Investigation of Low-Cost Ride-On Electric Wheelbarrow

As the global need for clean, sustainable energy continues to rise, the transportation sector is developing a niche for sustainable solutions. An escalating interest in commercially available electric load-transportation vehicles targets not only a diminished carbon footprint but also seeks to empower developing communities. This paper details the research, design, and manufacture of a low-cost ride-on electric wheelbarrow capable of transporting a full hopper load and operator across the rugged terrain encountered within the South African landscape. The design was required to be low-cost but durable, constructed using quality materials, reliable, and operator friendly. Key features of the design included the use of a standard off-the-shelf wheelbarrow at the center of the modular design. While not only reducing costs and improving the marketability of the final product this also enhanced the usability of the product since the hopper operated as a traditional wheelbarrow. The final vehicle resembled a trike and was constructed from a rectangular tube steel and aluminum chassis, which was driven by two pneumatic wheels, and powered by a 2kW brushless direct current motor (BLDC). The final vehicle seated a single occupant, who navigated the design using the original wheelbarrow handles which pivot through the chassis. The handles further possessed an ergonomic design with respect to the vehicle throttle control for the driver who was seated on a chair above the drivetrain of the vehicle. The gross mass which the vehicle was capable of transporting was 350kg. Specifications for driver positioning, capabilities, and range of motion was implemented by the authors to ensure an ergonomic design. The final design featured a wheelbase of 1.33m, a total length of 1.74m, and a maximum width of 1.05m. The vehicle was designed for male and female operators up to a total mass of 90kg, and travelled at a rated speed of 10km/h. The braking system for the design was governed by ANSIZ130.1 and ANSIZ135 specifications and produced a braking distance of 4.84m from rated speed to stationary, when fully loaded.