The up and coming new "e-rick" in Delhi, battery operated, to be rented out to drivers.  See this video here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/south_asia/10309236.stm    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/india/7760010/India-to-replace-inhumane-rickshaws-with-e-ricks.html  Hoping to replace 4000 of them with the new battery-operated ricks in time for the Commonwealth Games in October 2010. The idea is to replace a bunch of motor-rickshas and shape up the drivers. I wonder how they will take to it. Meanwhile, most of the old cycle rickshas of Delhi, (estimate of licensed ones is 99,000), obviously can not be replaced.                                                                  Rickshawalas at rest in New Delhi And, as a general innovation, this article: http://www.aboutmyplanet.com/black-gold/electric-rickshaws-transportation-of-the-future/ ".....Rickshaws are used in both rural and urban areas, but in places like India and Hong Kong, where traffic congestion is a regular occurrence, the old auto-rickshaws proved to be the main cause of both noise and air pollution. The solution? Any rickshaw that isn't run on costly fuel that has to be imported, saves at least 10 tons of carbon dioxide emissions per year, and uses a minimum of 40% less energy as well. In some countries it also raises the puller or rider up the social scale. Local police and the public seem to have more respect for those using modernized transport. They can also earn more while doing less...."