Bangalore: Engineer builds solar-electric auto rickshaw; plans to drive it to London


Bangalore, Jul 14 (Reuters): Naveen Rabelli's tuk-tuk broke down the first time he rolled it out of his garage. The electrical engineer didn't lose heart: now, he plans to drive his customised three-wheeler all the way to London.

Rabelli will leave India next year on a 9,600-km odyssey through 10 countries to promote the idea of environmentally friendly travel. His tuk-tuk, or auto rickshaw, is powered entirely by electricity and solar power.

"What better way is there to travel? The tuk-tuk is an Indian icon and this vehicle does not pollute the air in any way," Rabelli, 33, told Reuters as he rode alongside a lake in Bangalore.

Since quitting his job with Reva, a unit of Indian car maker Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd that makes electric vehicles, Rabelli has spent two years tinkering with his second-hand tuk-tuk.

Equipped with a new motor, battery and gearbox, the bright red vehicle - named Tejas, a Sanskrit word meaning splendour or brilliance - now bears little resemblance to the sputtering, diesel-fuelled three-wheelers ubiquitous on India's roads.

A tonne when fully loaded, it weighs double a normal auto rickshaw. Its roof is made entirely from solar panels and cloth drapes protect its open sides from the elements.

Eight hours of battery charge will carry the tuk-tuk fewer than 50 miles, while five hours' exposure to the sun will allow Tejas to push on for another 16 miles. That's a lot of recharging stops on the road to London.

The project has already cost Rabelli his life savings of about $6,000. Before he leaves, he needs to raise more cash to reinforce the tuk-tuk's rickety flooring and to buy a lithium-ion battery to replace the old lead-acid power source.

He says, however, that his vehicle is more economical than a typical auto rickshaw: the solar-electric variant can run 100 km on less than a dollar, while a tuk-tuk running on diesel would require about $4 to go the same distance.

Rabelli plans to ride his tuk-tuk from Bangalore to Mumbai, before putting it on a boat to Iran. Picking up the journey on the Persian Gulf, he will ride to Turkey before crossing into Bulgaria and heading across Europe to the French port of Calais.

For most of the journey, Rabelli and travel companion Raoul Kopacka will sleep on mattresses in the back of the tuk-tuk.

Rabelli said he chose Kopacka, who plans to film a documentary of the journey, ahead of other applicants because the 26-year-old Austrian is just short enough to lie down full-length in the back of the vehicle.

  

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Comment on this article

  • Gautam Chaudhury, Cuttack

    Thu, Jul 24 2014

    I am interested to be associated for Odisha marketing
    Gautam Chaudhury
    09937044148

    DisAgree [2] Agree [2] Reply Report Abuse

  • Yusuf, Permude

    Tue, Jul 15 2014

    I request daijiworld to give more details of this auto rickshaw like what is the capacity of battery and how solar power is converted to mechanical power.

    DisAgree [4] Agree [9] Reply Report Abuse

  • John DSouza, Belman/Bejai/Qatar

    Tue, Jul 15 2014

    Congratulations Mr. Naveen Rabelli
    The surface transport sector is ripe for a rapid revolution.

    Solar power is a renewable energy which needs expensive infrastructure to obtain, store and use. Source is available during day time only and with good sun shine.
    Gravity force is natural, abundant, free, ready to use and available 24x7. No infrastructure is required to generate or store.
    Huge dead-weight (of commuters and goods) on wheels can be a powerful pushing force. We have enormous weight on wheels by overcrowded commuters and over loaded goods. Why we carry the burden like infants by facing severe problems?
    Option is to generate energy, instead of merely consuming a huge volume of expensive fuel. Are we ready for a change to have solutions?
    The opportunity is to save fuel, eliminate pollutions and reduce costs, reduction in oil import bills and fuel subsidies, surplus balance (instead of CAD), availability of huge funds for infrastructure and development, job creation, improvement in health and education, reduction in poverty level, peaceful society, stable economy and clean environment, journey towards becoming a developed nation as we dreamt off.
    Are we ready to implement?
    If we can get free, offload, feel free and relaxed, why to pay, carry and suffer?

    DisAgree [3] Agree [9] Reply Report Abuse

  • Alex, Mangalore

    Tue, Jul 15 2014

    Nothing extra ordinary is going to happen.
    Not even our own government will help this type of projects from private experts. How our multi million corporations will make money if these are helped.
    Moreover all innovative ideas are killed or nipped in the bud, once the middle eastern shiekhs come to know of these, and they buy these experts outright.
    That ends the whole story and it has been since 1970s.

