One million auto rickshaws, let’s make them hybrid!
January 26, 2008
Let the battle begin! The Hybrid Auto Rickshaw project is a project where students of technical and business studies will battle each other to design the cleanest, cheapest and most practical upgrade kit for existing auto rickshaws.
Would you like to participate in a unique and adventurous project that:
- Helps to improve the living conditions of millions of Auto Rickshaw drivers and their families?
- Helps to significantly reduce CO2 emissions in an original way?
Then we are looking for you! Sign up today or see how you can join as a student, young professional or entrepreneur and share your expertise, network and time.
Auto Rickshaws are the most important means of transport in Asia and are the cause of large amounts of CO2 emission and severe air pollution. The drivers make 3 or 4 dollars a day and constitute mainly the poorer groups in society. By developing a hybrid upgrade kit, drivers have to spend less money on fuel and will be able to make more profit. At the same time the engines will produce less CO2 emission, leading to the improvement of environmental conditions.
This is why Enviu is looking for technical/business students, young professionals, creatives and entrepreneurs who cannot wait to participate in the Hybrid Auto Rickshaw Battle!
Join the challenge and sign up before 18 april!
Enviu – innovators in sustainability is an international organisation for and by young professionals, young entrepreneurs, creatives and students with a business, economic or related background. We share our network, ideas, time and expertise to work on innovative projects that have profitable and sustainable solutions for environmental and social issues. Enviu scouts and generates ideas and makes them happen. We do this through facilitating young entrepreneurial people in turning their ideas into reality and setting up sustainable businesses.
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February 22nd, 2008 at 2:30 pm
Amazing Project guys!
Really good example of: “A little less conversation, a little more action please!!!”
Keep up the good work!
Cheers @Art
February 28th, 2008 at 8:17 pm
If this site gives real information, it could be the solution to bring energy consumption down with at least 40%.
http://waterdriven.com/?gclid=CPj2xOXv1ZECFQINEgodsVXyZg
It seems very simple, but better to read the book first.
March 8th, 2008 at 12:07 am
The idea is nice but putting it into practice takes a little more work.
So far, the idea of adding an electric wheel motor to the front wheel, and placing a couple of batteries under the seat is a good one, but does not go far enough.
First there is the necessary infrastructure to create. Public “pay-for” recharging stations need to be made available.
Then the actual machine needs made, and the several manufactures in this market need access to the technology, and permission/incentive to make a similar vehicle as a hybrid or as an electric powered vehicle with parts easily available. Each manufacturer needs the opportunity to put together or sell a “kit conversion” for their units, and to sell it as an option on new machines. What started as a modified Vespa scooter could be modified again.
Various governments, and levels of governments need to accept and approve of the design changes.
Banks that give loans to people for the purchase of these need to change their lending policies and give a preferential loan treatment to “greener” machinery.
All in all, a great project, and well worth doing.
April 14th, 2008 at 12:46 pm
I have enjoyed looking at the site of Water4Gas. I am definitely going to try to install it on my (almost) old timer VW T3, as soon as I am back in NL.
Are people also familiar with the following organization? http://www.pureenergysystems.com/
They are into renewable energy and open sourcing. Maybe also valuable for people scouting for ideas to use in the battle. Have especially a look at the top 100 technologies list.
Spread the word and get people involved in the Hybrid Tuktuk Project!
Warm regards from India
April 15th, 2008 at 8:08 am
to come back on the water4gas idea. There are a lot of sceptics but also more elaborated ideas, have a look at the following two sites
http://www.peswiki.com/index.php/Directory:Water4Gas (look at the part “comments”)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrogen_fuel_enhancement
another interesting source is:
http://www.nextenergynews.com/