As India embraces sustainable living, Kerala-based innovators Jacob Thekkekara, Azim Hashmi, and Abdul Hadi Mutheri have developed a one-of-a-kind solar-powered electric tricycle.
Unlike existing e-rickshaws that focus on passengers, the solar-powered vehicle was built to transport goods.
“We realised that while there were e-rickshaws, there were not any with a load-bearing capacity for transporting goods,” says Jacob, the co-founder of Sugrah Mobility.
A key feature of the tricycle is its pedal-assisted charging mechanism.“Even if the battery is depleted and you do not have a source to charge it, you can simply pedal the vehicle, and it will be recharged,” says Jacob.
With variable gears, all-wheel braking, and robust tires, the vehicle caters to both heavy and light loads. It can carry up to 300 kg of weight!
Ideal for small businesses, factories, and warehouses, the tricycle also aids food vendors and waste collectors, tackling the logistical challenges of e-vehicles.
“Imagine the challenge of charging 13,000 e-rickshaws for garbage collection in a city like Chennai. This scenario could lead to a significant failure. This is where our fully solar-powered vehicles come into play,” highlights Jacob.
In comparison to grid-charged electric vehicles, the solar-powered tricycle has potential to reduce emissions from 19 gm to 0.5 gm of CO2 per km.
The vehicle is priced starting at Rs 1 lakh — the electric variant is priced at Rs 1,50,000, and the manual variant is priced at Rs 1,30,000.