20/04/2024
BEM CELEBRATES EARTH DAY 2024 BY TEACHING STUDENTS TO ASSEMBLE SOLAR BICYCLES
Earth Day is celebrated in numerous ways by different communities on 22nd April 2024. However, for Baroda Electric Meters Ltd (BEM), a Anand based Public Limited Company, Earth Day celebration is a year long event. The company that had launched the first solar bicycle world-wide two years back is happy that India which was so far a follower of the US (car) model is now changing course to follow the Netherlands (bicycle) model.
Indian consumers are becoming more aware about the desperate need to protect Mother Earth by reducing GreenHouse Gas (GHG) emissions and saving the environment. They are beginning to make amends to their lifestyle. Cars that were once considered to be a status symbol in India, is no longer considered so by the new generation. For short distances they prefer to keep their four wheelers at home and ride a two wheeler instead.
At BEM, we believe that bicycles are the best mode of personal transport for trip distance less than 8 kms. However, in many parts of India, the climatic conditions are getting harsh, particularly in the summer. Temperatures soar above 40 degrees C. Under such harsh conditions, a solar bicycle becomes the ideal vehicle - the various pedal assist modes allow the rider to have a much cooler riding experience. Unlike vehicles with ICE (Internal Combusion) engines or other Electric vehicles, a solar bicycle motor of 250W rating generates very little heat during the ride. Most importantly, there is no need to waste time at electric recharge stations since a solar bicycle carries its own renewable energy generating source to charge its battery. Interestingly solar bicycles are the only vehicles that are capable of generating energy while in motion.
Bicycle riding is also becoming more safer. All over the world, the transport authorities have begun constructing separate bicycle lanes. Moreover, trams, metro trains and long distance trains are also getting modified to allow passengers to carry their bicycle with them. Bicycles are fast becoming the personal mobility vehicles of the future. Bicycles are also the only ones that are having separate lanes.
Solar bicycles use renewable source of energy. The energy from the Sun will not run out. It is also a clean way of generating energy since it does not produce greenhouse gases which make the climate change worse. It also does not produce air, water or noise pollution when the solar panel is operating. Unlike solar farms that occupy precious land (that could be used by wildlife habitat or farms), the footprint of the solar panel mounted on a solar bicycle is negligibly small. Though the solar panel is considered to be only 30 percent efficient, the small footprint makes the 150 Watts of energy harnessed daily (through the low efficiency generation), attractive, worthwhile and suitable for a trip to a destination within 8 km radius.
By keeping your car in your garage and riding a solar bicycle to work instead, you would be able to burn 369 litres of diesel fuel less each year, and thus save 1 tonne of greenhouse gases. Probably, this the best Earth Day resolution one can take this year. BEM is gearing up to increase its production capacity of solar bicycles anticipating an increase in demand for solar bicycles.
Climate change is a challenge and BEM believes that unless there is public participation, it is difficult to achieve. So, as part of its resolve on Earth Day 2024, BEM plans to teach and offer free training to the new generation on how to assemble solar bicycles. It has invited students from ITIs and higher secondary schools and is imparting free education to them in batches. We have observed that post covid, the students have become lethargic and fail to participate in games and other activities. At BEM, we believe that assembly of solar bicycles would encourage them to become part of a healthy lifestyle and simultaneously save the environment.