    DisAgree [3] Agree [7] Reply Report Abuse

  • AUBB, Kuwait

    Mon, Jul 14 2014

    Why waste money and time to travel to Europe, where there are few takers for this kind of transport?

    Why not spend the money on improving money on increasing efficiency by importing or locally sourcing the necessary panels, battery and other equipment to make it look good to the eyes and a more practical mode of transport?

    There could be many Indian cos. that may interested to give you a helping hand too.

    DisAgree [5] Agree [8] Reply Report Abuse

  • chamaraja A. Rao, Mangalore, Las Vegas, Nev, USA

    Mon, Jul 14 2014

    Innovative idea saving fuel and pollution. Eco-friendly, less noise and a worthwhile idea with bigger renovations for possible commercial use.

    DisAgree [4] Agree [7] Reply Report Abuse

  • vivek, hirebile / abu dhabi

    Mon, Jul 14 2014

    Good job by Naveen Rabelli...but Fact is that United States already tried Solar panel's Areoplane on 2013....but we are trying this TUK TUK now!!....thats the difference...Interesting thing is all the way to London...Enjoy trip !!

    DisAgree [5] Agree [10] Reply Report Abuse

  • Ronald, Mangalore

    Mon, Jul 14 2014

    We have talented people like Naveen Rebelli. Sad thing is that the government is not supportive. If there was a proper support then Naveen would have very neatly built it with the fund from the government. He had to just manage with whatever saving he had. Congrats to Naveen and very well done. Wish you all the best for the new innovations.

    DisAgree [4] Agree [24] Reply Report Abuse

  • Fredrick DSouza, Shirthady / Doha

    Mon, Jul 14 2014

    I have a wish one day (sooner than later) we will be able to illuminate our houses offices restaurants solar energy disconnecting from the power network which is achievable contributing to environment safe guard. Solar vehicles is a dream which need to make impossible possible.

    DisAgree [3] Agree [15] Reply Report Abuse

  • Vijay P, Mangalore

    Mon, Jul 14 2014

    Solar powered house do already exist, only that we are too backward. Countries like South Africa pay you for producing more energy than you use (adding to the grid). All we need is some knowledge (watch some you tube videos), some creativity and of course some capital. I think Mr. Rabelli should go to Delhi rather than London, he might have forgot we are not a British Raj anymore. Narendra Modi is in Delhi not London if I am right? What say William?

    DisAgree [4] Agree [13] Reply Report Abuse

  • John DSouza, Beman/Bejai/Qatar

    Tue, Jul 15 2014

    If we get a good relief from fuel, pollution and costs (manufacturing, maintenance and running), we can make extensive use of solar power for our all other energy needs.
    The required funds can be utilized from the saved amount (due to drastic reduction in fuel import bills and oil subsidies) as the solar energy incurs huge infra costs

    DisAgree [1] Agree [6] Reply Report Abuse

  • Rudolf, Mumbai

    Mon, Jul 14 2014

    Great development, congrats bro!!

    Universities flush with funds should encourage their students to develop such type of vehicles/devices which will considerably decrease the costs and will be of considerable help for the "common man" with India mainly in focus, rather than waste precious time and money on developing fancy "Formula 1 racer cars" which are only a "leisure game" for the elite, and serve no purpose for the masses!!!

    DisAgree [1] Agree [30] Reply Report Abuse

  • NISHAR AHMED, UAE

    Mon, Jul 14 2014

    GREAT WORK NAVEER REBELLI, GOOD LUCK..

    DisAgree [1] Agree [18] Reply Report Abuse

  • Ashok Bhat, Mangalore

    Mon, Jul 14 2014

    Hearty Congratulation. All the best.Your journey may be to Landon but your name will reach all over the world. Your are one of The Great Indian. Your spirit should be inspire other to do good things

    DisAgree [2] Agree [28] Reply Report Abuse

  • Krishna, Mangalore

    Mon, Jul 14 2014

    Good luck Mr Rabelli.... for your noble invention & contribution

    DisAgree [4] Agree [43] Reply Report Abuse

  • William Rodrigues, Milagres, Mangalore

    Mon, Jul 14 2014

    Rabelli,
    Firstly please accept our hearty congratulations on achieving such a wonderful thing. This will be a boon to future mankind.
    I wish you good luck in your mission and God bless you.

    DisAgree [5] Agree [47] Reply Report Abuse


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