SOLAR ASSISTED REFRIGERATING E-RICKSHAW SYSTEM USED FOR STREET VENDORS

Abstract

- Electric vehicles are widely used in urban cold chain logistic delivery. Temperature-sensitive logistics are more challenging for small order deliveries in terms of cost and time constraints. Sustainable development of cold chain logistics is essential in road transportation. The solar-assisted refrigerating E-rickshaw has been proposed in this study. The performance of this system was analyzed under different operating conditions. The impact of changing the load on maximum vehicle speed and trip distance was investigated. The solar panel produced an average of 3140 Wh of solar energy in one sunny day. The vehicle was reached a maximum speed of 23 km/h while carrying a 200 kg load. The vehicle covered a distance of 60.4 km with the battery bank alone at 200 kg load condition. It was traveling 63.4 km distance with hybrid energy mode. The solar panel extended the cruising range of the vehicle by 3.2 kilometers.