Riding to Green Games on a 'Soleckshaw'!

Here come the 'Soleckshaws'. Thousands of athletes and officials taking part in the Commonwealth Games here this year will get to travel in solar rickshaws - a zero carbon vehicle.

"We are introducing a fleet of 1,000 Soleckshaws (the name of solar rickshaws) for the Commonwealth Games players," Rajesh Kumar, a senior scientist at the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), told IANS.

"These Soleckshaws are the greenest transport vehicles. They will also help the cause of the Green Games as promised by the Delhi government," said the scientist, who has been coordinating with the state government for this project.

Over 7,000 players and delegates from over 70 countries will reach Delhi to be a part of the Commonwealth Games Oct 3-14 in the national capital.

It was developed by the Durgapur-based Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute, one of the 30-odd laboratories of CSIR, the apex science research body in the country. The technology has been transferred to three companies - one each in Faridabad, Hyderabad and Kolkata.

"These zero carbon vehicles will ferry players inside the Games villages and help them reach sporting venues from Metro stations," Kumar explained.

He said this effort would give special status to the country for its aim of reducing carbon intensity even during a mega sporting event and popularise the vehicle among the masses, who may adopt it quickly in several cities.

Soleckshaws are optimally designed, pedal operated, motor assisted green pedicabs which draw their power from overhead solar panels.

Kumar said introducing these rickshaws will herald India's effort in providing a life of dignity to people.

"It will enhance the dignity of human labour by diminishing drudgery and exhaustion involved in pulling traditional rickshaws. This will put India in a better light among the global community. It's a model for sustainable development," he said.

The scientist said use during the Games would help the acceptance level of the vehicle and increase self-employment at the grassroots. The solar rickshaw would not use any fossil fuel and hence there was no question of polluting the environment.

He said the solar rickshaws would be supplied by three companies.