Title: Electric motor-assisted pedal-driven tricycle

Authors: Palash Kumar Maji, Partha Sarathi Banerjee, Amit Joyti Banerjee, Sibnath Maity

Addresses: Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute (A constituent establishment of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research), M G Avenue, Durgapur – 713209, India. ' Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute (A constituent establishment of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research), M G Avenue, Durgapur – 713209, India. ' Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute (A constituent establishment of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research), M G Avenue, Durgapur – 713209, India. ' Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute (A constituent establishment of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research), M G Avenue, Durgapur – 713209, India

Abstract: Tricycles or cycle rickshaws are driven by manual pedalling, which is a very strenuous job for rickshaw pullers. On the other hand, auto rickshaws are driven by fossil fuel, which produces too much environmental pollution, especially in the busiest streets of a city, where the average running speed cannot be more than 15 km hr−1. The electric three-wheelers, which contribute less towards air pollution, are completely driven by electric motors and require a large-capacity motor and battery. The drive system of these electric vehicles in general is very complicated, as it includes a heavyweight Permanent Magnet Direct Current (PMDC) motor, gearbox, gear-changing mechanism, clutch and others. Considering the above facts, a novel three-wheeled vehicle or pedicab was developed at Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute (CMERI), Durgapur, India. It is lightweight and can be driven manually with the assistance of an electric motor. It is called the electric motor-assisted pedal-driven tricycle. The combination of pedal and electric motor reduces the drudgery of rickshaw pullers as well as minimises the utilisation of electric energy. Also, due to simultaneous utilisation of electric and manual power, this tricycle produces almost zero greenhouse gases and thus it may be considered one of the future green vehicles, suitable for short-distance transport.

Keywords: power assisted tricycles; electric motors; electric power; environmental pollution; green vehicle; batteries; cycle rickshaws; pedal-driven tricycles; air pollution; pedicabs.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEHV.2010.033697

International Journal of Electric and Hybrid Vehicles, 2010 Vol.2 No.3, pp.202 - 210

Published online: 18 Jun 2010 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article