VIJAYAWADA: Veltech Dr R. Ranganathan and Dr Sagunthala Ranganathan University, Chennai students have developed a new electric bicycle in collaboration with FranceCol Technology Company based in France. The embedded wheel drive e-bicycle which the university claimed that it is the first of its kind in the existing category of bicycles. The main feature of this e-bicycle is that with the specially designed wheel drive any ordinary bicycle can be turned into an e-bicycle.

The wheel drive that the students have developed has a power drive which is an embedded control system that works on inverter technology. It converts the direct current from the battery into three-phase current while driving on bicycle. When the pedals are used, it turns the motor into a generator, producing the electricity which the power drive converts into direct current and supplies back to the battery to charge it. Another attractive feature is that this wheel drive also enables with Bluetooth technology so that it can be tracked easily and can be used for rental services just like cab rentals, explained Mr Dinesh Mani, a student who was part of the research programme.

The embedded wheel drive is still in the developing stage and a prototype was prepared. After it goes through the techno-economic feasibility study, the industry partners in the project are planning to bring it into the commercial market. Veltech University Pro-Vice-Chancellor Dr U. Chandra Shekar said that the idea is to promote the pollution-free transport in the smart cities.

“We are giving a presentation to Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Tuesday to explain the benefits of the electric bicycle. We are planning to start commercial production in two years from now,” he said. Francecol managing director Dr Francois Bernot, Turnpoint technology CEO Mr Chandan Bhattacharjee and vice-president of Veltech University K.V.D. Kishore took part in the display event.