Swedish electric motorbike manufacturer Cake has teamed up with the Southern African Wildlife College (SAWC) near Kruger National Park to produce the Kalk AP – an anti-poaching electric motorbike. Motorbikes are considered the best way of patrolling areas suffering widespread poaching and, crucially, an electric bike doesn’t prematurely warn poachers of the rangers’ presence.

Areas where there is a lot of poaching are often large, remote and short on roads. Motorbikes are therefore commonly used for anti-poaching efforts, but petrol and diesel bikes can be heard from many miles away.

The 11kW Kalk AP has a top speed of 90km/h and a range of approximately three hours on typical off-road terrain.

Enhancing its eco-credentials, the bike is charged by solar power. Every motorcycle comes with a solar panel and power station kit from Goal Zero, which means that it can operate in the African bush away from the main electrical grid.

“It is somewhat unreal how the sun and solar power, together with the technology of these silent off-road motorbikes, can serve as something of a perpetual machine that works toward the general obligation of sustainability and – in this specific instance – to serve the purpose of saving species from extinction,” remarked Cake founder and CEO, Stefan Ytterborn.

The Kalk AP will initially be produced in a limited run of 50 bikes. These are being made available as a ‘charity combo’ where each bike purchased will also mean a second bike and a solar power station being provided to the SAWC.

The price is €25,000.

SAWC CEO Theresa Sowry commented: "This partnership to test new technologies for innovative conservation solutions is extremely exciting.

“We are very proud to be partnering with Cake and Goal Zero to test these electric off-road bikes given the impact that this could have on countering poaching across Africa.”