Solar powered rickshaw in Kerala

In Kochi, South India, e-rickshaws (tuktuk) the three wheeler Hybrid powered by solar energy and electric, manufactured by a consortium by Goenco Electric Motor Vehicles Ltd and Lohia Autos. The solar autos cost £1600 (Rs1.5lakhs).

The vehicle combine the benefits of solar and electric motor, and efficiently use the automatic transmission continuously variable transmission (CVT), and change the drive ratio more steadily allowing the engine to run on rpm range, with the small battery pack and electric traction motor allows the vehicle to most effectively operate in pure electric mode powered by a 1.5kW motor run on a 100Ah lithium ion battery, with 1.5 meter solar panel fitted on the top of the tuktuk one meter long and 1.5 meter wide, fully charging the battery with 6 hour exposure and fuel upto 100km in one shot with a maximum speed of 30km.

 

The cost running the e-rickshaws are only 25 pisa compared to Rs 2/75 per km using diesel autos.

Pollution free solar rickshaws are here to help the mass public transporting system in India. Georgekutty Kariyanappally the innovator behind the solar e- ricksahws who also invented solar poultry incubator, solar cow milking machine and solar country boat and is the author of a best seller about renewable energy called “Keralam Sauvorjathilaike”

Kochi-based Life Way Solar Device Ltd has opened its first showroom with e-rickshaws.