Rourkela City, in India, introduced electric rickshaws in 2023 as part of its Cold Room project, with support from UNDP and the Global Mayors Challenge, with the objective to address pollution, engage the community and promote economic sustainability. Electric rickshaws are a key component of the mobility efforts in Rourkela, offering eco-friendly transport solutions while making economic savings.
This article wants to detail the steps for successfully launching an electric rickshaw initiative, along with key challenges and lessons learned following the Rourkela experience. We hope this information will inspire your city to implement similar initiatives using all types of electric transport, such as e-bikes or e-scooters.
Download the guideline here
1. Understanding the needs of the users
Actions taken
- Consulting with the beneficiaries is key for any project success. In the case of means of transportation, issues to be identified are distances to be covered daily, load-carrying capacities of vehicles, maintenance needs and how users are going to benefit from the service. In the case of Rourkela, the electric rickshaws were design to transport farmers’ goods from the municipalities “cold rooms” that act as storage and consumers in hotels and restaurants.
- Inputs need to be gathered from a variety of stakeholders such local businesses, city officials, and communities to ensure the project serves local needs effectively.
Challenges observed: aligning vehicle specifications with user expectations within the options available in the local market, as well as ensuring effective stakeholder communication.
2. Market survey
Actions taken
- A thorough market study was conducted to identify local suppliers of the electric rickshaws, risks and opportunities for the use of the vehicles.
- Existing users of rickshaws were interviewed to hear about their local experience in terms of quality, usability and service provision.
Challenges observed: in some regions, limited availability of electric rickshaw suppliers and experienced users could affect project timelines and quality control.
3. Procurement
Actions taken
- A procurement tender was done by UNDP to invite suppliers to present offers. The requirements included adequate local support for repairs and long-term maintenance, as well as to meet the technical specifications for sustainability and usability.
- It was important to ensure a clear understanding of warranty terms and conditions applied, particularly what it is covered in terms of insurance, and for how much time.
- Set clear minimum specifications for the rickshaws is essential. These are the ones for the Rourkela project:
- Peak power: 8 Kw
- Battery: lithium-ion, 48V
- Range: minimum 80 km on a full charge
- Load capacity: minimum 500 kg
- Cargo volume: 3,300 liters
Challenges observed: if the local offer of suppliers is limited, it can be a challenge to purchase affordable and quality electric rickshaws, especially during the pilot phase.
See a UNDP example of Terms of Reference for the Rourkela rickshaws
4. Pilot and testing usability
Actions taken
- Rourkela deployed a first pilot of 2 vehicles to evaluate performance and service quality for a the first 4 months.
- It would be advisable, if possible, to test vehicles from different manufacturers to determine which is the most reliable and cost-effective of them.
Challenges observed: ensuring that the pilot vehicles perform well in the local conditions before scaling up the project.
5. Community ownership
Actions taken
Engage your target group in the project and incorporate their input is essential, ensuring they are active users of the electric rickshaw system and creating a sense of ownership for long-term sustainability of the project.
Challenges observed: tailoring the vehicles to meet the specific needs of the target group while ensuring project viability.
6. Establishing E-Vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure
Actions taken
- The municipality set up protected EV charging sockets to prevent overcurrent damage to the batteries.
- Is important to ensure that these charging stations are accessible and reliable for all users.
Challenges observed: properly integrating charging infrastructure with local energy systems and ensuring easy access for end users.
7. Ensure financial sustainability
Actions taken
The project identified grants and financial sources for the initial capital investment in the electric rickshaws and their maintenance in the market through the Global Mayors Challenge where the rickshaws where one of the components of the Rourkela Cold Room project. This allowed the city to pilot this type of vehicles and created the capacity to use them for other public services as well.
Challenges observed: balancing initial funding sources with the need for long-term financial sustainability and vehicle maintenance is always an issue.
8. Track environmental, social and economic impact
Actions taken
In Rourkela, the electric rickshaws covered approximately 80 km per day, offering significant savings in fuel costs to beneficiaries who used other types of vehicles before the project (up to 4,800 INR equivalent to 60 USD per month). These e-rickshaws are powered by renewable energy and prevent 7.2 kg of CO2 emissions daily, they help creating livelihoods and news skills, increase urban mobility, and transport the farmers’ fresh products to their consumers.
Challenges observed: continuously tracking environmental, social and economic benefits to maintain support and scaling of the initiative.
9. Foster partnerships for project success
Actions taken
Engage key stakeholders, including end users who drive the vehicles and benefit from increased mobility, implementing partners who provide training, mentorship, and other support.
Challenges observed: coordinating roles and responsibilities among partners to ensure smooth execution of the project.
10. Lessons learned
Identify lessons learned that can streamline the procurement, new rollout phases, and project scaling. Share those lessons with other cities before the project ends.
