An innovative solution utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) to identify optimal locations for Electric Vehicle (EV) charging points has clinched the top spot in the prestigious “Total Energies Uganda rEVolution” hackathon.
The ingenious solution presented by an outfit called the TBKN Team, was unveiled as the winner during an awards ceremony in Kampala earlier this month, marking the culmination of a three-month hackathon challenge initiated by Total Energies Uganda.
The challenge aimed to provide young Ugandans with an opportunity to devise solutions for identifying the best locations for EV charging points in Kampala.
TBKN Team was awarded a cash prize of 18.5 million Uganda shillings (Shs).
The first runners-up, ISBAT University, secured a prize of Shs11.1 milion.
Tying for third place were Data Knight and Shalom, which each received Shs3.7m.
Philippe Groueix, General Manager of Total Energies EP Uganda and country chair of Total Energies in Uganda, said the energy company is actively involved in Uganda's e-mobility development and is supporting innovation aligned with e-mobility.
He said the e-mobility hackathon challenge was introduced to foster youth engagement and innovation and it received over 400 applications from Ugandans aged 18 to 45 between July and September 2023.
"This hackathon demonstrated that young people still have a role to play in addressing societal challenges in partnership with the private sector.
“We remain steadfast in our commitment to ensure that the solutions selected can be considered for operationalisation by Total Energies in Uganda and other mobility actors in Uganda," added Richard Zulu, team principal of Outbox Uganda, the business incubator which ran the hackathon on behalf of Total Energies.
The initial evaluation led to the shortlisting of 16 teams, each composed of four members, who were tasked with proposing innovative ideas utilising data on Kampala city's road infrastructure, electricity networks and traffic patterns.
The teams received mentorship and coaching to refine their ideas before presenting them to a panel of judges. The judging process considered criteria such as the innovativeness of the ideas, team composition, presentation and alignment with business objectives.
