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It’s hoped solar energy technology will help power a switch in India from particulate belching auto-rickshaws to zero emissions electric models.<\/p>\n
As we mentioned last week, India’s capital Delhi is in the grips of an air pollution emergency<\/a>. The situation is at a stage that officials are reportedly planning to spray water<\/a> over parts of the city in an attempt to help “scrub” the air of fine particulates.<\/p>\n One of the sources of fine particulate emissions are Delhi’s auto-rickshaws, most of which are powered by two-stroke petrol engines. As two-stroke engines burn a petrol and oil mixture, they generate more carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, and particulate matter than four-stroke engines. Two-stroke engines are significant sources of PM2.5 pollution; particles that are up to 30 times smaller than the width of a human hair and can penetrate deep into the lungs.<\/p>\n In another Indian city, Jabalpur, solar technology company ABB has been working with local authorities on an initiative to promote the use of zero-emission electric rickshaws (e-rickshaws) and solar powered charging stations.<\/p>\n While e-rickshaws have been present in the city since 2008 and there are currently around 400 licensed operators in the city, the lack of affordable, publicly accessible charging stations has been a barrier to more rapid uptake.<\/p>\n The cost of recharging a rickshaw’s batteries from mains supply is around 40 to 50 Indian rupees, which is approximately AUD 80c – $1.00. It’s cheaper than petrol, which is around AUD$ 1.38 per litre currently; but mains grid charging also means emissions from the coal-fired power stations that supply Jabalpur with electricity.<\/p>\n Under the pilot project,\u00a0 Jabalpur authorities are installing nine solar-powered charging stations to be used by the city’s licensed rickshaw owners, with the first installation completed earlier this year.<\/p>\n