Renault’s HubCités Project
Africa’s time to shine is rapidly moving to realisation. I hear the thud of Afro sceptics falling off their chairs, but think about it. Groupe Renault did think about it and it is investing heavily in the continent, specifically in smart cities. Why would they do this?
Some see Africa as a homogenous mess, uneducated masses, bad politics, graft and corruption, no infrastructure, no hope. Others see the continent as a treasure chest, waiting to be opened. Unlike days gone past, the treasure of Africa is not so much minerals and raw materials as the nature of its people.
Compared to most of the developed world, the population of Africa is young, yearning, learning, itching to learn and grow. They are tech-savvy, increasingly well educated, flocking to the opportunities of the big cities. Africa’s 1.3 billion population is expected to double by 2050. The majority of them will live and work in megacities. There are now 9 African cities with more than 5m people. By 2050 this number will be 22.
The key to achieving a successful population thriving in rapidly-growing urban centres is to embrace the concept of smart cities. This will involve where people live, what their homes look like, access to basic resources like water, electricity and internet, waste disposal and recycling, and of course mobility – how people get around these new, massive cities.
There are six broad aspects that define a smart city; the way these are implemented will determine how smart the city is. These aspects are a dynamic economy, sustainable governance, smart green housing, empowered and involved citizens, a sustainable environment and smart mobility.
Renault, as a carmaker, is obviously at the forefront of urban mobility, but as tech leader, it is closely involved in green housing and the environment as well.
Urban mobility has to involve electric vehicles. These are cheaper to run and cause less pollution. They can optimise energy use by smart charging during low electricity demand. They can be used as a backup power source, where the energy stored in the cars’ batteries can be given back to the grid during high demand. Car batteries remain useful even when their automotive lifespan is over. These can be used to create bulk electricity storage for smart cities.
Four African cities were chosen to pilot the Smart Cities project. They are Lomé in Togo, Konza in Kenya, Casablanca in Morocco and Lagos in Nigeria. These cities are hotbeds of technology and innovation, green business and recycling. An example was a 3D printer designed from scrap e-waste in Lomé, with actual connected printers in each school around the business that made them. From waste to water table reclaiming, recycling, to new designs, African cities are rocking.
Renault has long been a champion of developing the energy and talent in Africa. You can read more about it here.
