Guwahati: The All-Assam Engineer’s Association (AAEA) urged the authority to establish charging stations for the benefit of battery run rickshaw pullers while also expressing concern over recent controversies relating to Assam Power Distribution Company Limited’s (APDCL) notice to e-rickshaw owners for arranging separate (commercial) charging arrangements.
The forum of graduate engineers insisted on using solar plates to power the licenced charging stations.
The typical e-rickshaws in India typically use calcium tubular deep cycle batteries, which can operate for a longer time in hot weather. The electric rickshaws with 60v1000w motors have a top speed of 25 km/h and a maximum load capacity of 600 kg.
A 60v charger is required to charge the five 12 vault (90 amp-hour) batteries that are sometimes seen in energy-efficient rickshaws.
Additionally, the APDCL has required e-rickshaw owners to apply for an additional electric vehicle charging category connection in their homes in an effort to stop them from misusing the residential energy supply.
The relevant authority also requested that users take the necessary steps to use household power connections to charge their e-rickshaw batteries.
AAEA president Kailash Sarma, vice-president Nava J Thakuria and secretary Inamul Hai in a media statement said, “We raise the demand for opening of modernized e-rickshaw charging stations across Assam. The charging of batteries may take hours (otherwise the fast charging normally damages the batteries) and hence necessary arrangements (to check overcharging) should be taken in those charging stations.”