Times of India ( 22 Nov )
carries following news :
“ ISRO plan : Rocket that can be made in 3 days “
In a development that will revolutionalise the
satellite launch system in the country, Indian Space Research Organisation
(Isro) is developing a small launch vehicle that can be assembled in just three days as
compared to 30-40 days
for a normal-sized PSLV and can be built at a cost which will be just
one-tenth the original manufacturing cost of a PSLV.
The
manufacturing cost of a launch vehicle is generally in the range of Rs 150 crore to Rs 500 crore across the
world.
Dr K Sivan, director of Thiruvananthapuram-based
Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC),on the side-lines of an international
seminar on ‘Indian Space Programme’ told TOI,
“ ISRO is busy developing a small launch vehicle which is likely to be
ready for launch probably by 2018 end or early-2019.
The
cost of this vehicle will get drastically reduced by one-tenth of the manufacturing cost of a
normal PSLV. However, this rocket will have the total payload capacity of 500
to 700 kg and can launch satellites only up to the polar sun-synchronous orbit
or near-earth orbit (500-700 km in altitude).”
“The weight
of this mini-PSLV will be just 100 tonnes as compared to 300 tonnes of the normal-sized launch vehicle,” Dr
Sivan said.
The
“cost-effective”
vehicle programme is in line with ISRO chairman A S Kiran Kumar’s recent
statement that the space agency has been striving to “reduce the cost of access of space” and so that more and more of space
technologies can be used for the benefit of the common man.
Explaining the advantage of such a small vehicle,
Dr K Sivan said, The ‘cost-effective’
mini-PSLV programme is in line with ISRO chairman A S Kiran Kumar’s recent
statement that the space agency has been striving to ‘reduce the cost of access to space’
“The amount of money used in building a normal-size
PSLV rocket can actually be used to manufacture multiple numbers of such mini-PSLVs,
which, in turn, can launch several satellites. So, ISRO will be able to launch several satellites
with less money.”
Like
a normal PSLV, the VSSC director said, “Such small vehicles will too be capable of launching
multiple nano satellites.”
The Indian space agency has started
working on the idea of building this small rocket keeping in mind the emerging market of micro or nano
satellites.
Now , ask yourself :
If
ISRO can bring down the cost of a
launch vehicle by 90 %
, can it do the same for Lithium-ion
Battery required for an Electric Car – both , in terms of SIZE and PRICE ?
And ,
develop Solar Panel Roof for that EV to charge that MINI BATTERY of 5 Kwh ?
And ,
that battery costing $ 500 ( $100 / kwh*5 Kwh ) = Rs 35,000 ONLY !
Consider the following :
·
Li-ion
Battery prices have been dropping as follows :
# 2010 ………….. $ 1000 / kwh
# 2016 …
………. $ 227
/ kwh ( TESLA
claims $ 190 / kwh )
# 2020 ( Est )…. $ 190 /
kwh ( TESLA claims $ 100 / kwh )
# 2030 ( Est )…. $ 100 / kwh
·
TESLA Model 3 ( selling for $
35,000 ) is rumoured to have a 50 Kwh battery
·
At $ 190 / Kwh , it might cost , $ 9,500 ( $ 195*50kwh ) ( Rs 6.65 Lakh )
·
This battery is produced in TESLA’s GigaFactory ( 35 Gwh ) costing $ 5 billion
·
In India , Adani / Reliance / JSW / M&M / Suzuki etc are
planning to put up Li-ion Battery plant(Reliance plant with 25Gwh capacity estimated
to cost $ 3.5 Billion
)
And , if there is any doubt that ISRO technology will force the afore-mentioned
Companies to re-look at their plans, listen to what Industry Ministry , Shri
Anant Geete says :
Elaborating on the plans to develop low-cost
lithium-ion batteries in India, Union heavy industry minister Anant Geete said,
“ EFFORTS ARE BEING MADE TO REMODEL THE BATTERY MADE BY INDIAN SPACE
RESEARCH ORGANISATION SO
THAT IT CAN BE USED IN ELECTRIC VEHICLES.”
References :
Now imagine this :
·
ISRO designed 5
Kwh battery costing “ one
tenth “ the cost of TESLA’s 50 Kwh battery costing Rs 6.65 lakhs ( ie just Rs 66,500 )
·
This reduction of nearly Rs 6 lakhs in Battery cost , in turn , reducing
the selling price of a 4 seater EV, by Rs 6 lakhs ( from Rs 10 lakhs for EV or Petrol
version )
·
Such a 4 seater EV ( whose 5 Kwh Li-ion battery gets powered by Solar Roof Top already designed by ISRO
) , selling for Rs 4 lakh ( on the road ? )
This may seem far-fetched to those who doubt ISRO’s expertise
/ competence
But I am a believer !
Read :
Carbon Conspiracy ? [
13 Nov 2017 ]
23 Nov 2017
www.hemenparekh.in
/ blogs
