Economic Times ( 27 April
2017 ), carries following editorial :
Selling electric vehicles without batteries: A
model to make e-buses viable
The proposal to sell
electric vehicles without batteries, relying instead on leasing the crucial
component, could well be the policy push that could help shift the transport
sector away from fossil fuels.
This policy innovation will make electric vehicles
cheaper by as much as 70% without resorting to subsidies.
The decision to start off with the public
transport, specifically city buses, is a good scaled-up pilot, allowing
government to absorb initial infrastructure costs, and provides an opportunity
to tweak the system to meet local requirements.
While the pace of innovation and improvement in
battery technology is rapid, it is not enough to push prices down to a level
that would induce a wholesale shift from internal combustion engines to
electric vehicles.
A model based on leasing of batteries, with
accessible options for swapping discharged batteries at convenient points along
the bus routes, is what is required.
Quality, predictability
of service and the requisite infrastructure to ensure availability of batteries
would need to be ensured.
At the same time, this model will need to be
financially viable to ensure that a sizeable number of companies provide
leasing, swapping and recharging facilities.
The drive to popularise
electric vehicles should not give rise to new monopolies.
But making electric vehicles less expensive cannot
be the sole aim of this programme.
Lower cost will guarantee an expansion in the
market, and this should not become captive to the industry that will emerge
around battery leasing.
The government needs to
ensure that the financial relief, and the expansion of the market, becomes an
incentive for Indian institutions and companies to invest in research,
development and innovation in battery technology.
Make in India must happen in power storage as well.
Apart
from “ leasing / swapping “ of batteries ( with each “ Petrol Filling Station “
becoming a “ Battery Swapping Stations “
? ) , here are other alternatives :
·
INDUCTION POWER TRANSFER ( IPT )
Electric
buses in Italy are being recharged at bus stops while passengers get on and off
. The electric vehicle industry has adapted induction power transfer ( IPT ) so
cars can be charged wirelessly without a typical charging infrastructure
Instead of
one huge meal for breakfast, these buses munch on electricity hundreds of times
a day
Wireless charging essentially untethers electric vehicles . Because
they are replenished many times a day, they can use a smaller battery
{ Source : “ Clean
Disruption “ by Tony Seba / pg: 109 }
If , for umpteen reasons , Bus Companies cannot embed wireless charging
plates into the roads ( at each bus stop ) , it is certainly possible to do so
at Bus Depots where buses get parked .
Bus Depots , themselves will be covered with Solar Panels and store
the generated power in PowerPack Storage units ( of TESLA ), for wireless
charging of buses at night
·
SPARE BATTERIES
Not only are batteries getting smaller , they are getting ever more
powerful
And in two years ( at
the most ) , we will have batteries that can be recharged in
5 minutes – faster than it takes to fill up a petrol tank !
Today , most vehicles
carry a “ spare “ tyre . Tomorrow , they will carry “ spare “
Batteries
·
EACH HOME – A CHARGING STATION
Do not rule out Manoj Bhargava ( BillionsinChange ) coming out with his next generation (
V 2.0 ) electricity generating bicycle to be able to re-charge such small /
quickly rechargeable batteries , right in your garage or housing society compound
!
·
PEDAL YOUR WAY TO HEALTH
As a part of a strategy to
generate additional revenues , expect GYM owners to install BillionsinChange bicycles replacing regular tread-mills –
allowing any stranger ( not a regular customer ) to generate electricity while
improving their health ! without paying
fees / subscription !
29 April
2017
www.hemenparekh.in / blogs
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