PROJECT TITLE:-

ELECTRIC RICKSHAW:

Abstract:

Auto rickshaws are small, three-wheeled vehicles which are used extensively in many Asian countries for transport of people and goods.

The vehicles are small and narrow allowing for easy maneuverability in congested Asian metropolises. In India, auto rickshaws are commonly

used as taxis, as they are very inexpensive to operate. Despite the apparent advantages in the vehicle design, auto rickshaws present a huge

pollution problem in major Indian cities. This is due to the use of an inefficient engine, typically a 2 or 4 stroke, with almost no pollution control. This paper presents a transportation system based on auto rickshaws that operate in an environmentally friendly way. Existing

vehicles are to be replaced by an all-electric counterpart redesigned in a manner which improves the efficiency of the vehicle. In addition, a

recharging infrastructure is proposed which will allow for the batteries to be charged using mostly renewable energy sources such as solar power. Thus far, we have looked at the existing Vehicle and the environment in

which it operates, produced a Prototype electric vehicle, and investigated recharging infrastructure requirements renewable energies in the

infrastructure. In particular, our proposed recharging infrastructure consists of a central recharging station which supplies distribution points

with charged batteries.

Dr. Sudhir Chandra Sur Degree Engineering CollegeDepartment Of Automobile Engineering

INTRODUCTION:-

India is home to over 2.5 million auto rickshaws. In recent years, rickshaw companies have come out with alternative models such as Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) rickshaws to mitigate the pollution problem caused by traditional petrol models. Two main disadvantages that exist with incorporating those technologies on the rickshaws are:

(1) Oil is still added to the chamber in the two stroke configurations, which adds to the pollution, and(2) LPG and CNG are non renewable energy sources.

The best way to redesign the rickshaw is to make the main power source renewable. One way to do this is to use an energy system that can take advantage of several sources of renewable energy – namely, electricity. Rickshaws are an ideal candidate for electrification due to the low speeds of the vehicle and a relatively small distance covered in a day. Therefore, we have set out to make auto rickshaws the example of environmental consciousness in India by replacing the existing hydrocarbon- powered vehicles with electric vehicles and recharge the batteries using mostly renewable energy sources.

OBJECTIVE:-

The main objective of the project is to develop an auto rickshaw powered by an electric motor which draws its power from a Battery Pack (48V). The rickshaw is specifically developed to provide the passenger/driver with the following amenities:

Better leg space

More luggage space or boot space

Better sitting posture for the driver/passenger

Lighter chassis weight

Minimization of manufacturing cost

More apt design for use in urban and metropolitan areas.

WORKING PRINCIPLE:-

They are 3 wheels pulled by an electric motor ranging from 650-1400 Watts. These rickshaws are built on M.S (Mild Steel) Chassis which consists of 3 wheels with a differential mechanism at rear wheels. The motor is brush less DC motor. The electrical system used in Indian version is 48V. Some variants made in fiber are also popular because of their strength and durability, resulting in low maintenance. Body design is varied from load carriers. It consists of a controller unit. They are sold on the basis of voltage supplied and current output, also on the number of MOSFET (metal oxide field effect transistor) used. The battery used is mostly lead acid/lithium ion battery with life of 6–12 months. Deep discharge/cycle batteries designed for electric vehicles are mostly used.

The project involves the development of an electric rickshaw using products which cumulate to minimum manufacturing costs. The following points are taken into regard for the same:

Development of a self made differential system from scratch.

Development of an electric motor attachment system with the differential system for the rear wheels.

Testing the use of a simple step-up transformer to increase battery voltage hence cost reduction.

Development of a refined chassis leading to maximum stability, maximum boot space, greater maneuverability and passenger comfort.

VEHICLE ANALYSIS AND VEHICLE DEVELOPMENT:-

The project is based on the existing electric rickshaw (commonly known as Tuk-Tuk) chassis which will be altered as per the prototype specification.

