Riviera Maya, Q.R. — A local company is hoping to be granted permits to operate a human-powered vehicle on state islands. The modern and highly modified rickshaw concept was presented to the Quintana Roo Institute of Mobility (Imoveqroo) as an alternative to horse-drawn carriages this week in Chetumal.
The hybrid recreational vehicle called Thor 4, was presented during the Mobility Forum as a form of sustainable travel. The human-powered vehicle is pedaled by humans with assistance from an electric motor. It is designed in Quintana Roo as an environmentally friendly and recreational alternative for transportation in the state’s tourist areas.
The vehicle is the result of a development process that included seven months of research and the joint participation of specialists, students and universities including Instituto Tecnológico de Cancun.
“It’s a source of pride for Quintana Roo since it was designed with contributions from the Cancun Institute of Technology,” said Project Manager Antonio Abul González.
The prototype presented to Imoveqroo (Instituto de Movilidad de Quintana Roo) has the capacity to transport four people. It is equipped with high-resistance materials, special anti-corrosion paint for coastal climates and an intelligent assistance system that detects the driver’s pedaling that activates an electric support motor.
Abul González explained that the vehicle can reach speeds of up to 40 km/h and its main objective is to offer a recreational experience in places where the natural environment requires light and quiet transport solutions.
“This vehicle was designed for family enjoyment and for tourist environments that don’t require aggressive engines,” he said.
Currently, its implementation is being evaluated for use on the islands of Cozumel and Isla Mujeres and in tourist areas of Puerto Cancun and Chetumal Bay.
The units, which cost 200,000 pesos each, can be purchased by concessionaires who can decide on the cost to transport passengers. The Quintana Roo company is hoping to have the vehicle approved for use in places such as Isla Mujeres, Chetumal, Tulum and Cozumel where they still use horse-drawn carriages.
