Mumbai : A group of Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay) students, alumni and professors embarked on an innovation plan – to travel from Mumbai to Goa on a solar-powered cycle to create awareness about use of solar energy for domestic purpose.
Sushil Reddy, 2013 pass out of IIT Bombay, is ready to travel on the indigenously developed solar powered cycle from Mumbai to Goa. His journey will start from Gateway of India on Friday, December 18, 2015. He will cross approximately 500 km distance in odd eight days and reach Calangute beach on Christmas, December 25, 2015.
Solar powered cycle is made my research and development team of kWatt Solution in Social Innovation & Entrepreneurship (SINE) a common platform for students, alumni, researchers, experts and rising start-ups.
Around 15 other bicycle lovers will join Sushil to cheer him. Everyday, he will cross an average of 65 km out of which 20 km drive will be propelled by the solar energy.
Prof Chetan S Solanki Associate Professor at Department of Energy Science and Engineering IIT Bombay said, “The cycle can cross up 100 km on solar power. But objective of this project is awareness of solar energy.”
He added, “an average person can travel 20 km on cycle, so we put that objective. Besides the cycling team will meet villagers on the way. Our team will make them aware about the solar articles like lamp, mobile chargers and cooker.”
While talking to FPJ, Sushil said, “The cycle is undergoing rigorous testing in IIT Bombay and it will ready by Monday (today). On the way, we will interact with villagers to understand their requirements of energy. Then we will focus to make solar articles to meet their requirements.”
He added, “We will also distribute solar battery chargers built by our team, free of cost to villagers.
