The PUP isa low-cost, simple, multipurpose utility vehicle thatprovides labor-saving opportunities andaccess to markets, food, water, education, and medical care.
How does your innovation work?
The project goal is to design an innovative mobile system that can be manufactured, sold, and serviced within the local regions where it is used. The vehicle is built in-country utilizing components and materials readily accessible to that region. The PUP isan adaptable design, allowing for alternative components to be exchanged with minimal impact on the vehicle’s overall design and function. The PUP can provide services such as transportation (people, water, food, supplies, etc.), agricultural tillage and planting, and power for attachments such as maize grinders, water pumps, and electrical generators. The project provideslocal employment opportunities through a micro-factory producing the vehicles, improved transportation options that provide better access to schools, markets, water, medical care, construction materials, increased time for entrepreneurial activities through reduced the time spent collecting and transporting food, water, and other supplies. Collaboration with international partnersguides the development of new capabilitiesand ensuresthat local design and manufacturing constraints are met. Several prototypes have been built and tested in Cameroonfor verification of the design and concept. The PUP is designed to carry a payload of 900 kilograms at lower speeds (<40 km/hr), allowing for the use of smaller engines (4-8 kW). These engines are simpler to repair, lighter in weight, carry lower purchase and operating costs, and offer a superior fuel economy (initial testing of a PUP prototype demonstrated fuel economies up to 26 km/L). Manufacturing in-country provides employment and local ownership of the project. The design of the PUP provides much higher loading capacity than motorcycles while not significantly increasing the capital cost, and includes the added benefits of agricultural mechanization, portable power generation, water pumping, and maize grinding. Potential end users include smallholder farmers, small business owners, and municipalities.