2 min readNew DelhiOct 1, 2008 12:00 AM IST
First published on: Oct 1, 2008 at 02:30 PM IST
The historic Chandni Chowk areas of the national capital will soon witness solar-powered cycle rickshaws buzzing past its crowded arterial roads.
Developed by Durgapur-based Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute CMERI, the green rickshaw, named Soleckshaw, will be launched in Chandni Chowk on the occasion of birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.
The pedicab, built from the scratch within eight months, is easy to drive, both on plain as well as uphill roads, without any strain of imbalance, common in current cycle rickshaws.
It a re-designed version of the ubiquitous cycle rickshaw, is equipped with a robust low-power high-torque brush less DC motor developed by Crompton Greaves on specifications provided by CMERI.
Weighing about 200 kg, the pedicab, run by solar-powered battery, can ply at a maximum speed of 15 kmph.
“The Soleckshaw is robust and ergonomically designed to take the drudgery out of rickshaw pulling,” Gopal Sinha, Director CMERI said.
A central solar panel has been set up in the Chandani Chowk Metro station area where the batteries for Soleckshaw can be re-charged.
These green environment friendly rickshaws are expected to ply within a three-kilometre radius from the metro station.
The solar-powered rickshaws will be initially introduced as a pilot project in Chandni Chowk and later extended to other areas in the city.
Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit will launch the Soleckshaw tomorrow in the presence of Science and Technology Minister and Chandani Chowk MP Kapil Sibal.
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