One of the many reasons we can't have beautiful things, like the black rhinoceros, is poaching. This sucks, so people who protect the few remaining wildlife that aren't bought up like sticky vacation souvenirs for super-rich and shameless people need the right gear. Bush bikes are an incredibly helpful tool in reaching animals threatened by poachers as quickly as possible, especially where larger vehicles may not be able to navigate the countryside.
The South Africa Wildlife College, a stand-alone conservation project that trains other conservationists, has teamed up with lightweight off-road electric bike manufacturer Cake to develop a two-wheeler against poaching: the Kalk AP. Weighing just 80 kilograms or 176 pounds, it combines a 2.6 kilowatt-hour battery with a simple 11 kW motor that powers a chain drive for up to three hours of operation. Every Kalk AP bike purchased by a Cake customer sends one direct to conservationists, along with a solar panel and power plant kit that can be used to charge the bike off-grid wherever patrols are most needed.
Contrary to concerns in Europe or the US about grid capacity, EVs can provide a solution to fuel accessibility in areas with poor or limited energy grids, and renewables provide an opportunity to break reliance on fuel generators. Anti-poaching efforts are already using many technologies like drones to make their jobs more efficient, and the Lime AP provides a way to get yourself a cool, fun bike and reduce the chances of someone killing the last of the rhinos.
Cake has a lot of experience making pretty crazy off-road guns. So, you can guarantee that it's pretty good. While it's not cheap at all at $ 25,000, it's not really about the ultimate device you get, but rather the ability to give anti-poachers what they need to do a very good job. Only 50 Kalk AP motorcycles are made, all of which are numbered. So, if you're feeling philanthropic, you'll need to put a € 1,000 ($ 1,210) security deposit on the program.
The rhinos will thank you by continuing to exist.
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