PUNE:
It's called a one-minute cycle' and that's because, after a minute of peddling,
it can light up a 5-Watt compact fluorescent lamp (CFL)
bulb for 20
minutes.
The inspired design of city innovators Chandrakant Pathak
and Satish Bhandare, the bicycle was presented at the
Development of design
consortium and network building workshop to promote grassroots innovation'
organised by the National Innovation Foundation on Sunday.
The idea
came to Pathak and Bhandare exactly three months ago. They fixed a brushless
motor to a cycle and pedalled on it for a minute. The power generated is
transferred and stored on an ultra filter super
capacitor also attached to the
cycle. The super capacitor is connected to the electronic circuit where a bulb
can be plugged in.
Bhandare said, "The power generated by this can
light up a 5 Watt CFL lamp which can give light for 20 to 25 minutes after
peddling for just a minute."
According to the duo, earlier, a car
ultimator could generate upto 30 to 40 Watts of energy after continuously
peddling for an hour. Also, according to Pathak, "Other
technologies which work
along similar lines are battery-operated, wherein the energy generation capacity
is lowered. This technology is absolutely lead-free and hence also
eco-friendly."
The one-minute cycle can last for up to 20 years and
is totally maintenance-free, say the inventors. Now, they are figuring a way to
market their innovation and will introduce it to the rural market in two or
three months' time. "We will try and take it to areas where there are extreme
electricity problems. Villages where there are no electricity grids need such
power generation capacity and we will try and take this technology to these
places," Bhandare said.
The unit can also be attached to a bullock
cart, charkha or to any spin wheel that is movable. Earlier, Pathak had been
instrumental in developing a bicycle flour machine, masala grinding mill, a
modern bicycle spray pump as well as a bicycle battery charger.
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