting Africa’s evolving electric mobility sector at a premiere event in Stellenbosch next week.
Recharging Hope, a seven-part series produced through the university’s Electric Mobility Lab, will be screened at 12:30pm on Thursday, February 19, 2026 at the Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Study (STIAS) on Jonkershoek Road.
The premiere will double as a public showcase of electric vehicles developed through the lab, including the solar-powered motorbike that completed a 6 000km journey from Nairobi to Stellenbosch in 2025.
Also on display will be an electric Volkswagen Beetle and an electrically converted Suzuki Carry, demonstrating how conventional vehicles are being adapted for electric propulsion under African conditions.
The documentary tracks the expedition across multiple African countries, focusing on the technical challenges of operating solar-powered electric vehicles over long distances in regions with limited infrastructure and energy constraints.
Professor Thinus Booysen, founder of the Electric Mobility Lab, said the series goes beyond the headline-grabbing journey.
“This documentary captures the reality behind innovation,” he said. “It shows not only what worked, but what didn’t – and why that matters. Recharging Hope is about learning in public, sharing knowledge, and accelerating the transition to sustainable mobility in ways that make sense for Africa.”
The series was filmed and produced by expedition team member Lewis Seymour.
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