No engineers, no workshop: 17-year-old Gurgaon boy builds Rs 1 lakh solar vehicle

Akshit built a multi-purpose three-wheeler for affordable everyday transport. It has a weatherproof two-seat cabin, a cargo box, and a 400W solar-powered canopy. The design matters because it combines passenger travel, cargo work, and lower running costs in one vehicle for lower-middle-income families.

The vehicle runs mainly on stored electrical energy from its lithium-ion battery. Its solar panel sits on the cargo box, so it provides a protective roof while producing electricity. The vehicle can travel at least 50 km on one charge, with daytime solar charging adding support.

It is not entirely solar-powered. Akshit’s calculations showed that seasonal sunlight and travel needs made that impractical. Instead, solar energy supplies part of the daily electricity, while the battery provides dependable stored power. The prototype cost Rs 1,02,536 and has an estimated running cost of 13 paise per kilometre.

Akshit’s finished prototype cost Rs 1,02,536, slightly above his original Rs 1 lakh target. The price is significant because the vehicle was designed for families who cannot afford electric loaders costing Rs 1.5 lakh to Rs 2 lakh.

The three-wheeler can travel at least 50 km on a single charge. It can carry up to 300 kg and seat two people. Its weatherproof cabin supports passengers, while its cargo box supports work such as transporting goods. The solar canopy can provide additional daytime charging.

These figures show the vehicle’s intended balance between affordability and usefulness. It is not only a personal transport project. It is also meant to support small cargo businesses and everyday family travel. Akshit estimated its running cost at 13 paise per kilometre under a 50-km daily run.

Akshit designed the vehicle for both passengers and cargo because families often need transport to serve more than one purpose. A vehicle that can carry people and goods may support household travel while also helping someone earn income through small cargo work.

The idea came from a conversation with his housemaid’s family. The man worked as a driver and transported cargo, but buying a vehicle and starting a small cargo business was too expensive. Akshit then spoke to about 20 more families and found a wider need for an affordable, low-running-cost vehicle.

His solution combines a two-seat, weatherproof cabin with a cargo box. It can carry up to 300 kg and transport passengers or goods. This flexible design targets lower-middle-income families that may not be able to afford separate transport options. It also responds to everyday financial pressure, not just environmental concerns.

Akshit reduced the vehicle’s cost by matching each component to its actual requirement. He cut the battery size from 5.38 kWh to 3.072 kWh, reducing unnecessary capacity while keeping the design practical. This helped move the project toward its affordability target.

He used heavier steel tubes only at key load-bearing points. That saved around Rs 2,100 and reduced the vehicle’s weight by 26 kg. He also changed from a planned 300W polycrystalline panel to a cheaper 400W monocrystalline panel. The stronger output improved the solar system while lowering that component’s cost.

Purchasing changes produced the largest stated saving. Akshit collected multiple quotations for parts costing more than Rs 1,000 and negotiated with vendors at Delhi’s Mayapuri automobile market. These efforts saved over Rs 17,000. Together, the redesigns reduced the initial estimate of nearly Rs 1.35 lakh to a final cost of Rs 1,02,536.

Akshit first planned a completely solar-powered vehicle. He then calculated the available sunlight across seasons and compared it with the distance the vehicle needed to travel. Those calculations showed that solar energy alone would not reliably meet the vehicle’s daily operating needs.

The final design uses a 400W solar panel and a lithium-ion battery. The battery stores electrical energy for driving, while the panel produces electricity during daylight and adds range or reduces the electricity needed from other charging. The panel also serves as a protective roof over the cargo box.

This hybrid approach balances clean energy with dependable use. The vehicle can travel at least 50 km on one charge, while solar charging provides additional daytime support. Solar energy is expected to meet about 63 per cent of daily electricity needs for a 50-km run, rather than all of them. That makes the design more realistic for changing weather and sunlight.

Akshit calculated that the solar panel can supply around 63 per cent of the vehicle’s daily electricity needs when it travels an average of 50 km. This matters because solar power substantially lowers the amount of electricity the vehicle must obtain from other charging sources.

The percentage changes with the seasons. It falls to around 41 per cent during the monsoon and rises to as much as 87 per cent in peak summer. The article links this variation to seasonal sunlight availability. More useful sunlight allows the 400W panel to generate more electricity for the vehicle.

The panel therefore supports, rather than completely replaces, battery charging. With solar energy meeting about 63 per cent of requirements, the estimated electricity cost is 13 paise per kilometre. For a daily run of 75 km, the estimated cost rises to around 21 paise per kilometre. Seasonal performance remains central to the design.

The vehicle’s basic energy chain is sunlight, electricity, stored battery power, and motion. The solar panel converts sunlight into electrical energy. The lithium-ion battery stores that energy so the vehicle can use it when needed, including when sunlight is weak or unavailable.

A charge controller normally sits between the panel and battery. It regulates the electricity entering the battery and helps prevent unsuitable charging. The stored energy then passes to the vehicle’s electric drive system, which converts electrical power into movement. The article identifies the panel and battery, but does not describe the controller or drive components in detail.

In Akshit’s design, the panel has two jobs. It forms a protective canopy over the cargo box and supplies electricity. The battery supports at least 50 km of travel on one charge, while solar charging adds daytime support. This arrangement makes solar assistance practical without requiring sunlight to power every kilometre directly.