The approximate vehicle specifications are as follows:

Overall length 2100mmOverall width 1050mmOverall height 840mm

Rear track 960mmGround clearance 135mmWheel diameter 500mmRim diameter 330mm

Rim width 75mmWheel shaft hole 60mm

Differential length 970mmBrake shoe thickness 50mm

Drum width 145mm

Battery length 400mmBattery width 180mmBattery height 205mm

PARTS AND EQUIPMENTS:-

The various parts of an electrical rickshaw are as follows:

DIFFERENTIAL:

The main functions of a differential are:

1) It permits a vehicle to take a turn without skidding.2) It splits the power/torque from the electric motor to the two drive

wheels on the rear side of the vehicle.3) The differential shown here is Chinese made used in a conventional

electric rickshaw but the prototype will include a self made differential which will be connected to the electric motor via chain drive unlike the latter one.

BRAKES:

The prototype uses an electric motor capable of generating 1000-2700 rpm as a result the use of normal shoe brakes is out of question so the use of conventional drum brakes is taken into consideration.The drum brakes are a simple arrangement which consists of a drum made out of metal alloy and a pair of shoes connected to two retractable springs and a tension wire made out of tensile steel. The brakes will not be mounted on the handle but will be mounted on the chassis (Pedal-Brakes) , so on pressing the pedal the brakes will engage stopping the rear wheels.

ELECTRIC MOTOR:-

The prototype will use a Brush less Direct Current (BLDC) Electric Motor. The prototype is designed to carry a 2 passengers and a driver cumulating to a total maximum weight of 250 kgs. The additional chassis weight and the luggage weight is approximated at 110 kgs. Hence the net weight of the vehicle is 360 kgs (Full-Load condition). The BLDC motor to be used is a 1.2 HP 48 V motor which is capable of carrying the above mentioned load. The electric motor is controlled via an electronic controller.

ELECTRONIC motor CONTROLLER:-

A motor controller is a device or a group of devices that serves to govern in some predetermined manner the performance of the electric motor. The controller includes a manual or automatic switch turning the motor on/off., selecting forward or reverse rotation, selecting and regulating speed, regulating or limiting torque and protecting against overloads. The motor controller is connected to the battery pack and the controller feeds the input to the motor, lamp, ac/dc convertor and speedometer/indicator.

BATTERY:-

The Battery pack to be used consists of a 12 volt deep cycle lead-acid/lithium ion battery. Since the required voltage is 48 volt but a single battery is capable of supplying only 12 volt hence a set of four batteries are required. The batteries are connected in series to the controller unit.Lead-acid batteries are made up of plates of lead and separate plates of lead dioxide, which are submerged into an electrolyte solution of about 38% sulphuric acid and 62% water.

SPEEDOMETER/INDICATOR:-

The speedometer is not a digital one it consist of two analog dials the one on the left side indicates the vehicle speed where as the one on the right side indicates the battery charge level. The speedometer is connected to the controller unit.

SHOCK ABSORBERS:-The main function of shock absorbers in an automotive vehicle is to absorb the shocks and vibrations caused so that the vibration is not felt by the passengers of the vehicle. The shock absorbers used are coil spring type shock absorber. The shock absorber will be optional and if used will be used in the front wheels only. The rear wheels will be supported by a modified leaf spring suspension system looking much like a circular plate connected to the differential at one end and the chassis on the other. The image shows the model from which the shock absorber is to be developed.

CONCLUSION:-

The prototype is to be implemented in three phases. The first phase includes accumulation of information, purported design, resourcing parts and required material. The second part includes the assimilation and development of the vehicle and the third phase includes the finishing touch. The prototype till now is in its first phase after which the consecutive phases will be implemented immediately. The main cause for making this project is for designing an electric rickshaw to be implemented in metropolitan roads causing minimal pollution.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:-

This project would not have been possible without the utmost help, support and cooperation of the faculty of Automobile department. While working on the project we have learnt about completing a given work within a stipulated time period along with optimum utilization of the available resources.We would like to thank our H.O.D, Mr. S. A. Nafis without whose help the idea of the project would not have been initiated .He has inspired us to be a Thinking Engineer and a better human being.A special thanks giving to Mr. Pulak Kumar Roy & Mr. Dibyendu Biswas for helping us with the nook and corners of the project.

Thank you so much:

Avishek PalAmit Mondal

Biswarup SinghaChiranjit Sarkar

Sourya Sanghan BasuTanmoy Pradhan