YABATECH students unveil electric tricycle, AI delivery platform

Technology

LAGOS, Nigeria (Agency Report) — Students of Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH), Lagos, have showcased groundbreaking innovations — an electric tricycle and an AI‑powered food delivery platform — designed to address Nigeria’s transport, energy, and logistics challenges.

The projects were unveiled during an institutional innovation showcase, where students presented solutions to rising fuel costs, mobility constraints, and inefficiencies in urban delivery systems.

According to a statement issued on Sunday by Mr. Adekunle Adams, Deputy Registrar, Centre for Communication Information and Public Relations, the initiatives reflect YABATECH’s commitment to practical learning and real‑world impact.

Adams explained that Higher National Diploma Mechanical Engineering students, led by Chukwuma Chisom, converted a petrol‑powered TVS tricycle into a fully electric vehicle. The innovation, which emerged as the overall best project, replaces the combustion engine with a 72‑volt, 4‑kilowatt brushless DC motor, smart controller, and lithium battery system.

The prototype delivers about 45 kilometres per charge, while a proposed commercial model is projected to cover nearly 200 kilometres daily. Evaluators commended the project for its relevance to Nigeria’s transport and energy needs, noting its potential to reduce fuel dependence, cut costs, and promote eco‑friendly mobility.

Another highlight was an AI‑powered food delivery ecosystem developed by student innovator Uba Mathew. The platform leverages artificial intelligence to personalise user experience, streamline vendor operations, and optimise delivery routes. It integrates customer reviews, predictive demand systems, and rider performance evaluation to enhance accountability and service quality.

Adams said the innovation could benefit small food vendors by boosting visibility, improving order management, and addressing inefficiencies such as delays and poor coordination in existing delivery services.

Meanwhile, YABATECH Rector, Dr. Ibraheem Abdul, urged students to embrace creativity and technology, stressing that innovation is vital to economic growth. He reiterated the institution’s support for innovation‑driven education, noting that such initiatives position graduates for entrepreneurship and employment opportunities.