“Last mile” transportation — whether delivering packages from a warehouse or moving produce from farms to markets — is one of the most expensive and polluting segments of global supply chains. According to Time magazine, last-mile delivery can account for up to 50% of total emissions and 53% of shipping costs. In the Global South, transportation can represent up to 35% of a product’s value, pricing micro-entrepreneurs and farmers out of fair markets.

I witnessed the consequences of this inefficiency firsthand during childhood visits to India. The air was thick, my grandmother coughed constantly and blue skies were rare. According to the Clean Air Fund, India loses 1.67 million lives annually to air pollution — costing the economy $95 billion each year, or about 3% of GDP. Particulate matter levels are nearly 20 times the World Health Organization’s safe threshold — making it equivalent to smoking two to three cigarettes daily.

But not all memories were grim. I remember the charm of manually driven rickshaws — pedal-powered tricycles that offered a unique view of local life. Those simple vehicles planted an idea that would return years later.

In February 2024, I read a Time article titled “How Electric Bikes Can Cut Delivery Emissions in Cities.” It underscored the urgent need for cleaner last-mile logistics. That article, combined with my early memories, sparked a question: What if we could reinvent the humble rickshaw with solar power? Instead of letting the sun dehydrate these communities, could it empower them?

I pitched this idea to an expert in Nepal, who encouraged me and volunteered to mentor me. That conversation marked the beginning of a new journey: building a solar-powered tricycle tailored for small entrepreneurs and delivery workers. The goal was to harness the sun’s energy to provide emissions-free, low-cost mobility to those who need it most.

We set two design goals: Replace the passenger seat with a cargo carriage, and mount a solar panel on the roof to charge a battery that powers an electric motor.

It wasn’t easy. A large solar panel made the vehicle bulky and obstructed traffic on narrow roads; a smaller panel didn’t generate enough energy. We experimented, modified and rebuilt — reusing parts from old rickshaws and bicycles to stay within budget. After nearly a year, we had a working prototype: a tricycle that can carry up to 550 pounds and travel 15 miles on a full solar charge.

The potential is immense.

In the United States, where last-mile delivery is a $150+ billion industry, replacing even a fraction of delivery vans with solar-powered trikes could cut two metric tons of CO2 per vehicle annually. It could also save $2,000–$4,000 in operational costs per year per vehicle, reduce traffic congestion and lower noise pollution in cities.

In Nepal and other developing countries, where transportation eats into 30–35% of product costs, the impact could be transformative. The solar tricycle eliminates fuel expenses, slashes maintenance costs and increases daily income for small vendors by as much as 40%. It also avoids the environmental pitfalls of lead-acid batteries still used in many affordable electric vehicles.

For gig workers — especially women — the solar tricycle offers a safe, clean and financially viable means of self-employment. It turns the energy from the sun into a tool for economic empowerment.

As Greg Hewitt, CEO of DHL Express U.S., puts it: “That final mile delivery is important. After aviation, the electrification of local last-mile pickup and delivery and line haul is probably the second biggest piece to the carbon footprint that we have.” If we are serious about tackling emissions, the final mile is not a detail — it’s a frontier.

Our solution may look humble, but it carries immense promise. Imagine a fleet of solar-powered tricycles gliding quietly through bustling cities or rural markets from the free power of the sun, replacing polluting delivery trucks. It’s not science fiction. It’s feasible, scalable and necessary.

I’m now working to refine the design and explore partnerships to scale production. My hope is simple: The journey toward a greener, fairer world can start with sunlight shining on the handlebars of a humble rickshaw.

Ronik Sharma is a rising senior at the Gilman School in Baltimore and winner of the University of Evansville Global Changemaker Challenge.