Solar tuk tuk travels 1,000s of km overland from India to joint worlds largest electric vehicle rally in Europe

An Indian mans self designed and built solar electric tuk tuk is travelling thousands of kilometres from India to joint the WAVE Trophy electric vehicle (EV) Rally, the worlds largest EV rally, in Europe.  Auto engineer Naveen Rabelli set off from Bangalore with his solar electric creation and he is expected to arrive in Turkey in mid-May. He plans to joint up with the hundreds of electric car enthusiasts from all over the world who will take part in WAVE Trophy EV Rally 2016. The rally will start in Germany and travel over 1,600 kilometres through three countries in central Europe.  

Naveen Rabelli & his solar tuk tuk on road from Shiraz to Isfahan, Iran (photo Naveen Rabelli) 

Naveen's "Tuk Tuk-Tejas", which he designed, built and tested over four years, runs on solar and electricity power and has 0 emissions. Travelling at a pace of around 100 km per day, Naveen plans to complete the 8,800 km to Europe in about 100 days. The object of the adventure is to create awareness of EVs and solar powered vehicles as a sustainable low cost alternative transport solution for tens of millions of people in Asia and beyond.

In 2016 WAVE Trophy starts on June 11th in Bremerhaven (Northern Germany) and travels down to France. The convoy will stop at the United Nations in Geneva and finish near Basel, Switzerland on 18 June 2016. On the way the participants will stop in 60 cities using   the WAVE gathering to raise awareness of green transport and promote sustainable living. It is also an opportunity for participants to enhance their knowledge about electric vehicles, to network and socialise.

The rest of Naveen’s journey will cross Turkey, Bulgaria, Serbia, Hungary, Austria and Germany where he will meet the WAVE Trophy EV Rally. He hopes his project which will eventually reach London, enhances knowledge about the practical application of solar electric transport. In support of this, Naveen plans to publish a paper to share his experiences and learning online so that people can use the data he is collecting. The goals of this project, which are supported by the WAVE Trophy, is to not only create awareness of alternative mobility solutions for passenger vehicles in Asia and Europe it is also to:

Show the benefits of using a solar electric mobility solution and to demonstrate that they are affordable.

1. Practically demonstrate a solar electric prototype that is reliable technology
2. Promote the use of electric vehicles as way to reduce the impact of climate change
3. To connect with people along the way who are working towards sustainable living solutions.
4. To showcase an entirely Indian solution to the world.

Louis Palmer, founder of WAVE Trophy, holder of the UN Environmental Programme “Champion of the Earth Award“ for driving two times around the world in solar powered vehicles. He spoke about the partnership with the solar tuk tuk project and said “We are delighted Naveen and his solar tuk tuk are ambassadors for the WAVE Trophy.  We have supported his adventure for a number of years and between us we are showing the world the future of transport.”

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