Sustainable Transportation

In rural areas, inadequate transport links hinder sustainable development by limiting access to essential services and goods. Our project focused on enhancing mountain bikes and cargo bicycles with simple electrification kits, extending ride time and towing capabilities. Additionally, we've designed a motorbike ambulance for the Dhorpatan valley, providing vital emergency transportation to the nearest town of Burtibag. This initiative aims to bridge the mobility gap for rural communities.

With teams from Tribhuvan University, Swansea University, and Kyambogo University, we focused on two key objectives: developing a collaborative research strategy and designing practical solutions for bike electrification. Explore how we're making an impact in sustainable transportation.

Location

Dhorpatan valley lies in an east-west valley south of the Dhaulagiri mountain range in the Himalayas. Dhorpatan municipality is headquarters of Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve which lies at an elevation of 3900 meters above the sea level. Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve Adjoins, Rukum, Myagdi and Baglung District in the Dhaulagiri Himal range in West Nepal. Putha, Churen and Gurja Himal extend over the northern boundary of the reserve. Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve (DHR) was declared in 1987 with objectives of trophy hunting and protection and management of representative high altitude ecosystem in western Nepal. The hunting license is issued by the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation (DNPWC).

Trail Evaluation

The trail evaluation took place from March 11th to 13th, 2021, with Day 1 featuring sunny and warm conditions turning moderately chilly and cloudy in the afternoon, Day 2 starting warm and sunny but becoming overcast with drizzles, including a brief hailstorm, and heavy rain and snow at night, and Day 3 being characterized by cloudy, windy weather with intermittent drizzles, with upper track sections feeling chilly and lower sections becoming more humid and warm on descent.

The trail encompasses diverse terrain. It commences with a pleasant climb out of Dhorpatan valley, followed by a descent towards Nisel Dhor along the Uttar ganga river. The route meanders along the sides of three hills, offering a gradual descent interspersed with occasional steep ascents, culminating in a long, taxing final ascent before Nisel Dhor. Throughout the track, there are moderate bends, particularly in the rockier sections, but no hairpin turns or sharp bends. The journey begins at the Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve entry check post, with almost half of the route traversing a flat, picturesque valley. Following this, there's a series of short climbs through villages, with minimal ascent and descent combinations. The final stretch leading to the monastery is notably steep and better suited for walking. While the track features minimal bends, caution is advised around wooden bridges after moderate bends. Beyond the army check post, the road primarily descends, with only two brief uphill segments towards the end. The road is characterized by numerous sharp and hairpin bends, often preceded and followed by stretches of long, moderately curved or straight sections.

Bike Modification

The project team undertook the modification of two two-wheelers, each serving distinct purposes. One entailed the conversion of a mountain bike into an electric-powered vehicle employing a 48v 750w mid-drive motor and another for medical assistance. This mountain bike adaptation aims to extend ride durations and cater to tourism-related activities. Additionally, a locally devised cargo bicycle was constructed with the primary objective of augmenting the transportation of crops and equipment.

In order to foster student engagement and inspire burgeoning engineers, the Incubaition, Innovation and Entrepreneurship center (IIEC) collaborated with the robotics club at Pulchowk Campus to orchestrate a bike trailer design competition. The winning design was subsequently forwarded for fabrication and integrated as a trailer for the motorbike.

A 500 CC bullet bike was then repurposed as the towing apparatus for this trailer, which will facilitate the conveyance of patients to the nearest medical facility, serving as a crucial component of emergency medical support. The trailer was also outfitted to house first aid kits and a dedicated compartment for an oxygen cylinder. Engineered to accommodate diverse weather conditions, the ambulance trailer prioritizes patient comfort and ease of use. Notably, the patient bed boasts a 360-degree rotation capability, ensuring accessibility tailored to specific requirements. This feature is especially designed to facilitate transportation in terrains characterized by steep gradients.

Assets Handover

The Campus Chief of the Institute of Engineering, Pulchowk Campus, formally transferred the project assets to the representative of BBB Dhorpatan MTB & Adventure Co., in accordance with the objectives outlined by the Energising Development project. These three inventory items, along with their respective accessories, were meticulously developed through concurrent design and construction processes, followed by rigorous testing and the virtual dissemination of results.

These products were purposefully designed to cater to the specific requirements of the Dhorpatan community, addressing their distinct transportation needs. The construction of the bike ambulance, electric mountain bike, and portal bike was undertaken with a strong commitment to sustainability, thereby championing environmentally responsible transportation solutions.

The Team

PI / Co-PI Student Team of IOE

Tribhuvan University, IOE Abhimanyu KhadgaKamal Darlami Amit DhakalDr. Sudip Bhattrai Amit Kumar Gupta Ashma KarkiSwansea University Kalbina ShresthaDr Maggie Miller Mahesh BhattaraiDr Krijn Peters Nabin BhandariDr Carl Cater Prabhav RegmiMiss Xiaojun Yin (Ping) Rakesh Kumar Shah Roshani ShahOther Partners Subarna SubediDr Ravindra Nyaupane/UnitedNETWORK for Entrepreneurship Tilak BhusalThe Dhorpatan Cluster