The green cash machines save up to 90% of the funds otherwise invested in traditional ATMs

Jan 5, 2012 07:39 GMT  ·  By
The solar-powered ATMs provided by Vortex Engineering are highly reliable easy to use and earth-friendly
   The solar-powered ATMs provided by Vortex Engineering are highly reliable easy to use and earth-friendly

The future now seems brighter for the people living in remote villages from India, due to a new generation of solar-powered ATMs, currently considered one of the most trust-worthy inventions involving renewable power.

Unlike other gadgets powered by alternative energy that only look awesome, this concept is truly useful, since it helps inhabitants gain access to their savings.

The project was implemented by Vortex Engineering, working in partnership with the State Bank of India (SBI). So far, 400 solar ATMs, called Gramatellers, have been installed all across the country, and the developers of this program appear to be eager to expand their initiative in the near future.

After introducing this concept in 2010, environmental benefits correlated with considerable energy savings have captured the attention of the Catholic Syrian Bank, which plans to purchase 50 of these amazing solar-powered gadgets. Same goes for the Indian Bank, placing an order for 20 Gramatellers.

"Our plans to operate ATMs on solar power were greeted with utter disbelief. We faced challenges initially in getting them adopted by our end users, the rural folks, who are not particularly tech-savvy. But once they realised that they were getting control of their own money, they accepted it wholeheartedly,” explained Vijay Babu, CEO of Vortex Engineering, for The Economic Times.

The best thing about this new version is that it proves its efficiency in areas where conventional power is scarce or inexistent. Moreover, officials from the banks that have already tested the devices firmly believe that their usage triggers important monetary savings.

Even though Gramatellers appear to be more expensive than their predecessors, they pay for themselves in a couple of years, since they manage to save up to 90% of the funds otherwise invested in standard ATMs, requiring a significant amount of generator fuel.

The new eco-friendly cash machines come along with a 12-hour back-up battery and they can be recharged in only 5 hours, using clean, solar power. They represent a reliable alternative even when the power is cut in remote villages.

Their utility has already been demonstrated, since other important banks from developing countries have committed to purchasing the green invention, tempted both by its environmental and financial advantages.