Sustainable mobility for all

“The daily mobility pattern of the majority of the Aurovilians is between 1-7 kilometres,” says Debo. “A smaller number, mostly persons who regularly go to Pondy, has a mid-range mobility between 8-40 kilometres. Only a few require a long-distance mobility of more than 40 kilometres. We are trying to supply appropriate and sustainable mobility solutions to cover all these requirements.”

Debo is a co-founder of Kinisi, the Auroville unit which has successfully introduced the e-bicycle in Auroville. “We tested all available e-bicycles in the market and gave feedback to the e-bicycle companies on their product’s strengths and weaknesses. We also made suggestions to optimize the e-bicycles. Most companies were open to our suggestions. Even today we get requests to test their prototypes”. Kinisi today has introduced a fleet of 200 e-bicycles for use by Auroville residents, guests and volunteers. For Auroville residents there is the KIM scheme (Kinisi in-kind mobility), a hire scheme which already has 85 participants and a growing interest.

To meet the mid-range mobility demand, Kinisi just concluded a two-day open-house to introduce a premium electric scooter, designed and made in India. “We tested all available 

e-scooters in the market and found this e-scooter to be the best performing at this time. Its performance is comparable – and in our opinion even better – than the average 125cc petrol bike in terms of acceleration, suspension, braking, safety and comfort,” says Debo. The open-house was well-received. More than a hundred people visited Kinisi, with a lot of interest in the e-scooter. Kinisi is now in discussion with the manufacturer to get the best possible deal for Auroville, including servicing support. Other e-scooters may be introduced when there is more choice in the market. 

Auroville is one of an increasing number of Indian institutions that promote e-mobility. “E-mobility is on the rise. We expect that in three to five years, many electric scooters, motorbikes, cars and buses will be on the roads. India promotes e-mobility and manufacturers are now working on adapting e-scooters and e-motorcycles to Indian conditions or making them according to their own design,” says Debo. 

Beside e-cycles and e-scooters there is also demand for e-motorbikes. “We are in touch with one of the manufacturers of e-motorbikes and have proposed to them to send one bike to Auroville for testing. They may initially concentrate on the big cities, but it would be great if we can introduce e-motorbikes in Auroville.” 

Auroville has made the first steps towards sustainable public transport. The larger buses ferrying visitors from the Visitors’ Centre to the Matrimandir still run on diesel, as do Auroville’s school buses and the buses that take Aurovilians to Pondicherry. “That should change,” says Debo. “Electric buses are still very expensive. But large companies such as Tata, Mahindra, Ashok Leyland and Eicher, are now developing e-buses and we expect that acceptable solutions will soon be available.” 

Kinisi’s vision for the future is simple. “Sustainable mobility for all. It will be all-electric mobility inside Auroville. Auroville residents who need to go to Pondicherry will park and recharge their e-cycle at a hub on the periphery of the township and take an electric bus from there. It’s just a matter of time before Auroville’s mobility will be all electric, with the energy coming from Auroville’s sustainable energy sources.”