MODERNIZATION
THE 21ST CENTURY’S ANSWER TO RICKSHAWS
LUMBINI, NEPAL
The e-pedicab is a new twist on an old way to travel and makes public transportation an easier option in Lumbini, Nepal. Even better: e-pedicab’s design is open-source, so your own community could do the same.
What's
changing
Public transportation is only helpful when people can readily get to it. When the distance is too great between a public transit stop and someone’s final destination, civic leaders struggle to get people out of cars or other vehicles with combustion engines that degrade air quality and add unwanted noise to neighborhoods.
What's already
possible
To bridge the gap in Lumbini, Nepal, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) funded e-pedicabs, rickshaw-styled vehicles that use electric-assisted pedal power. These vehicles were designed to connect tourists to Lumbini’s temple district while adhering to strict, low-carbon criteria.
Seizing
the opportunity
Lumbini, the birthplace of Buddha, attracts more than 1.2 million tourists each year with its monasteries and sites such as the Ashoka pillar and the Sacred Flame. To connect these visitors to the temple district, Catapult Design, from the United States, was chosen to create the e-pedicab. Launched in 2017, e-pedicabs comfortably fit two passengers, have an onboard screen showing local information and run on long-lasting lithium-ion batteries. Instead of keeping the design private or selling it for profit, ADB ensured that the plans for the e-pedicab are open-source, allowing anyone to build them. The goal is for e-pedicabs to replace fossil fuel vehicles for short trips and promote greener transportation habits.
Standout
tactic
The e-pedicab is designed to be lightweight so a driver can still pedal and go when the battery is empty. The manageable weight while having a sturdy build encourages individuals to earn an income by driving one.
How
it helps
The e-pedicab's ease of access and comfort appeal to tourists and locals making short trips. Because it does not use fossil fuels and operates quietly, it helps cities maintain a quieter and cleaner atmosphere.
Diving
deeper
How can city planners ensure consistent economic opportunities for drivers and long-term viability for e-pedicab programs that have needs related to infrastructure and battery maintenance, especially in tourism-dependent regions?
Increasing
impact
The main challenges for e-pedicabs are limited capacity and range. A redesign that accommodates more passengers and allows the vehicle to travel farther and across more terrain types could accelerate adoption.
Traveling
better
Travel is inherently carbon intensive. Whether you are taking a mini-break or an annual vacation, consider ways to minimize your impact by staying longer in one place, reconsidering how you travel to the destination, and supporting businesses that are working to make their community and the world a better place.
