Solar Handcart 'Thela' - Making the Ordinary Extra!
- Usana Renewables
- Aug 2, 2017
- 3 min read
A 'Solar' powered handcart is a heritage preservation technology contraption. While it preserves the heritage of tradition it brings technology to the aid of supporting the material aspects involved in such an effort.
Why "Solar Thela"?
A large population of the economically backward section of society in India lives off selling stuff in a handcart or 'Thela' and their share of the sun only comes to them from the enabled sections of the society today.
This Solar Thela will provide 'Roti' (Bread), Kapda (Shelter) and Makaan (Security) at the lowest cost anywhere in the world to the economically underprivileged on the occasion of the inclusion of Ahmedabad in the list of UNESCOs 'World Heritage Cities' and to mark 70 years of Independence of nation that has come of age in the world.
The Solar Thela is an attempt to energize the weaker section of our society on a sustainable basis by bringing into play the direct energy subsidy provided by the sun to all of us without any discrimination.
What is our "Solar Thela" in its present avataar ?
1. Solar Powered - A roof consisting of panel to collect solar energy.
2. Battery Operated - To be charged from an AC source when there is no sun for business continuity.
3. Mobile Connectivity - For Anti-theft provision and future digital enablement
4. USB ports - 3-5 nos. to provide any utility that is connectable to the Universal Serial Bus.
5. Air Cooler - India is a hot country, the 'thelawala' or vendor needs cool air.
6. RO Water - for drinking as well as use in cleaning vegetables or perishables as are sold.
7. LED lighting - for night time visibility and business operation or personal use.
8. Entertainment : FM Radio / TV/ any form of entertainment to support a healthy living
9. Home environment : Multi-purpose curtain, storage space for inventory, a bedding to sleep.
All facilities are designed based on an average 24 hour power generation capacity of the solar panel balanced with an average 24 hour cycle of power consumption of an ordinary street vendor.
Future additions -
1. Camera options - if required by legal, enforcement and insurance modalities
2. Hydroponic Farming - to enable the vendor to also be a part-producer of veggies
Novelty
There isn't rocket science in this attempt, but its intention and colloborative execution are beyond compare anywhere in the world at any point in time hitherto.
The Inspirations
1. Shri A.L. Visweswaran - who first propounded the thought in its present form and supplanted it from time to time with examples and information from all over the world.
2. The pioneers of Hydroponics in India.
The creators
The first prototype was built by a team of four boys who wish to remain anonymous presently because they all are under 30 years of age and are working with various entities and are afraid that in the world in which we live their actions maybe misunderstood. Except one youth, none of them is an engineering graduate!
Here is a gallery of the photos in various stages of development work -
The future
1. This prototype performance will be tracked over the next few months for performance and problems. Usage patterns,maintenance matters, ground realities, design improvements and cost reduction to meet the vision will be monitored and updated here with photographs,videos,etc in this space, so kindly watch this space on this matter periodically, say once in a month or two.
2. A distributed manufacturing-centralized business model in consultation with the best of Indian entrepreneurs to realize this vision shall be attempted hereafter to take this further.
3.The evolving vision is to demonstrate that this is a beginning of a movement towards a change for a formalizing, lawful, development oriented governance model in this country which is entirely "within the box" not Jugaad, not hi-tech invention, but frugal, practical, utilitarian and collaborative effort to improve standard of living in this nation.
4. Variants -
a. A street restaurant cart - 'Paani Poori' Thela, ice cream cart,'Kai Yendi Bhavan' (Tamil)
b. A mobile cart - low cost solar subsidized electric cart or Thela
The Inaugural Event
The first prototype which will be gifted / handed over to one of the local street vegetable vendors of Ashoknagar Cooperative Housing Society, Behind Sundarvan, Jodhpur Tekra, Ahmedabad-380015 Gujarat, India (23.0245, 72.5196), on 15 August 2017, as part of the Indpendence Day Flag hoisting ceremony in the society.. All are invited. RSVP +91 9974675941 or umanaresh@usanarenewables.co.in
The future updates on this project will be below ........
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