A man from Kashmir is going viral for his creative solution – a car powered by solar energy.
Bilal Ahmed, a maths teacher from Srinagar, has been earning plaudits online after photos of a sedan with doors opening like luxury cars went viral. Images shared online show panels on almost all available surfaces of the car, from the bonnet to the rear windshield.
Bilal has worked hard for 11 years to turn his dream into a reality. The idea behind the innovation lies in Bilal’s wish to create a luxurious car that didn’t bleed one’s pocket and could be affordable.
Bilal started learning more about cars when he studied ones from the 1950’s. Then, with the help of internet, he started making modifications in the car. After 11 years, he has finally completed his dream and created an automatic car run on solar power with gullwing doors to take care of the space constraints.
His initial idea was to make a car for the disabled but due to a lack of financial funds, he decided to create a car run by solar power. He did his research and drew his inspiration from an innovator called DeLorean, who started his company DMC that makes luxurious and affordable cars.
Considering the various challenges of using solar power, he met different experts of the field and came up with an optimal solution to maximise the output. He wishes to start his own company that manufactures affordable luxirious cars.
His unique innovation is being applauded by the netizens. Many even pointed out the car’s similarity with the car in the cult science fiction movie Back To The Future.
Talking to Daily Excelsior, Ahmed said that he used monocrystalline solar panels, which are known to generate maximum energy even with less solar energy, for his vehicle. He explained that these are more efficient and occupy a low surface area.
And while most sports cars have a seating capacity of just two, keeping cost-effectiveness at its core, he modelled his vehicle to accommodate up to four people.
“When I began the project and even after I completed it, no one provided me with any financial assistance; if I would have got the necessary support, perhaps I would have been India’s Elon Musk,” he said.
The man said that so far, he has spent a total of over Rs 15 lakh making the fully-automatic car, without any financial assistance from any sector.
(With inputs from FirstPost, Rising Kashmir & Daily Excelsior)