Bio Moto

Product Description

The Bio Moto cookstove is a five-staged variable power cook stove manufactured locally in Kenya that uses biofuel made from post harvest starch crops (such as stalks and damaged produce). It is available in 1, 2, 4, 6 and 8 burner configurations, with a spill-proof fuel tank. It is manufactured by International Research and Development Africa Ltd and has been approved for sale by the Kenyan government.

Market Suggested Retail Price

$48.00

Distributors / Implementing Organizations

The product is manufactured by International Research and Development Africa Ltd and available through existing last-mile energy retailers.

Manufacturing/Building Method

The cookstove is produced by International Research & Development Africa Ltd and manufactured in Kenya from imported steel alloy rolls.

Intellectural Property Type

Patent Protected

User Provision Model

The users can obtain this product from last-mile energy retailers in Kenya.

Distributions to Date Status

At least 116 Bio Moto cookstoves have been sold in Kenya.

Design Specifications

The Bio Moto is manufactured in five different burner configurations, specifically 1, 2, 4, 6, and 8, and the dimensions and weight of the product vary accordingly. It accommodates a maximum pot size of 20 L, and the single burner unit has the following dimensions: 240 x 240 x 180 mm and weighs 3.125 kg.

Technical Support

Provided by the manufacturer

Replacement Components

Unknown

Lifecycle

The product has a warranty of 15 years for manufacturer defects

Manufacturer Specified Performance Parameters

The manufacturer's specified performance targets include: instant ignition, variable power control (0.8 - 4.0 kW) and smoke-free combustion.

Vetted Performance Status

A Water Boiling Test (WBT) and safety testing were conducted, with detailed testing results here

Safety

Potential safety hazards have been considered and graded by the University of Nairobi's Department of Chemistry, where it was awarded a rating of "Good", and scored 79.0 points. An in-depth breakdown of this safety analysis can be found here.

Complementary Technical Systems

The biofuel produced by the same manufacturer can be used as a substitute for kerosene or ethanol spirits.

Academic Research and References

Vianello, M., 2016, A Review of Cooking Systems for Humanitarian Settings, Toolkit for the Moving Energy Initiative.

Anditi, C., 2018, Co-designing systems for sustainable energy technologies in informal settlement households in Nairobi a case study of Mathare Valley informal settlement, College of Architecture and Engineering (CAE).

Bar, R., Heinimann, A. and Ehrensperger, A., 2017, Assessing the potential supply of biomass cooking fuels in Kilimanjaro region using land use units and spatial Bayesian networks, Energy for Sustainable Development, 40, pp 112-125.

Compliance with regulations

None

Other Information

The product has a video made by the designer