The result of the two years of effort — aptly coming to fruition on the World Environment Day — is a redesigned two-wheeler that seeks to provide a unique solution to the energy crisis as well as the problem of pollution by using both solar energy and wind power to propel itself.

The use of solar energy to run vehicles is nothing new and many such demonstrations have been made. But it is perhaps the first time that wind energy is being used to propel a vehicle. What is unique is that the two-wheeler — the prototype is an old scooter fitted with a few electrical gadgets — uses both solar and wind energy simultaneously to charge a battery that then runs the vehicle.

The solar panel is installed on the front of the vehicle while a fan that delivers wind energy has been mounted on the front wheel cap.

Two sources of energy not only charge the battery faster but also ensure that if one component is not able to function, the vehicle can still run on the other source of energy. The vehicle is designed to generate energy even during the braking process, with a tiny switch on the brake pedal ensuring that the engine shifts from the motor to a generator which adds to the charging of the battery.

For extreme contingencies, the scooter even has a small petrol tank but once again the ingenuity of Alam has ensured that the battery keeps charging itself while the scooter is running on petrol so that the shift can be made after some time.

For the record, this vehicle can run between 80 to 100 km once the battery is fully charged at a maximum speed of 60 km per hour. The operating costs only include the replacement of the battery in about two to three years time and timely maintenance of spare parts. Alam says the monthly running costs should not be more than Rs 200-300.

For Alam, who had formal education only up to class IX and is currently working as a supervisory mechanic at a Maruti franchisee workshop in Delhi, this two-wheeler is not his first innovation — and certainly not his last as he wants to replicate the technology on four-wheelers. With his mechanical bent of mind, he had made a number of improvisations earlier too, including an anti-theft device for cars.

Following a petrol price hike two years ago an idea struck Alam to attempt this kind of vehicle. A chance meeting with Science and Technology minister Kapil Sibal provided him the funds to work on his idea. Seeing his sincerity, Sibal had given him Rs 20,000 from his own pocket to bring his idea to fruition. On Thursday, Alam met Sibal again to show him the result of his hard work. Impressed, Sibal promised to pay the fees (Rs 1,55,000) for getting the technology patented.

Considering his humble social and educational background, Alam is surprisingly aware about the need to move to alternative sources of energy as well as protecting environment. “Such a vehicle is the need of the hour, especially for a country like India. We have to conserve petrol. It will also prove to the international community that India is concerned about the environment,” said Alam.

Even while he tries to replicate this technology on cars, Alam is also working to improve the two-wheeler and add to it more and more utility gadgets, including a sensor to detect obstacles which can lead to automatic braking and a buzzer to alert the rider about upcoming obstacles.