The Capital is turning green with a vengeance. After promoting the use of electric cars and the use of green technologies, Delhi will soon see the solar-powered rickshaws on its roads.
Around 1,000 of these rickshaws, which come in three variants, will be introduced in different parts of the Capital by June. Senior officials of the Delhi government's environment department said the final plan is to increase the number of such rickshaws, also called soleckshaws, to at least 10,000.
The plans also include allowing the use of these rickshaws by licensed operators at key archaeological sites, education institutions, corporate campuses, for waste disposal and in carrying goods in old, congested markets such as Chawri Bazaar, Chandni Chowk and Sadar Bazaar.
The state government's environment department is considering a subsidy proposal to these solar-powered (battery fitted) rickshaws that can attain a maximum speed of up to 25 km/hr.
"We already provide subsidies to green, battery-powered vehicles that operate in the city. Such vehicles get a 15 per cent subsidy on base price, VAT exemption and road tax refund. A similar proposal is under consideration for these rickshaws," a senior officer of the state environment department said.
The licences of these rickshaws have been approved by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi which will also select the routes (or areas) where they will operate. Government officials said areas where these rickshaws will be introduced in the first phase are Dwarka, Delhi University, Rohini, Pitampura and trans-Yamuna areas (East and North-East Delhi).
These rickshaws have been designed and developed by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) with the Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute (CMERI). These designs are now being manufactured by six manufacturers selected by the government.
The rickshaw's three variants are: Rs.45,000 (for a metal frame body), Rs.75,000 (for a plastic frame) and Rs.85,000 (plastic frame with a better battery). The range for the basic variant is 40km per charge. It will take four to six hours to charge a battery. The plastic frame rickshaw will run 80km per charge, while the top of the line model will run a 100km per charge.
Harish Kumar, managing director of Green Wheels India - one of the firms which will supply these rickshaws across the Capital said the preparations were in full swing.
"We intend to meet the target by June this year. We are already interviewing the rickshawpullers. Those selected will be given basic training. We will also be transferring the licenses to them. They already pay around Rs.40-50 per day for each rickshaw to the mafia. They will pay a similar EMI to us but end up owning the rickshaw," Kumar said.
He said his firm was already in the process of setting up solar panels all over the Capital, where the rickshaws could be recharged. Talks were also on with a leading petrol pump chain to set up charging stations, Kumar added.
Other than being eco-friendly, efficient and faster, government officials feel these soleckshaws will also be a great help to the old and the weak - who too work as rickshaw pullers in the city.
These licenses will be valid for the next three years. Manufacturers and government officials said that once the concept becomes popular and more of these rickshaws are introduced, their manufacturing cost will come down.
SOURCE: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/now-solar-powered-rickshaws-for-green-delhi/1/176104.html
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| Soleckshaws or solarpowered rickshaws |
Around 1,000 of these rickshaws, which come in three variants, will be introduced in different parts of the Capital by June. Senior officials of the Delhi government's environment department said the final plan is to increase the number of such rickshaws, also called soleckshaws, to at least 10,000.
The plans also include allowing the use of these rickshaws by licensed operators at key archaeological sites, education institutions, corporate campuses, for waste disposal and in carrying goods in old, congested markets such as Chawri Bazaar, Chandni Chowk and Sadar Bazaar.
The state government's environment department is considering a subsidy proposal to these solar-powered (battery fitted) rickshaws that can attain a maximum speed of up to 25 km/hr.
"We already provide subsidies to green, battery-powered vehicles that operate in the city. Such vehicles get a 15 per cent subsidy on base price, VAT exemption and road tax refund. A similar proposal is under consideration for these rickshaws," a senior officer of the state environment department said.
The licences of these rickshaws have been approved by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi which will also select the routes (or areas) where they will operate. Government officials said areas where these rickshaws will be introduced in the first phase are Dwarka, Delhi University, Rohini, Pitampura and trans-Yamuna areas (East and North-East Delhi).
These rickshaws have been designed and developed by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) with the Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute (CMERI). These designs are now being manufactured by six manufacturers selected by the government.
The rickshaw's three variants are: Rs.45,000 (for a metal frame body), Rs.75,000 (for a plastic frame) and Rs.85,000 (plastic frame with a better battery). The range for the basic variant is 40km per charge. It will take four to six hours to charge a battery. The plastic frame rickshaw will run 80km per charge, while the top of the line model will run a 100km per charge.
Harish Kumar, managing director of Green Wheels India - one of the firms which will supply these rickshaws across the Capital said the preparations were in full swing.
"We intend to meet the target by June this year. We are already interviewing the rickshawpullers. Those selected will be given basic training. We will also be transferring the licenses to them. They already pay around Rs.40-50 per day for each rickshaw to the mafia. They will pay a similar EMI to us but end up owning the rickshaw," Kumar said.
He said his firm was already in the process of setting up solar panels all over the Capital, where the rickshaws could be recharged. Talks were also on with a leading petrol pump chain to set up charging stations, Kumar added.
Other than being eco-friendly, efficient and faster, government officials feel these soleckshaws will also be a great help to the old and the weak - who too work as rickshaw pullers in the city.
These licenses will be valid for the next three years. Manufacturers and government officials said that once the concept becomes popular and more of these rickshaws are introduced, their manufacturing cost will come down.
SOURCE: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/now-solar-powered-rickshaws-for-green-delhi/1/176104.html
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