Moroccan Electric Motorcycle Charger
Problem
Many communities in rural Morocco have restrictive access to fuel infrastructure, with the majority relying on gas-powered motorcycles. Paired with volatile foreign fuel prices, these communities need increased access to a more financially viable alternative transportation.
Solution
We designed a battery swap station that provides users with rapid, accessible, and affordable fuel infrastructure, incentivizing adoption of locally made e-bikes in target communities.
Takeaway
As project lead, I interfaced between our team’s technical expertise and our client’s need for a user-centered approach, informing engineered solutions with cultural insights from our users.
Problem
This project took place during my capstone experience for engineering at Dartmouth. This project took place over the course of twenty weeks, the first ten of which focused on a thorough investigation of state of the art, cultural environments, and policy support. The second half of our project work focused on developing our product.
Our research focused on Morocco’s rural regions, where nearly a third of the population resides, reliable and affordable transportation is a persistent challenge due to energy poverty. Approximately one million households, roughly 14% of Morocco’s population, struggle to meet basic energy needs, affecting about five million people. This issue disproportionately impacts rural families, particularly in areas like Tissint, in the Tata region, where 68% of households rely on agriculture and earn an average annual income of 5,000 MAD (about 500 USD). Limited transportation options, including primarily shared taxis and non-motorized transport (animal transport, carts, and wagons), hinder residents' ability to commute efficiently over long distances. With the majority of rural residents traveling 10 kilometers daily on e-bikes, the lack of charging infrastructure highlights a critical barrier to mobility and access to opportunity.
The Mahjouba Initiative has already taken an important step toward addressing energy poverty and limited mobility in rural Morocco by designing e-bikes that are locally sourced, sustainably produced, and tailored to the region’s needs. Inspired by the work of African-born Belgian artist Eric van Hove, the initiative blends Moroccan craftsmanship with modern technology to create culturally relevant and environmentally friendly transportation solutions. My team and I were paired to work with the Mahjouba Initiative as our client, and we were tasked with helping Mahjouba develop the required infrastructure needed to support the widespread adoption of these e-bikes. While our initial understanding of the region’s demographics and infrastructure comes from literature review, we are traveling to Tissint to deepen our knowledge and build meaningful relationships with local communities through stakeholder engagement, technical and infrastructural analysis, and community interaction. From extensive secondary research, we defined that the current problem is that ‘a systemic lack of adequate infrastructure for electric transportation in the Tissint Tata region makes adoption of Mahjouba electric transportation by local community members unfeasible, restricting the Mahjouba initiative’s goal of supporting a sustainable energy transition in Morocco.
Our client also seeks to implement the Mahjouba project in collaboration with AMDGJB, which is located in Tissint and Tata, Morocco. Led by President Patric Simon, AMDGJB works to implement sustainable technology innovations in rural Moroccan communities, as well as maintain a network of ecotourism accommodations in the Tissint area. Since we conducted our research at Dartmouth College, we lacked direct, ongoing engagement with the local population. Although virtual communication allowed us to gather some insights, our physical interactions were restricted to a single site visit in December 2024. We maximized this opportunity by conducting pre-planned interviews and observations to gain a deeper understanding of community needs, behaviors, and expectations. Our main objective was to develop a final research analysis which explored the feasibility, desirability, and viability of an electric bike charger in the region. To ensure desirability, we networked remotely with local stakeholders, as well as engaged with local youths during our site visit. To ensure feasibility, we conducted several technical analyses involving calculations, CAD modeling and FEA analyses, and materials research. Lastly, to ensure a viable proposal, we worked on providing economic assessments comparing state-of-the-art solutions (gasoline ICE bikes), as well as economic projects for different operating models (on-grid vs. off-grid, NGO backed vs. for-profit). As engineering consultants, we compiled our holistic analyses into our client hand off to thoroughly support our proposed solution.
Solution
Our proposed solution for a charging infrastructure model was to implement an electric bike battery swap station where users can exchange their used Mahjouba ebike batteries with fully charged ones allowing for a quick and cheap refuel. The battery swap station can be found in similar conditions to currently used propane and butane swap stations, located close to local shops and gas stations. The proposed pilot model would also interface with an operator, who would lock and unlock the cubbies, assist users in loading and unloading batteries, and deal with user payments. If the model is located as suggested, the operator can be a current local worker who would receive additional training and payment to operate the swapping station during their work day. Alternatively, a unique individual can also be selected and trained to operate the pilot. The operator will also be responsible for daily maintenance and upkeep of the model, outlined as part of the operator’s training. In terms of safety, the operator will be trained on responding to error warnings given by a proposed built-in user interface, and in general will be responsible for keeping the station locked up and monitored to deter theft or vandalism.
In addition, we also compiled a comprehensive study accompanying our proposed pilot model for implementing the first stage of an electric bike charging station. Our study presents a comprehensive assessment of the feasibility, implementation, and long-term sustainability of e-bike charging infrastructure in the Tata/Tissint region. This report includes an in-depth evaluation of regional energy infrastructure, the policy and regulatory framework in Morocco, and potential locations for deployment. Additionally, we examine cultural and socioeconomic factors, including community engagement strategies and personal accounts of prospective users, to ensure that the proposed solution is tailored to the needs of the community.
