Since the coup, fuel cost has doubled. In addition, due to ongoing fuel shortages, drivers have had to wait hours in line at gas stations to top off their tanks. Drivers lament that their income falls short of their expenses. To purchase an electric tricycle last year, fruit vendor Bakry Mohamed had to sell his old petrol-powered tuk-tuk. "It used to cost more than it brought in," said Mohamed, who drives a fruit booth through the streets.

Additionally, I was concerned about where to get petrol and where to change the engine oil."

Mohamed boasts about his brand-new electric tricycle. It has been quite cost-effective, according to Mohamed. "There are no longer any fuel lines today. It only needs one charge, and the entire week is used. As a result, my daily earnings doubled." Samir said there were no major complaints, even though some drivers find it difficult to adjust at first and that fuel-run engines need more maintenance than electric ones. He explained, "It's new, and they aren't used to electric-run automobiles."

Sunlight Power

A tuk-tuk tricycle can travel 80–100 kilometers (50–60 miles) on a full charge, and a rickshaw can travel even further—between 100 and 120 kilometers—in around eight hours.

However, with regular power outages, Sudan's electricity supplies have also suffered from an economic crisis. The government increased the cost of electricity in January, causing household bills to rise by nearly 500%. Nonetheless, Samir claims that electric rickshaws are more efficient and cost less to operate than alternatives.

Samir noted that a single electric charge costs less than half a liter of fuel. Therefore "the cost of charging the battery stays less than that of the fuel." Others have also been able to break their dependence on the electricity grid by turning their faces upward toward Sudan's perpetual sunshine.

Amjad Hamdan Hameidan uses his three-wheeler to power multiple electric-powered rickshaws. Hameidan stated, "I utilize flexible solar panels. The batteries are kept charged while driving by placing them on the rickshaw. According to Samir, his factory aids Sudan in keeping up with a rapidly changing global economy. According to Samir, everything that uses fuel will eventually be replaced by electricity. "We now have a chance to catch up with the rest of the world."