ECOCA

Target SDGs

Market Suggested Retail Price

$450.00

Target Users (Target Impact Group)

Household, Community, NGOs

Distributors / Implementing Organizations

The pilot units of this product are being distributed by the manufacturer through partner organizations. In Malawi, the company has partnered with the UN World Food Programme for its distribution. Other partners include Care, Caritas and Mercy Corps together with whom among other projects school- and community kitchens have been established. Pesitho partners with different organizations for distribution and financing.

Competitive Landscape

Direct competitors include Solar PV Cook-stove.

Manufacturing/Building Method

Manufacturing in China and locally in Uganda.^{Interview with Pesitho in 2022}

Intellectural Property Type

Select Type

User Provision Model

The designers have not yet selected their user provision model.^{Interview with Pesitho in 2022}

Distributions to Date Status

Unknown

Design Specifications

The ECOCA is a compact, self-contained, multi-purpose home cooking unit, run by solar energy. It is to be imagined as a fully working kitchen, which can provide an entire family in a rural area with food and electricity throughout the whole day. It consists of an electric base, which includes a battery pack, a solar panel array and a highly insulated cooking pot that can keep food warm for hours.  The small size and light weight of the ECOCA make it possible to install and use in all sorts of areas, making it extremely suitable and valuable for places like refugee camps in African countries, enabling the families that live in these spaces to prepare food for themselves at all times. The electricity generated from the solar panel and stored in the battery can easily cover the average cooking needs of a whole family. More precisely, that means that an average family of 5-7 members can cook 3 meals a day, also several hours after dark.^{Interview with Pesitho in 2022}

Product Schematics

Technical Support

Technical advisors, cooking agents and business managers locally employed in Uganda help customers with technical difficulties. Furthermore, there is support through the Support Page including guidelines on correct usage and troubleshooting.

Replacement Components

ECOCA is a modular system. Spare parts are available locally for easy replacement.^{Interview with Pesitho in 2022}

Lifecycle

The battery has a lifespan of 5 years. It is a modular system, so components can be changed to prolong the lifetime.^{Interview with Pesitho in 2022}

Manufacturer Specified Performance Parameters

The manufacturer specifies the following: 90% efficiency, 400 W nominal heating, and 450 W peak heating.^{Interview with Pesitho in 2022}

Vetted Performance Status

Unknown

Safety

Standard safety precautions should be taken when working around hot surfaces to prevent burns.

Complementary Technical Systems

Pesitho also offers a solar home system with USB ports.^{Interview with Pesitho in 2022}

Academic Research and References

Compliance with regulations

Unknown

Evaluation methods

Unknown

Other Information

None