Design and manufacture of Amrita Surya Vahini — A solar auto rickshaw

Renewable energy is vital for today's world since in the near future the non-renewable sources that we are using are going to get exhausted. The solar vehicle is a step towards saving these non-renewable sources of energy. A solar vehicle uses energy generated directly from PV panels and solar energy stored in the on-board battery. The real-time solar power and the charged batteries are used to drive the electric motor and move the vehicle in reverse and forward directions. This innovative solar vehicle, known as Amrita Surya Vahini, is a three wheeled solar auto rickshaw designed and fabricated without a differential mechanism by using BLDC hub motors directly coupled to the wheels. The vehicle uses a 1200 Watt flexible solar panel which is placed not only on the roof top but also on the sides of the auto rickshaw. The vehicle runs at a top speed of 50 km/hr and travels a distance of 80 to 120 km per battery charge with a cruising speed of 30 km/hr. The manufactured solar auto rickshaw is a light weight and efficient, with a design that can be commercialised for the benefit of the society.