To give a thrust to green and sustainable mobility, a model of an innovative e-bike, a product of Indo-French collaboration, was unveiled in Puducherry on Thursday as part of Bonjour India 2017-18.
Modelled on the plug and pick system, the embedded electrical wheel motor project enables electrification of any bicycle, motorcycle or wheelchair. The e-bike and electrical wheelchairs would be launched within a year.
Lieutenant Governor Kiran Bedi and Ambassador of France to India Alexandre Ziegler took a easy ride on the e-bike during the demonstration organised in front of the French Consulate.
Addressing the public, Mr.Ziegler said that the Indo-French platform has been focussing on three piers – Go Green, Smart City and high mobility. “This easy ride project is unique because it responds to each of these criteria. It is eco friendly and promotes smart and sustainable mobility. It is an innovative and sophisticated solution for smart and sustainable mobility.
He added: “Through this, we are honouring the scientific, technological and academic collaboration between France and India. This is truly an exemplary collaboration between Indian and French government.”
Ms.Bedi stated that there was no better place to demonstrate the e-bike than Puducherry. “Puducherry is a city for bikes. Biking connects us with people, helps see things on the bylanes and provides exposure and experience that cannot be got otherwise,” she said.
She added that there has been a historical relationship between Puducherry and France. “We are striving to keep that tradition,” she said.
This project is born out of an exemplary collaboration between FranceCol Technology, a French SME, and Veltech University in Chennai, which led to the creation of an innovative electric bicycle engine with the support of Indo-French Centre for the Promotion of Advance Research (CEFIPRA).
Chief Secretary Ashwani Kumar added that it was converting the dream of ‘make in India.’ Consul General of France in Pondicherry Catherine Suard was present.
Francois Beruot, Scientific Director, FranceCol Technology and Bhaskar Mukherjee, a doctoral scholar working on e-bikes, informed that the added feature of the electrical bike was Bluetooth communication, GPS tracking and rejuvenative braking that charges the battery while peddling.
