Aug 17 2010
Three students of Da Nang Poly-technique University in Central Vietnam have invented a solar powered tricycle nicknamed as Solar Car C4. The tricycle was developed by Ta Ngoc Thien Binh, Huynh Kim Trang and Pham Nguyen, the barefoot science students from the university. This tricycle was developed with a passion to mitigate the problems of tricycle drivers of central Vietnam.
Students with Solar powered Tricycle
The students surmounted the hurdles of designing the tricycle by visiting places such as Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong delta province. They were able to exert on the design of the tricycle with the adept patronage from their teacher Duong Viet Dung. They prevailed over the pecuniary struggle by contributions from the mechanical department, fellow students and relatives to realize their dream project.
The 350 kilogram tricycle nicknamed as Solar Car C4 is intended to carry two persons and can run at a maximum speed of 30 kmph. The solar charger installed over the tricycle allows the cycle to cover a maximum of 30 km. The students have installed a standby gas kit to drive the vehicle in the absence of power or during cloudy days.
The vehicle completed its trial run on 15th June 2010 and received second prize in a competition launched on behalf of the Communist Youth Union and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment. The prototype vehicle manufactured at a cost of VND80 million anticipates that some motor company may invest in the project to improve the design and make the vehicle more affordable.