Electric vehicles continue to become increasingly popular in the United States, but they still account for only a small portion of total new vehicle sales. However, other countries are seeing huge growth in electric vehicle sales. But these aren’t actually electric cars. Many of them are rickshaws, a three-wheeled vehicle based on bicycles and motorcycles that is a popular means of transportation in many Asian countries.
According to The Atlantic, the number of e-rickshaws on the streets has grown exponentially over the past few years. For example, it is reported that half of the rickshaws sold in India are electric. Meanwhile, passenger electric vehicles account for only 5.8% of U.S. vehicle sales. What is even more interesting, however, is that the rise in e-rickshaws is not being driven by automakers or governments.
The article said that about 15 years ago, when lead-acid batteries became cheap enough, rickshaw drivers began looking to electrify their vehicles. This has led to many enterprising independent shops importing parts from China and building their own e-rickshaws to sell them at low prices. Eventually, automakers followed suit and began offering their own versions, including the Mahindra e-Alfa, an electric rickshaw that makes about 2 horsepower and costs less than $1,800.
The rise of e-rickshaws is significant in countries like India where air pollution is a major issue. A study in Pakistan found that each electric three-wheeler could save three to six tons of carbon dioxide emissions per year, which is roughly the same as the annual emissions of a typical car in the United States. This is because although rickshaws are more economical than mid-size cars as family vehicles, they are usually driven all day rather than parked on the side of the road most of the time. Thus, switching to e-rickshaws has huge potential and can have a huge impact on cleaning the air.
Post time: Nov-18-2023