The plans to adopt the Solar Rickshaw, like the ones in Delhi, in other cities such as Chandigarh make one wonder about the misplaced focus and euphoria of reducing the carbon footprint of an already zero-emission vehicle, the cycle-rickshaw.

Picture: Soleckshaw: Solar Powered Rickshaw in Old Delhi

Soleckshaws are indeed a great step forward, but in this euphoric hype several important issues and questions are conveniently pushed under the rug: the soleckshaw is about three times as expensive as the cycle-rickshaw ($440 (Rs. 22000) as against $170 (Rs 8500)); secondhand ones or those remodelled from old bicycles are cheaper still. If the rickshaw-pullers could not afford their own rickshaw at $170 (Rs 8500), how are they more likely to become proud-owners by being able to afford the $440 (Rs 22000) one? How will the rickshaw-puller be able to handle the additional costs of electric-charging, batteries, solar-panels etc., on the soleckshaw if they could not look beyond the leasing-option on the no-such-additional-costs cycle-rickshaw? The dream of making the lessee rickshaw-pullers self-reliant, proud owners too needs greater planning and market research. If not, then the Center for Rural Development’s loans for soleckshaw may well turn-out to be as faulty and nearly as “toxic” as the US housing-market ones that are responsible for current economic woes globally.

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Picture: Soleckshaw: Solar Powered Rickshaw being piloted in Chandni Chowk, Old Delhi

My big fear from media in relation to technology is hype. 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.’ The soleckshaw is being presented as the grand, all-in-one solution to all kinds of things: from respect for the rickshaw-pullers to global warming. Soleckshaw has also been discussed here on Ecowordly and Planetsave in earlier postings.

Soleckshaw’s obvious advantages seem to be speed, ergonomics (especially for the driver), better balance and strength, looks and accessories. If things go well, it could help a lot: the solar rickshaw is undoubtedly more humane than the existing human-powered rickshaw; it would encourage people to use public transport (like the Delhi metro spreading its tentacles to distant ends of the metropole of Delhi) by adding end-point to end-point strength to trains that otherwise leave people to fend-for solutions at the two ends. The big benefits will, probably, come from providing viable alternatives to private cars, scooters, motorcycles or small buses that shuttle people from metro stations  and are both the cause and victims of traffic jams. Naturally, its biggest gain would be a humane-gain: reducing back-breaking labor.

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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.

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Logging its first miles in Delhi, the soleckshaw can be pedaled normally or powered by a 36-volt solar battery. Developed by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, (CSIR) the new solar-powered taxis have hit the streets for a test drive.  The soleckshaws include FM radios and the ability to power up cell phones while driving.  The battery allows the taxi to travel 15 km per hour (9.3 mph) for up to 42 miles.

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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