CLAIM: The Saith FEV is a full self powering electric vehicle, which is powered entirely by radio waves.
SOURCE: Ministry of Information
VERDICT: False
Hold onto your hats, folks! Prepare to have your minds blown (and maybe a little bit melted) as we delve into the fantastical tale of the Zimbabwean whiz kid who, defying all known laws of physics and common sense, built a car that runs solely on the power of… wait for it… RADIO WAVES!
Yes, you read that right. Forget gas guzzlers, electric vehicles, and those pesky hybrid contraptions. This revolutionary invention, rumored to have sprung from the mind of a 14-year-old dropout, promises to usher in an era of free, limitless energy. And this was even featured at State House.
But hold your applause! Before you trade in your Tesla for a ride on this wave-powered wonder, let’s take a closer look at this claim. Because, as we all know, sometimes the most unbelievable stories are the ones that turn out to be… well, completely made up.
This enduring myth, despite repeated debunking, (in 2018 by Snopes and PolitiFact here and 2020 here by USAToday) continues to circulate, misleading and misinforming the public.
This time the ‘inventor’ took his act to Zimbabwe’s State House. The information ministry posted on X, ‘Chikumbutso is an inventor, entrepreneur, and founder of Saith Technologies and Saith Motors. He made one of the world’s first cars that need no fuel, no recharging, no input. The Saith FEV is a full self powering electric vehicle, which is powered entirely by radio waves’.
The permanent secretary also posted, ‘Maxwell Chikumbutso unpacking the Saith Vehicle, the name was inspired by his faith and drawn from Isaiah 49:7, “Thus says the Lord”. He was born on 10 November 1980 in Mazowe and grew up in Kuwadzana. After attending school up to form 2 level at Dzivarasekwa 2 High School he dropped out and began working on his first invention, a Radio broadcast transmitter in 1999.
#SAITH’.
The story was also picked up by mainstream media here and here.
The ‘inventor’ himself not to be left out, posted, ’I am excited to announce our partnership with Chinese automaker KAIYI, which has led to the development of the world’s first Free Energy Vehicle, the Kaiyi Saith, boasting unlimited driving range thanks to our innovative MSED technology. Now we have Racing Electric Motorbikes’.
Saith Technologies
The company’s website has details of its team. One of the team members is Harare Institute of Technology, Eng Quinton Kanhukamwe. While his biography mentions boards that he sits on, Saith Technologies is not mentioned.
It’s the same with ‘technical advisor, Nils Rognerud.
Chikumbutso has previously claimed to have invented a self powering television and helicopter.
Kaiyi Saith
Chikumbutso in his post does not speak of a ‘full powering electric vehicle, which is powered entirely by radio waves’. He claims that he has partnered with ‘Chinese automaker KAIYI, which has led to the development of the world’s first Free Energy Vehicle, the Kaiyi Saith, boasting unlimited driving range thanks to our innovative MSED technology’.
There is no mention of a Kaiyi Saith model on the company’s website or elsewhere.
Kaiyi mentions that its cars use a lithium ion phosphate battery with a capacity of 53.7 kilowatts. It has an electric engine.
Conclusion
The claim that a Zimbabwean inventor, Maxwell Chikumbutso has invented a Saith FEV, ‘a full self powering electric vehicle, which is powered entirely by radio waves’ is false. The claim has been debunked numerous times since 2018. While the ministry announced this Saith FEV, the ‘inventor’ himself announced a Kaiyi Saith on his X account. The car he showcased at State House is a Kaiyi X3 Pro electric car powered by a lithium-ion-phosphate battery.
