Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (HB/SP)
Mangaluru, Nov 18: Students of NITK Surathkal, under the guidance of the assistant professor, department of water resources and Ocean Engineering of their institute, Prof Prithwiraj, have, perhaps for the first time, designed an environment friendly e-bike ‘VidhYug 4.0’ that is suitable for the movement of the forest guards/police of Kudremukh. This unique bike was unveiled in the Shola Utsav organised at Kudremukh, Karkala.
This e-bike is powered by solar batteries and is able to cover a distance of 70 km after full charging. It is very light and is backed by a unique design for movement in forest areas.
Prof Prithwiraj, head of the e-mobility project, noted that there are bikes designed facilitating movement of the policemen of different departments but the forest protection police so far did not have any uniquely designed vehicles. He said that this e-bike has been designed with this in mind. This bike is equipped with walkie-talkie, books, mobile, GPS device, and special compartment for charging. Any two devices can be kept on charge in this bike. Two box-like compartments in the backside can be used to store water on one side and food, first aid equipment or other things on the other which is waterproof.
He claimed that the bike is designed to be operated without any sound and without harming the environment. It can run for 70 km if charged for three to four hours. Its headlight can be used as a torch at night and can be fixed back. Sometimes coal is used for e-mobility. But here we use only renewable forms of energy entirely, he explained.
"The e-bike has 30 cm ground clearance with 2 kW power motor, 72 volts 33 kmh lithium-ion battery. There are plans to provide an IR lamp to the headlight to improve the capacity of the bike. The lights in bikes hurt the eyes of the animals. Therefore an IR lamp which enables the rider to clearly see the path will be fitted. The motor fitted for the bike undergoes changes with research. There are plans to replace the current brushless DC motor to SRM motor. PhD research scholars, Anuradha and Sandesh, are conducting research about these things, he said.
Students of Center for system design in NIT-K, where different branches’ students come together and work on projects were involved. In this project, students of Mechanical, Civil and Mechatronics and IT related were involved.
Rakshit, Steevan, Rajat, Latish, Sandesh and Anuradha created the design under the guidance of Prof Prithwiraj. A total sum of Rs 1.5 lac was spent on the design.
“The government has provided many regular designed motorbikes to the forest surveillance officers before, but this model is a first. Bikes are always important for patrolling. The features are attractive. But we have to study its effectiveness in terrain areas. Its feasibility and cost should be analysed. We will then take a decision,” said Sanjai Mohan, IFS, principal chief conservation of forest.