From an functional feasibility perspective, we assess various state-of-the-art e-bike charging technologies, comparing on-grid and off-grid solutions, and proposed potential designs for deployment. This includes detailed CAD models, finite element analysis (FEA), stress tests, and a thorough examination of the electrical package. The electrical system is analyzed through schematics, control diagrams, printed circuit board (PCB) design, and a comprehensive bill of materials. Safety and risk management considerations are also integral to our study, addressing both user safety and technician/installation hazards.
To evaluate economic viability, our techno-economic analysis evaluates the cost of e-bikes versus internal combustion engine (ICE) bikes, the cost of fuel ($/km or $/kWh), lifespan and durability comparisons, and the financial viability of on-grid and off-grid solutions. Additionally, we explore different operational models, assessing the potential for both for-profit and non-profit approaches.
Finally, we examine scalability and adaptability by considering expansion potential with various stakeholders, the applicability of the system in urban versus rural contexts, and adaptations for different climates and communities. Our study also provides future recommendations, identifying gaps in existing research and areas for further exploration, such as cooling mechanisms for thermoregulation, phosphate battery integration, and the feasibility of selling energy back to the grid
By delivering a comprehensive report that encompasses technical, economic, and social considerations, we aim to provide a roadmap for sustainable e-bike charging infrastructure in Morocco. Our findings and recommendations are intended to support Mahjouba’s efforts in expanding access to affordable and environmentally friendly transportation while fostering local economic development. The success of this initiative will be measured by increased mobility, improved access to resources, and community adoption of e-bike technology, ultimately contributing to a more sustainable and inclusive future for rural Morocco.
For this project, part of my personal contribution was evaluating the feasibility of our engineered solution. Outside of research, to assess feasibility, we conducted a Finite Element Analysis on SOLIDWORKS, which showed very minimal deformation, posing low risk to the longevity and integrity of the proposed design. This analysis was run on the SOLIDWORKS model of our proposed battery swap station design, both components I contributed.
In addition, we also utilized the SOLIDWORKS model to assess thermal dispersion as four batteries actively charge in the shelving. The simulation monitors the output of each battery and its impact on aluminum 1060 alloy when set at a base condition for ambient temperature. While most of the thermal regulation work was aimed at structuring future iterations, this assessment enabled us to understand the severe need to account for thermal load, as the system quickly becomes unsuitable for maintaining safe, long-term charging of batteries. This informed many of our future recommendations.
To ensure our proposed solutions was desirable by members of the intended community, we gained valuable insight from local members and stakeholders during our site visit. We received a grant from Dartmouth’s Irving Institute, enabling us to travel to our target communities of Tissint and Tata, located in the Tata region west of Marrakesh. During our visit, we worked closely with our main stakeholder AMDGJB, responsible for sustainable technology implementations in the region. Through AMDGJB, we were able to interact directly with local students who provided their experiences with motorcycles, fuel access, and community mindsets towards new innovations. We also engaged with the Tata Energy Center, a local institution responsible for facilitating solar panel installations, repairs, and education to community members. Having personal insights informed the scope of our project, allowing us to suggest local means of implementation, and consider user interface (language, currency, tone, staffing). In addition to our own takeaways, we also suggest that Mahjouba continue to work closely with AMDGJB, as they represent a local organization able to help continue to design a product desirable to local users and their unique needs.
Our work was the beginning of this project, and as we were responsible for starting this work, part of our handoff covered the next steps for refining this product. The bulk of our future recommendations focused on thermal regulation, but also included suggestions for future electrical and user interface control, the role of locally-sourced phosphate batteries in future iterations (replacing lithium batteries), and lastly secondary research on current movements in Moroccan government to initiate sell back-to-grid of excess power, updating economic projections based on the ability to do so. While there is still much work to be done, our contribution to the Mahjouba Inititative took the first practical step towards implementing their culturally-influenced, Moroccan-made electric transportation on a widespread scale.
Takeaway
My role in this project was team leader, which was certainly challenging at times, but overall was an extremely rewarding experience. My team was comprised of an electrical engineer, a mechanical engineer, an energy engineer, and me a product designer. This led to a well-rounded team with expertise in a wide range of applicable topics, allowing our work to be very delegated. While we had our strong suits, in general, I worked to foster strong collaboration and accountability, maintaining deadlines and dividing up workloads evenly. The challenging part of working on such a qualified and diverse team was understanding the needs and constraints of each component of the project (from electrical to mechanical, economic to researched). Relying on my past experiences in human-centered design, both in and out of the classroom, helped me to push my team members to critically review our work and generate impactful work for our client, and I’m very proud of the work we accomplished.
This project was very challenging for a number of reasons, enabling me to learn a great deal from this experience. Working with an artist as an engineering team had certain challenges that made progress difficult at times, and learning to understand client needs while also balancing personal experience and long-term goal setting enabled my team and me to arrive at a fully-formed solution despite accounting for a variety of stakeholders. One of our constant challenges was relating the scope of the course to the needs of the project. This capstone course was focused on being an engineering capstone, requiring us to showcase our engineering prowess through technical applications of skills and knowledge gained during our previous courses. However, because this project was just getting started, an essential component of our work was to inform design decisions with personal input from our intended users. While we gained insights from our site visit, we met pushback on implementing user-centered design work into our project in favor of a more technically involved approach. Despite this discrepancy, we aimed to provide a final proposal informed by local members to ensure our work could continue to be developed and implemented, along with technical analyses to support future research and technical development.