Paul Kiwuuwa
13 February 2008
Kampala — FOR a long time, we have been using oil but today, ethanol is increasingly being used as an alternative source of energy.
Recently Lira municipality Member of Parliament James Akena introduced an engine bicycle that uses Waragi (ethanol) as a cheap fuel to save his electorate high petrol costs.
A team of mechanical engineers from Kyambogo University's department of mechanical engineering discovered that the use of ethanol from Uganda's cereals and tubers had power that can run industrial machinery. The team was led by Dr. Jerome Bagenda Ssengonzi.
After launching a 50CC (Cubic Capacity) engine that uses local waragi mixed with petrol and oil, Akena said, "Waragi, a local potent gin, can also serve as a cheaper source of fuel."
Ethanol is an organic chemical product distilled from local raw plants like cassava, millet, sorghum, maize and sugarcane (tubers and cereals) that contain carbohydrates and sugars. "It is basically a high carbon composition like oil," says Peter Okello Obeli, a Kyambogo University workshop manager.
Akena said he imported 20 engines of the Two-stroke engine from China. "I used the Parliamentary Constituency Fund (CDF) to procure them. They will first benefit Lira Municipality because I used their CDF," he says. Lira municipality is one of the various areas that use bicycles as their main means of transport
On the local market a litre of Waragi costs between sh1,400 to sh1,700, which is cheap compared to a litre of petrol.
"A mixture of one litre of waragi, petrol and engine oil, may take the bicycle for approximately 30 kilometres. It carries luggage of about 80 kilogrammes," said Akena. In a layman's language, ethanol is alcohol or waragi.
"The distillation tests undertaken gave 93% alcohol content over and above the industrial fuel alcohol content. The production of waragi is the same but the difference lies in the alcohol content of 40%," says Ssengonzi. Akena says the engine can drive an additional small trailer attached to the bicycle with a flat surface where patients can be rushed to various health centres in time.
"There is lack of transport in remote areas to take patients and pregnant women to hospitals. They use human energy to carry them, which has led to loss of life," he added.
"Three MPs have ordered for the engines. MP (NRM) Samuel Abura Pirir said, he had ordered for a 24 sized engine bicycle , with a five litre fuel tank because people in his constituency use the bicycles for longer distances," Akena said. Also Kyaddondo South MP Isa Kikungwe said, "I have ordered for one engine bicycle. The bicycle costs about sh500,000 but Akena says he can provide both the spare parts and the engines in time.
Ethanol can be blended with petrol but before it is done, it must be 100% pure.
Countries in the world have been using 10% ethanol mixture with petrol in cars. States in the USA apply 10% of ethanol blend in petrol to their cars. In Brazil, 24% is used. Engines of cars do not need any alteration to use petrol with up to 24% ethanol in it.
The bicycle has an accelerator similar to that of a motorcycle and uses the normal bicycle rubber braking system.
It has two chains that pull the behind wheel, and is fixed with one spark plug to burn the fuel so as to ignite the engine. However, the engine does not use batteries.
The bicycle can be serviced by ordinary mechanics who service motorcycles. Akena last week rode the bicycle from Kololo to Parliament, perplexing many including fellow MPs.
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