Kerala teen creates pedal-powered washing machine for about Rs 2,000
A 10th-grade student in Kerala designed a bicycle-driven washing device that costs roughly Rs 2,000 and works without electricity.
Faced with long school commutes and a sick mother, 10th-standard student Remya in Kerala set out to replace an electric washing machine with a bicycle-based alternative. She sketched a design that combined a bike’s pedal-chain mechanism with a metal drum inside an aluminium box, then enlisted her father to have a local automobile workshop fabricate the parts. After assembling the unit, she can load clothes, add water and detergent, pedal for three to four minutes to wash, drain, rinse and spin-dry the garments, leaving them about 80 % dry.
The device costs roughly Rs 2,000, requires no electricity and can be relocated, making it suitable for areas with unreliable power. The National Innovation Foundation documented the invention, and regional newspapers and a local church have highlighted Remya’s achievement.
Why it matters
It shows how simple engineering can provide affordable, off-grid solutions for everyday chores in low-income households.
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