An Indian company, Baroda Electric Meters Ltd (BEM), has developed indigenously solar bicycles that are touted to be the first in the world. The bicycles were developed by engineering students and are said to be the first commercially viable solar bicycles. The bicycles are fitted with a solar panel and a microcontroller-based battery charge controller. They can be fully charged in 4-5 hours and can carry a person weighing up to 100kg. BEM is in talks with the government for subsidies to reduce the cost further.