Solar Powered Rickshaws launched in New Delhi.

Soleckshaws or solar-electric rickshaws were launched in Dehi, on Oct 2, 2008, by Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit. Initially, they will be offered to rickshaw -pullers in the Old Delhi area.

The Mark-I Soleckshaws (first version) have been developed by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).The CSIR has said that the dual-powered Solecshaws have been developed to provide employment to the masses, and to reduce pollution in the city. Unlike any other vehicles, the Soleckshaws have no carbon footprint and does not use up limited fossil fuel.
The design and prototype of the Soleckshaws have been developed by the Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute (CMERI). It took eight months to design and develop the Soleckshaws.
The solar electric rickshaw can seat two passengers; can carry a payload of 200 kg, excluding the driver. The Soleckshaw will be battery operated that will be charged by solar energy. The electric motor in the solar electric rickshaw is powered by a low power high torque brushless DC motor and will move the three wheels of the rickshaw. Pedalling is an option, if more speed is required.
The Soleckshaws will come with mobile recharging facilities and FM radio. They are priced at at Rs 7,000, at par with the older manual cyclerickshaws. They are of the same size and shape approximately as the pedal-powered rickshaws - so they will be able to navigate straight and uphills roads easily, without any strain of imbalance.
The Soleckshaws were launched at the Chandni Chowk metro station, in Old Delhi. A battery -re-charge station has been set up by the Central Electronics Limited (CEL) near the Chandni Chowk Metro station. The battery can run for 70 kms. The cost of recharging the battery is Rs 45. Rickshaw-pullers will be provided with an alternative battery for the time that his battery is being re-charged.
The pilot project will be spearheaded by the Centre for Rural Development (CRD. The advanced versions of the Soleckshaws, Mark-II and Mark-III will be ready in 2010, before the commonwealth games. The Mark-II and Mark-III Soleckshaws will have better speed, seats and driving position.