Mumbai engineer designs solar tri-cycle to replace autos

With citizens and government bodies looking to promote bicycles, a city-based engineer has claimed to have invented a solar-motor pedi-cab, (a tricycle of sorts) that could potentially replace the traditional auto rickshaw.

Chunabhatti-based PK Pillai has now sent the designs to IIT-Bombay for comments are looking for funding to promote the model commercially.

The solar powered version of the humble cycle-rickshaw promises to offer a solution to the urban traffic woes in the suburbs.

“It’s like the tri-cycle that is run in northern states of India and in cities like London. My effort has gone into reducing that labour that goes into peddling the tri-cycle. A battery operated motor that could be recharged by solar power is the USP of the invention,” said Pillai, who has been involved with instrumentation and has over 32 years experience in industrial design.

When asked how the model is different from a similar solar-based tri-cycle displayed at a recent auto show in Delhi designed by the state-run Centre for Scientific and Industrial Research, Pillai said, “The smoothness of the movement of any vehicle depends on the contact between two surfaces. Take the example of the train on how easy and effortless is it for a locomotive to pull a longer train. The steel wheels and steel rails make the movement faster and effortless. I have applied similar principles,” he said.

“The experiments need to be conducted in a professional set up and am looking for funding to promote the invention. I am sure it could turn out to be a positive alternative to the auto rickshaws that ply in Mumbai,” Pillai said.

“It will not fall short of any expectations that is why I am trying to get funds to run a prototype,” he assured.

Transport expert Sudhir Badami said, “The idea of cycle rickshaws has been existing in smaller cities like Nagpur and in Mumbai, we can implement it in certain small areas like Bhendi Bazar. An electronic cycle rickshaw has been similarly developed by Nimbkar Agricultural Research Institute. Inventions are available, we need to chose the best among them and promote and encourage the idea of cycling.”

A Mumbai Autorickhaw Union official said, “If both the customer and the driver find it economical and comfortable, we would not mind a change.”