Bihar mechanic Murshid Alam made a 5-seater electric jeep worth Rs 1 lakh in just 18 days. This vehicle runs up to 100 kilometers on a single charge. Due to its low price and utility, people are calling it “Desi Tesla”.
Purnia: In a small town in Purnia district of Bihar, an ordinary mechanic has done something extraordinary. Murshid Alam, who runs a small car repair shop, has built a five-seater electric jeep in just 18 days. The price of this jeep is only Rs 1 lakh and it can run up to 100 kilometers on a single charge. According to an NDTV report, the locals have proudly named it “Desi Tesla”. Murshid is not a trained engineer. He neither has the support of any startup nor any formal technical degree. What he has is years of experience in repairing vehicles and a deep understanding of the needs of the village.
Why did Murshid decide to build his own electric vehicle?
While working in his garage every day, Murshid noticed a common problem. Farmers and small traders needed cheap transport for agricultural work and short distance travel. Diesel and petrol vehicles were becoming very expensive to buy and maintain. At the same time, commercial electric vehicles were also too expensive for most rural families. This deficiency forced Murshid to think something different. He decided to create a simple and robust electric jeep that the villagers could actually buy and use.
Features designed for village life
This electric jeep is designed for daily village work. It has four wheels with tubeless tyres, a speedometer, power steering and a proper charging point. NDTV report states that five people can sit comfortably in it. Its special thing is its flexibility. A trolley can be attached to the back to carry crops, fertilizer or other goods. This makes it useful not only for travel, but also for farming and small business needs.
It takes about five hours for the jeep to be fully charged. Once charged, it can travel for about 100 kilometres, which is enough for most daily village trips, NDTV also reported.
low cost, big impact
The most special part of this invention of Murshid is its cost. At just Rs 1 lakh, it is much cheaper than most electric or fuel-powered vehicles in the market. This price makes a huge difference to villagers who depend on farming or small trade. Many local people have shown interest in it, considering it a practical and money-saving option.
Murshid’s jeep comes at a time when India is gradually moving away from diesel and petrol. In farming and rural transportation, electric vehicles are being considered as a cleaner and cheaper option. Experts say stationary agricultural machines are the easiest to run on electricity, followed by light utility vehicles like Murshid’s jeep. Such vehicles reduce noise, reduce fuel costs and also reduce pollution.
Murshid Alam’s electric jeep proves that big ideas don’t always require big money. Sometimes, they just need a clear problem and a simple solution. His “Desi Tesla” may be small, but it reflects changing rural India and the power of local innovation.