The plans to adopt the Solar Rickshaw, like the ones in Delhi, in other cities such as Chandigarh makes one wonder about the misplaced focus and euphoria of reducing the carbon footprint of a already zero-emission vehicle, the cycle-rickshaw. Solecshaws are indeed a great step forward, but in this euphoric hype several important issues and questions are conveniently pushed under the rug
Media hype completely puts things out of perspective. In the case of technology, I am afriad that such euphoria will kill the technology with raised expectations that will not be fulfilled. I fear the same for Delhi’s ’soleckshaw.’
If you walk down the streets of Delhi, India, you’ll probably notice the multitude of pedal-driven rickshaws. And while some may protest that the rickshaws—mostly driven by migrants from poor Indian states—are uncivilized, the new Soleckshaw could make rickshaws palatable even to human rights activists.
CSIR director Sinha said: “In the age of global warming, the soleckshaw, with improvements, can be successfully developed as competition for all the petrol and diesel run small cars.”
There are about 8 million rickshaw drivers in India. It is hoped that the new, solar power rickshaws will enhance the vehicle’s image, and allow it to become an even more favorable mode of transportation. It is thought that the new powered rickshaws will attract an entirely new middle class clientele.
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