Cameroonian invents the mobile device to wash cars

The mobile device, a pressure washer to wash cars or dirty surfaces, is an invention of the Cameroonian Sylvain Honnang.

The people of Douala have discovered in recent weeks a curious machine that walked the neighborhoods of the economic capital of Cameroon. A Cameroonian has developed a pressure washer to wash cars or dirty surfaces. Unlike with a conventional gas station, this washer has an anti-waste dimension, which aims to instill ecological gestures.

Sylvain Honnang was born in Douala but now lives in London. After eight years of work, he created with a team of several people a washing mobile device, the Howash equipped with a spray of water at low pressure and a water reservoir with a capacity of 80 liters.
At first glance, it looks like a Kärcher, but environmentally respectful.
Where most similar devices use pollutant detergents, the “Howash” uses carnauba, a vegetable wax to polish the surfaces.

The leaves are imported from Mexico by the contractor, then the final product is manufactured in Douala. Big advantage compared to products commonly used in this type of machine: this vegetable wax is biodegradable.

Sylvain Honnang walked the streets of Douala to present his mobile device offering laundry and washing test for 1000 CFA francs (1.50 euros).
“In service stations in Douala, water is often wasted and chemicals released into the environment.”

Most of the inhabitants of Douala, when they want to wash their car, go to washing points, which often have bad practices. As there are few washing points in town, the waiting queues are often very long.

In addition, water is very often wasted in these stations. I have some friends who work in this field and who complain of very high bills they receive.

In addition, water and chemicals they use are often discarded in the gutters.
Ten years ago, I proposed them to correct their problems by changing their mode of operation: to become nomadic and go to the client.

After an internal study, we felt that it is possible to wash about 14 cars of this reservoir, using less than 6 liters of water every time, unlike the 100 – 300 liters of water required in traditional washing points.

The washing does not take more than 15 minutes. With this, I hope we can also raise awareness of water management, which is becoming a scarce resource.

Sylvain Honnang hides no secret that the innovation is still very expensive for a Cameroonian individual: with a cost of 3 million CFA francs (4,500 euros), only companies can afford this for now. He hopes to soon find funding to lower the cost.