December 08, 2006	Friday	Ziqa'ad 16, 1427

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ISLAMABAD, Dec 7: Under its University Industry Technology Support Programme (UITSP), the Higher Education Commission (HEC) has decided to support a research project for the development of a light-weight four-stroke rickshaw.

The three-wheeler will be made of composite materials to reduce its weight and increase fuel efficiency, said a press note on Thursday. Following the prototype’s development, extensive testing would be performed before mass manufacturing.

The project has been undertaken by Raja Amer Azim of EME College, Nust, and Khurram Imtiaz of AEDesign, a private organisation. The HEC will provide Rs4.8 million, while AEDesign will contribute Rs1.2 million to the project.

The UITSP encourages researchers to collaborate with local industry for high-level and promising industrial research projects of direct relevance to current needs of the industry to be carried out in the country.

Eighty per cent of the cost is borne by the HEC, while 20 per cent is paid by the collaborating industry. The purpose of these grants is to promote scientific research in applied sciences to strengthen the indigenous capacity for competition in the world market. Auto-rickshaw is an important component of public transportation system in the country. The new composite auto- rickshaw will be designed and developed utilising the research capabilities at Electrical & Mechanical Engineering College (EME), Nust, and automotive expertise of AEDesign. The Technology Incubation Centre at Nust would provide project management expertise to ensure the smooth execution of the research.

Weight reduction is an important aspect in the modern automobile industry. Automotive industry is constantly making efforts to make the vehicle light weight and achieve high energy efficiency as well as higher speed levels. Composite materials are extremely light weight and have higher strength to weight ratio than steel. The steel structure can be integrated as a part of composite structure by using sandwich construction technique.

The new rickshaw would be powered by the more energy efficient 4-stroke engine instead of the conventional 2-stroke engine. Its closed and wider cabin will add to passenger comfort.