The Section for Science and Technology of Institut français India, Embassy of France in India
supports Sunil Reddy as Special Guest
at France’s solar bicycle rally, Sun Trip Tour 2017
France-Switzerland-Italy, 8-21 July 2017
New Delhi, 28 June 2017
The Section for Science and Technology (SST) of Institut français India, French Embassy in India, is pleased to announce its support for IIT engineer Sushil Reddy, selected to participate as a Special Guest in the solar bicycle rally, “Sun Trip Tour 2017”. Organised by the French ‘Sun Trip Company’, the solar bike rally will take place from 8 to 21 July, 2017. It will pass through some of France’s most beautiful landscapes in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, and cross two neighboring countries, Switzerland and Italy.
Mumbai IITian Sushil Reddy is the Guinness World Record holder for the longest journey on a motorised bicycle. ycled,. Using a solar-powered motorised bicycle to raise awareness about solar energy, he made a trip around India between 8 May and 25 July 2016, which started and ended in Mumbai, covering a distance of 7,423.88 km
From a young age, Sushil Reddy has displayed deep commitment to promoting low-cost, clean, sustainable energy, both in his academic and personal life. He has contributed greatly towards this by using science, technology, education and tourism.
A month prior to joining the Sun Trip Tour, Sushil embarked on his own Tour de France with his solar bicycle from 1st June to 2nd July 2017, again in a bid to promote the use of solar energy. Starting from Istres, his journey has led him to Toulouse, Bordeaux, La-Roche-sur-Yon, Rennes, Le Mans, Paris, and will finally take him to Lyon. In each city, he is holding seminars and meeting students in universities like Ecole Centrale, Instituts Polytechniques and HEC Paris, with fruitful discussions on the challenges of using solar energy.
Indo-French collaboration
Renewable energy – and solar energy, in particular – is one of the key areas of the Indo-French partnership, involving academics, industry captains and other stakeholders from both the countries, who are collaborating in this fast-growing and promising sector.
The Embassy of France in India, and its Science and Technology Sector (SST) under Institut français India (IFI), aim to ceaselessly develop cutting-edge cooperation in science, technology and innovation for the actors from France and India who share common interests and are interested in collaborating together.
As a unique opportunity, stakeholders from India and France may benefit from CEFIPRA ( which provides financial incentives for organising joint seminars and workshops, and conducting collaborative research projects, including in public-private modes.
The SST provides regular information about the opportunities offered by the two countries for cooperation in science and technology through its website:
Media Queries: Danial Nathan. Press Liaison Officer. +91 92053 52456/ 99113 82365 Institut Français India. 2, Dr A.P.J Kalam Road, New Delhi 110011
NOTE TO EDITORS
The Sun Trip Tour will take place from 8th to 21st July 2017. It will be open to all types of solar cycles (as long as they respect some basic technical regulations – to be announced soon).
This adventure will take participants through Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes in some of the most beautiful landscapes of France, from the Forez Mountains to the Col de l’Iseran (highest paved pass in Europe) through Ardeche, Vercors and Chartreuse mountains while swinging by in two neighboring countries, Switzerland and Italy.
The Sun Trip Tour is a two-week event bringing together up to 50 solar cycles. In this adventure, which is not a race, participants are more than travellers: they are ambassadors for solar mobility.
Between the partner cities, participants will be free to choose their itinerary, their pace and the place where they wish to stop for the night. Participants making the best use of their solar recharge will get rewarded through an optional challenge.
Every other day, collective stopovers will be organised in partner cities to host participants. Each collective activity will provide participants with dinner, French breakfast, and accommodation. These activities will also be local entertainment opportunities for partner cities featuring a “Sun Trip Village”, musical performances and “Sun Trip Soirées”, including movie screenings and lectures.
The Sun Trip:
Sushil Reddy on The Sun Trip video:
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The SunPedal Ride is a movement to create awareness about solar energy and clean transportation among people. The founder of this cause is an IIT Bombay alumnus, Sushil Reddy (Energy Department, 2013 batch).
Feeling the need to empower people with solar energy and encourage them to use more of this abundant renewable energy resource, in the summer of 2016, Reddy, undertook an initiative to talk to people across India about solar energy by touring on a solar powered electric bicycle. With a team comprising Krunal Tailor, Himanshu Singh and Rajendra Bhaskar, they went on a journey across north-west India, passing through 9 states and union territories. They covered 7424 kilometres while interacting with people in the cities, villages and towns on the route. Sushil Reddy earned recognition in the Guinness and Limca Book of World Records for the longest journey on a solar powered electric bicycle. In Sushil’s words, “We plan to take this movement to reach out to as many people as we can and educate people about solar energy and sustainability, which is the need of the hour”
The SunPedal Ride – France edition is in June 2017 and USA West Coast edition in August 2017.
Contact Sushil and his team: / +919892528955.
Sushil Reddy on The Sun Trip video:
Sushil Reddy on social media:
Sushil Reddy’s conferences were also supported by the following universities:
* INP Toulouse (Institut National Polytechnique):
* Universite de Bordeaux - Bordeaux INP:
* INSA Lyon:
* HEC Paris: www.hec.edu
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