Electric Rickshaw: NAST Redesigning Public Mobility in Terai

Electric Rickshaw, also known as E-rickshaw, has proven to be one of the most convenient and comfortable modes of public transport in most of the Terai regions of Nepal. These vehicles are three-wheeled, electrically powered rickshaws designed to carry passengers or goods over short distances. Their number grew exponentially over a few years because of their simplicity, low cost, and affordability. However, with the growth of their numbers on the road, several technical issues related to power, safety, reliability, and durability surfaced, resulting in many e-rickshaw drivers shifting to diesel/petrol-operated rickshaws that are more powerful and reliable than e-rickshaw. These issues, if not addressed, will lead to the usage of petrol/diesel vehicles again, which is not sustainable.  Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) initiated research to address these technical issues by redesigning e-rickshaws based on the topography and roads of Nepal.

The ongoing research being conducted at NAST aims to comprehensively analyze the current state of e-rickshaw deployment, identify key challenges, and propose viable solutions for overcoming these obstacles as per topography and road of Nepal to facilitate the sustainable growth and mainstream acceptance of e-rickshaws in urban transport systems.

Through a comprehensive field survey, the NAST research team has identified the major technical issues and problems associated with e-rickshaws. The team is now working on the design part to resolve these problems.  The redesigned e-rickshaw will be more powerful, reliable, and comfortable. This will significantly improve the ride experience of passengers in terms of comfort and safety, which helps promote clean and eco-friendly modes of transportation.