A group of engineering students in the Indian state of Punjab has set an example by turning an electricity-based e-rickshaw into a solar-powered e-rickshaw. The students did a successful test run of the model that can be environment friendly and a model that can enhance the income of e-rickshaw drivers, who otherwise have to wait at least eight hours to recharge the fully depleted batteries.
The Global Group of Institutes students successfully launched the solar-powered e-rickshaw under the guidance of Prof Parminderjit Singh, who termed the product "aesthetically attractive, aerodynamic and environment-friendly."
The students who worked for the project include Jobanpreet Singh, Ankush Kumar, Chetan Kumar, Karandeep Singh, Karamjit Singh.
Prof Parminderjit who spoke to the media in Amritsar said, "The students found a major limitation in the traditional electricity charged e-rickshaws. They are generally charged during the night, which affects the daily earnings of the drivers as they have to restrict the vehicle's movement for about eight hours. This solar-powered e-rickshaw does not have any need to stop the vehicle to charge batteries. It can charge during the day, run and keep the battery ready even for night hours."
"The solar project's costs around INR 17,800, and the same can be recovered in a year," he said.
Besides saving the environment from pollution, the drivers of e-rickshaws can also save money on charging the batteries.
Praising the efforts of the students and their guide, Dr Akashdeep Singh, Vice-Chairman, Global Group of Institutes (GGI), said the project would reduce the carbon footprints by 1,260 pounds annually per e-rickshaw.
"If the same is implemented by all e-rickshaws plying in a city like Amritsar, it will reduce the dependence on thermally generated electricity and help the drivers earn more besides saving the environment from pollution," he said.
Commenting on the new model's quality control and its viability in the market, Dr MS Saini, Director, GGI, said: "The complete working modifications of the vehicle were done within the resources available to the team at the High-Performance Automobiles, Center of Excellence of Global Institutes using the 3D Autocad Software of CREO 2.0. The design and fabrication were done under the guidance of the faculty of Mechanical Engineering."
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