Tolulope Olukokun

Olukokun Tolulope is contributing to the development of e-mobility across Africa. As founding director of the start-up for electric cargo bikes ThinkBikes, Tolulope is providing a sustainable solution for last-mile transportation. Additionally, as a Director at AfricaNEV, an organization dedicated to accelerating the adoption of electric mobility across the continent, Tolulope is working towards a clean future for transportation in Africa. Both organization’s mission is to advance sustainable mobility solutions that address the unique challenges of the African market. Tolulope holds Master’s degrees in Mechanical Engineering and Computer Science from Nigeria’s leading universities and is currently pursuing a Master’s in Sustainable Urban Mobility Transitions at UPC Barcelona.

Short interview

What project are you working on – and what goals do you want to achieve with it?

I am working to expand AfricaNEV's initiatives to include policy development and advocacy, research innovation, and the launch of a fact sheet and infographics to foster dialogue on electric mobility across Africa. 

The goal is to drive policy development, promote transport and mobility transitions, and create an inclusive platform where stakeholders can share challenges, insights, and successful projects. This will help increase awareness, education, and collaboration in the e-mobility sector while showcasing market feasibility and impactful projects across the continent.

What is the most important takeaway you gained during the fellowship for your work?

During the Agora Transport Fellowship, I gained invaluable insights into transport and mobility transitions, especially regarding the challenges faced in Germany and Europe. I learned that policy engagement and development play a crucial role in fostering the transition, and that delaying action can be costly both economically and environmentally.

I also discovered innovative approaches to tackling these challenges and believe that the knowledge and skills I have acquired through this fellowship equip me to initiate meaningful change in my country and region. Additionally, I’ve become more aware of the importance of cross-sector collaboration and stakeholder engagement to drive forward sustainable transport solutions globally.

What was the most surprising insight for you?

One of the most surprising insights I gained during the Agora Transport Fellowship was the realisation that conflicting opinions about the transformation of transport in Germany are significantly slowing down progress. Despite Germany's strong engineering heritage, these debates are a major obstacle to achieving the targets set. 

Another unexpected revelation was the scepticism about green hydrogen as an alternative to battery electric vehicles (BEVs). There is currently no hard data to prove that hydrogen will be cost effective or energy efficient compared to BEVs now or in the future. This made me wonder why some major organisations are still heavily betting on hydrogen.