Soleckshaw – a rickshaw powered by solar electric power which was piloted in October, 2008 is now being launched as a green postal delivery vehicle in India. India post is piloting Soleckshaw as a delivery vehicle for postal parcels in a city of Rajasthan. In a survey in Pune, a postman travels 40-45 kms per day and carries a weight of 10-15 kgs per day. This is typically done by using a bicycle and can be grueling in Indian traffic and sun.  Soleckshaw can make this job easier. Soleckshaw is a Council of scientific and industrial research’s (CSIR) innovation. In association with Kinetic Motors the original was redesigned as a light delivery vehicle for India post.

Soleckshaw is a battery-powered and pedal assisted dual powered tricycle. Instead of pedaling – which is what the traditional rickshaw pullers do – soleckshaw will provide some battery support. When needed the driver can use some battery power to go uphill. Crompton Greeves has designed the robust low power high torque brushless direct current motor. Soleckshaw can lug around 200 kg weight not including the driver and can go up to 50 kms on  a single charge.As a value added service the battery can charge mobile phones and play an FM radio. CSIR has transferred the technology to three companies – Modular Machines, Faridabad; HBL Power Systems Limited, Hyderabad; and DEAN Systems, Kolkata  – for mass production.

Soleckshaw’s has gotten a huge government support in the recent union budget. The excise duty on the vehicle and any of its components is brought down to 4 percent. This would mean soleckshaw can use high powered motors and lighter lithium batteries without driving the manufacturing costs up. There will be 1,000 soleckshaw’s deployed in New Delhi for this year’s commonwealth games. These will be used to ferry athletes and officials from the newly built metro station to the sports venue. Several other organizations are involved as well:

The Advanced Materials & Process Research Institute (AMPRI), another constituent laboratory of CSIR, has provided excellent support for the Technology Demonstration Project (TDP) at Chandni Chowk. AMPRI’s fly ash jute-polymer composite-based instant housing unit houses the battery bank. The Centre for Rural Development (CRD), an NGO working on rickshaw banks in different cities, has joined the TDP as a partner for wider deployment of Soleckshaw. The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has provided the facility for accommodating the solar charging station at its Delhi Metro Station at Chandni Chowk. (source)

If it is battery powered what is solar about it?

The batteries are charged at charging stations which are solar powered. That is the only solar connection these rickshaws have. It doesn’t yet have a solar panel on top it which could recharge the battery. A 1m X 1.5 m panel can produce 300 W of power enough to power soleckshaw which needs 240 W. There are plans from CSIR to accommodate this in the future verisons of soleckshaw.

Soleckshaw is not without its share of problems.

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    • Initial cost: The cost is at least 2.5 times more than the traditional rickshaws and without government subsidies and microfinance support it cannot gain acceptance.
    • Maintenance: The batteries can last till 50 kms or for 6-8 hours and require a full day of charging. The charging stations are few and far between limiting the mass adoption. Text big problem is the maintenance. The batteries which have to be exchanged every day could cost quite a bit. The cost details are not out but this would certainly be coming out from the rickshaw puller’s pocket.
    • Charging stations: This by far is the biggest obstacle for soleckshaws. The charging station would cost quite a bit and very few establishments can set these up. Central Electronics Limited (CEL) and INSILICA, Calcutta are the only organizations ready to set up solar charging stations. Without private sector involvement this could be even bigger problem.

Most of the rickshaw pullers drafted for the pilot have returned the rickshaws because of these technical and financial difficulties. The success of such innovations largely depends on how well these issues are addressed. Until then the government have to limit the  use of these vehicles for India post deliveries and commonwealth games. For someone who is not used to any maintenance costs would be transferring these costs directly to the passengers. People prefer rickshaw transportation as it the cheapest mode available. With the new costs soleckshaw would no longer be the cheapest option available for the passengers.

Let me leave you with two videos of Soleckshaw in action. It is so easy even a kid can ride it.