FUTURE OF THE ELECTRIC CAR –and INDIA’S ROLE

FUTURE OF THE ELECTRIC CAR –and INDIA’S ROLE

There have been many predictions about the end of the world and most of them predict a sudden end – Huge asteroid strikes, massive earthquakes and Tsunamis and such horrible stuff. But the truth is that the end of the world is not going to be sudden. It is going to be slow and painful. It will be when nations fight wars for water and food. It will be when our children’s children will perish due to the unbearable temperatures and the lack of any natural food.

Alarming but will come true. Unless we wake up. In simple terms the temperatures are going up (leading to glacier melts, water shortage etc.) because of increase in greenhouse gasses.

The main culprits of this are CO / CFC / Methane. COhas a bad habit of absorbing heat so the connection is now clear. CFC eats away Ozone which forms a protective layer around the Earth. While we will leave it to politicians to draft agreements and organise big summits let’s look at our sphere of interest – Automobiles.

Automobiles – private and commercial- emit 2 types of greenhouse gasses: CO and Methane. These are screwing up the atmosphere in a slow but deadly way. Many countries, including India, try to minimise this menace by switching to CNG. But is this going to safeguard future generations? Probably not. The only vehicles having zero emissions are Electric vehicles. The Petrol and Diesel engine vehicles emit the highest.

One thing to remember is that energy cannot be created. It can only be converted. That too at a slight loss as conversion is never 100% efficient. Therefore, even fully electric cars will require some conversion from hydro/ Nuclear/ fossil fuel to electricity via grids. But the conversion is still quite beneficial. This, total, emission from source to consumer point is called Well-to-Wheel emission.

In the case of private cars the Well-to-Wheel emission is about 45 kgs. of CO for a 150 km trip. In comparison the hybrid (Fuel +Electric) emits only 60% while fully electric emits about 50%. As an ultimate step all private transportation should and will stop (maybe 2050) but as an immediate measure there should be a total focus on shifting to All Electric. Easier said than done.

While environmentalists will cry, the auto industry is Big Business. All efforts to curb fuel driven cars will be buried in study committees and legislative red tape. But the Government has to play a hard and visionary role in this.

For more than a decade this greenhouse gas thing is being discussed. Do you know the result? Of the total cars produced Electric cars account for about 0.06%. If all hybrid variants are included then the figure may creep up very very slightly.

Let’s pause here to briefly look at what are hybrids and Electric cars mean. There are 3 broad variants:

1. Micro Hybrids – These have a heavy duty battery connected to an electric motor / generator. The transmission is through the combustion engine but when the vehicle stops at traffic lights or some such situation the engine stops but the car accessories like AC etc. are powered by the electric motor. The battery is charged by the engine as well as by regenerative braking. A conservative estimate of saving is about 5-8% though some manufacturers claim higher percentages. M&M and recently Maruti have some variants in this segment.
2. Full Hybrids – These are parallel transmission systems. Both the combustion engine as well as the Battery System can run the vehicle. The inbuilt computer determines the most efficient combination. These are much more expensive than the micro hybrids. The fuel efficiency can also be substantial even up to 30% more depending on how much the electric system is used. The Toyota Prius is a famous example.

1. Electric – These are fully electric cars and are powered fully by the Battery bank installed. The range is limited from 40kms to 100 kms on one charge though some manufacturers claim up to 250-300 kms (maybe as a combination). The peak speed is also limited as acceleration can drain the battery deeply and rapidly.

Three broad types of battery systems –

1. Lead Acid Batteries: Cheapest but heaviest due to lower energy density. Lowest life and range. Weight can be in range of 800 kgs.
2. NiMH – Nickel Metal Hydride: These have higher energy density and are lighter than LA batteries And are more expensive.
3. Li-Ion batteries: These come in many combinations. Have the highest energy density so are the lightest comparatively (still 400kgs+) but also are very expensive. Many brands are available. In India the REVA i is an example. The Original REVA does have a Lead Acid Battery.

Those who are somewhat aware of the above wonder why the Hybrid and Electric Cars are still drawing such poor response. The pros are of course the higher fuel efficiency and the low to zero emissions. Though the initial cost is higher the greater fuel efficiency offsets this to a large extent. Plus some governments give a subsidy on these vehicles. But the negatives far out strip the positives.

1. The PLUG IN HYBRIDS can go a limited distance on one full charge. When the battery is discharged the car has to be plugged in to a power source and kept on charging from 4 to 8 hours. Charging from a household source is possible but charging from an 110V source is slower than a 200V system. In cities with high- rises and limited parking, the place available for charging many cars at a time is simply not there. Though in some countries charging slots are available at roadside tourist hotels this can be but a small alternative. Here the will of the government is very important. Unless charging is fast and easily available the Electric Car revolution will never happen.
   
   
2. The Electric car has some additional problems. Since it has no fuel driven engine the peak speed is limited to about 30-45 Kmph. Hence it is not suitable for high speed highways. Also the range between charges is limited. The battery has to be re charged after about 70-80 kms. Thirdly the battery weight itself is so high that the cars are designed to be small and compact. Usually 2 seater or a cramped 4 seater.

So how can the Hybrid or Electric car revolution happen? Especially in India? Today the changeover is mainly driven by technology but, unless the change is Legislative, the real progress will not happen. In some advanced countries the government gives grants for research in this field but as mentioned earlier, in the tussle between the Technology and established BIG business the pace is very slow. Therefore India can play a big role.

In advanced countries already the vehicle density is very high. To change it will be very difficult. The savings from fuel efficiency is not very attractive to most westerners and the culture of Big – Speed-Multiple is very prevalent. India is just starting on this journey. The growth potential is huge both in private and commercial vehicles as well as in related infrastructure. Now is the time the government must step in with both legislative measures, incentives and proper infrastructure. Some suggestions are as follows:

1. The first step is to ensure that Electric Vehicles are viable. Just like petrol and Diesel is available at short distances, the charging points should also be available.

1. Keeping a vehicle for charging for 4-8 hours is not feasible hence the Govt. have to work closely with Auto and battery manufacturers to have battery systems which can be unloaded and charged system put in within a short time. This is now done in factories with Fork lift trucks, so same principle can be used.

1. To be able to replace batteries at any Charging station a level of standardisation is required. Therefore the Govt. has to work closely to ensure that any type of battery is of standard configuration. So all car Lead acid batteries should have the same size, shape and rating. Similarly for NiMH or Li-Ion. Similarly for Cars, SUV, MUV. Trucks etc. Today standardisation is already there from ballpoint refills to aircraft engines. This has to be extended.
2. What about High Rises? Wireless charging at 200V should be enabled. Or at least start with 110V.
3. As mentioned earlier, energy cannot be created. So, from where will so much electrical energy come from? Burning Fossil fuels is not at all a good option. In India we have a lot of sunlight, a lot of wind but our generation of Solar power & Wind Power is dismal. Every building must generate the maximum possible Wind and Solar energy so that the national grid is not under stress.
4. Most roads are now at least 4 lane (2 each side). The lane dedication should be strictly as per transmission type. All Electric vehicles, bicycles and hybrids should have right of way. Only then will the Electric car revolution happen.

India has a golden opportunity to be a leader in this field. The priorities of the govt. must shift. For all future generations actions must be taken NOW.

ALWYN P RODRIGUES

Pl share widely as this is something we need to leave behind for our own children and generations to come.