UKZN develops pedal-powered bus
Passenger vehicles powered by people and the sun could become a reality sooner rather than later.
A group of mechanical engineering students from the University of KwaZulu-Natal's Howard College campus have spent the past three years building a human bus - a vehicle that moves through the use of bicycle pedals.
Professor Glen Bright says the bus moves on pedal power and has solar panels that store energy for when it moves up hill.
He says the vehicle, which can reach speeds of 40km/h brings environmentally friendly modes of transport even closer.
"Basically, it's a hop on, hop off situation where people can hop on, pedal along and they can just get off at other stops and it just keeps moving along.
"It's something that could be used in an urban area and instead of people having to deal with pollution and having to pay for tickets - one can just hop on and do a little bit of exercise, jump off and its a winner takes all," he said.
(Photos: mecheng.ukzn.ac.za)