How We Designed Battery Rental For a 500M+ Person Problem
A solar battery rental app and operator system, designed for low-connectivity environments and launched across 12 sites.
Launched across 12 bp forecourts in Johannesburg, with 20 customers renting in the first week.
BP sites at launch
Customers in the first week
A day to rent a solar battery
The challenge
500+ million Africans lack reliable electricity. Another 200 million rely on some form of solar power. South Africa has a grid, but power cuts are frequent - leaving entire communities dark for months.
For small business owners, that can mean closing a hair salon for a month with zero income. Battery rental changes the maths: $2.35 a day for a solar battery that runs lights, TVs and appliances for several hours.
What we did
As part of a 3-person design team, we designed the customer rental app and operator management system. Built for low-connectivity environments, basic Android devices, real use cases: hair salons, music studios, photography studios, church services, convenience stores all powered by rental batteries.
We designed for actual context. Tested with real business owners in Tembisa. Built a scalable design system for expansion to Nigeria and beyond.
The $2 Rental Batteries Helping to Power South Africa
Read the articleThe outcome
Launched at 12 BP sites, 20 customers first week, featured in the New York Times.
