YOGYAKARTA - Ideas can come from anywhere, including one’s hobby. It is able to inspire someone to create new things that can be useful to many people. For example, the Electric Tricycle (SLRT) which has been created by Ir. Tri Herjun Ismadji, M.Sc. along with fellow colleagues who are alumni of UGM Civil Engineering, who have the same hobby in cycling.
At his adult age, Tri Herjun tries to make cycling easy, especially for the elderly. The idea is then translated by the students of vocational school who are following training in Engineering Education and Training Center (BLPT) of Yogyakarta. Now, the tricycle is not only ridden by the elderly, but also the disabled and children. "We of the Civil Healthy Bikers Community UGM were trying to make an electric tricycle. Finally, within 21 days we could produce this tricycle," Tri Herjun said in front of dozens of UGM students in Talkshow entitled From Hobby to Luck on Thursday (3/5).
Former secretary of Yogyakarta provincial office promoted various advantages of this multi-purpose tricyle. It can be used as a means of sports, recreation, and commerce. "Compared with bicycle, the electric tricycle is more stable and can carry 150 kg of load. Equipped with an electric dynamo, the disabled people can use it, too," he added.
To turn on the 350-watts electric dynamo, the tricycle is equipped with a 12-ampere dry battery, which previously has to be charged for 6-7 hours to cover 60 kilometers of distance at a speed of 30-35 km/h. As yet Tri Herjun cannot set price as the tricycle has not been mass produced. However, he assured that the price is cheaper because it is made by a local garage. "If the price abroad reaches 1,000 to 1,500 dollars, this tricycle is much cheaper," he added.
Tri Herjun said this electric tricycle is made in Indonesia for the first time. Other types are imported for the disabled so the tricycle is not equipped with paddles.
UGM Rector, Prof. Ir. Sudjarwadi, M.Eng., Ph.D., was riding the tricycle, appreciating Tri Herjun Ismadji. "The product is useful. We should be proud of this. It is a pioneering product, so in the future it will be better," he said.