The old man’s sweaty face and straining back draws the attention of another man.
It inspires him to create a new kind of pedicab, that can help the old man and others earn their living without as much toil.
It is the brainchild of Tran Van Tam and he entered his taxi–pedicab, as he calls it, into a creativity competition last month in the southern hub and won third prize.
Tam, a driver himself for more than 20 years before becoming the owner of an electric bike store in the Cu Chi District of Ho Chi Minh City, said he had never been an engineer.
“Although I am only a driver without diplomas or certifications but I am lucky to have experience on the roads for more than 20 years, which has given me some knowledge about mechanics,” he said.
The taxi–pedicab looks like a car, yet it operates on electricity and has only three wheels.
It is energy-saving, costing the owner less than US$0.20 to ride for 60 kilometers.
Before creating this unique pedicab which finally measured up to his requirements, Tam made three different prototypes.
He started with a Honda motorbike.
He built the bodywork and replaced the petrol engine with a battery.
He then made the third wheel.
Not satisfied with it, he searched for more information on the Internet and in car magazines to remake it.
He even added seats to it like a car.
Tam has spent many days and nights on refining his idea so that it could be used as a taxi-pedicab in the city, industrial areas and eco-tourism spots.
The new taxi needed to be energy-saving, “green and clean” and embellish the city’s image, he said.
After assembling and dissembling components for what seemed an endless amount of times, Tam completed it and proudly named it Minhtam – Ebike – Vietnam.
Professor Bui Song Cau, head of the examiner board of the HCMC Technical Creativity Competition, said Tam’s creative edge was that he managed to put together different components that were available in the market to make it work.
Each bike costs around VND30 (US$1,840) to VND40 million ($2,450), Tam said.
“However, the price will decrease considerably if it’s mass produced.”
Despite the prize, Tam doesn’t know if it will get the approval needed to produce it or not, he said.
He also hopes to apply for the copyright of the pedicab’s industrial design.
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FACTS ABOUT TAM’S TAXI – PEDICAB
■ It is made from steel and zinc-plated iron sheet of high-durability.
■ It is 1.80 meters high and the length is 2.50 meters. The maximum width is 1.20 meters and it weighs 250 kilograms.
■ The distance between the front wheel and two back wheels is two meters.
■ Running on electricity, the pedicab requires two to three kilowatts (about VND2,000 – 3,000) of electricity and can run for 60 kilometers.
■ It can carry 250 kilograms or a maximum of three people.
■ Its top speed is 35 kilometers per hour. |
Reported by Quang Vien |
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