Let Us go Dutch !

With reference to complete switch-over to Electric cars , on 07 Nov 2017 , I asked :

Who  Will win  this  Race  ?

https://myblogepage.blogspot.com/2017/11/solarcar-electriccar.html

And guessed that it will be the DUTCH ( or the GERMANS )

My reasoning was :

     Cars powered by roof-mounted Solar Panels, needing very small Li-ion batteries and no need for any Battery-Charging stations , on the roads

Cars capable of “ Self Charging “ while standing or running under the Sun or capable of recharging ( at night ) from domestic electric outlets

To know how close was my guess in respect of the Dutch , read following appearing on the web site of a Dutch Company : https://www.lightyear.one/  :

·         Lightyear One is charged by solar power. This unique quality allows it to drive for months without charging. You are sure to have peace of mind, knowing your electric car can always drive. The battery ensures that you can drive anywhere, even at night.

·         Since you do not need charging points, the Lightyear One will take you anywhere.  Charge using the Sun or any normal power plug. The Lightyear One has four independent driven wheels that will make sure you are prepared for any surprise on the road ahead. Start planning your next big trip.

·         The Lightyear One’s optimized aerodynamics and light weight greatly improves its range. Depending on your battery configuration, you will have a range between 400 – 800 km.

But it would be a pity if we have to go all the way to Netherlands for sourcing this technology, when it is available right here, at our door step !

I believe Lightyear has not innovated as far as Lithium-ion Battery is concerned

Their innovation consists only in respect of a car roof made of PV Solar Panels of very high conversion efficiency

As against this, ISRO has demonstrated its own “ Solar Roof “ powered car , using ISRO’s very own tiny Li-ion Battery , which it has been using in satellites

And , I have been repeatedly urging the Road Transport Ministry / NITI Aayog to issue instructions to ISRO to make these technologies available to Indian Manufacturers , without asking for lump sum / royalty .

Read :

ISRO :the EV Game-Changer 

https://myblogepage.blogspot.com/2017/11/isro-ev-game-changer.html

Carbon Conspiracy  ? 

https://myblogepage.blogspot.com/2017/11/isro-msme-electricvehicle.html

3000Km without a Charging Station ? 

https://myblogepage.blogspot.com/2017/10/3000-km-without-charging-station.html

 

SolarPanels charging Li-ion Batteries of Electric Cars ?

https://myblogepage.blogspot.com/2017/05/solar-panels-charging-li-ion-batteries.html

 

 

Now the Good News !

 

Today’s media carries following news :

 

“ Commercialize ISRO’s Li-ion battery : Panel “ 

http://www.millenniumpost.in/business/commercialise-use-of-isros-li-ion-battery-for-evs-govt-panel-280820

A panel headed by Cabinet Secretary P K Sinha has recommended commercial use of ISRO's lithium-ion battery technology under the 'Make In India' initiative for electric vehicles, official sources said.

The panel, they said, has advised that "ISRO may consider transferring" its lithium-ion battery technology used in electric vehicles to interested parties on a "non- discriminatory basis for commercialisation with Make in India condition", after obtaining approval of the Space Commission and other authorities.

=================================

My  Take :

·         Better  Late  than  Never

·         What took it so long ?  My first Email suggesting this was sent on 04 May 2017 !

·         Panel can only “ advise “ ; We need some ( empowered ? ) Minister to issue “ Instructions “ to ISRO – hopefully , in next 7 days

·         Instructions must clearly say : No lump sum / no royalty / only “ Penalty of Rs 1 crore “ if the licensee fails to go into commercial production within 12 months and achieve “ agreed upon Phased Manufacturing Program “

I do hope Shri Nitin Gadkariji finds time to read this

22  Jan  2018

www.hemenparekh.in / blogs  

===================Since you do not need charging points, 

EV : Road Map for Switchover ?

Economic Times ( 13  Jan ) carried following news :

“Auto Industry Calls for Road Map for Switch-over to EVs “-

Highlights :

India wouldn’t need to offer incentives to push adoption of electric vehicles if prices of lithium-ion battery decline to less than $100 (Rs 6,350) per KwH by 2022 from about $180 now, Mahindra & Mahindra managing director Pawan Goenka said.

 “There is need for a longterm policy for the betterment of industry,” and the government will encourage the adoption of alternative fuel technology like ethanol, methanol and biofuels for use in the auto industry, the minister ( Shri Nitin Gadkari ) said in a recorded speech.

Several industry executives at the conclave said the government should outline a road map for the proposed switch-over to electric vehicles.

Renault India managing director Sumit Sawhney held that while the move to electric vehicles was inevitable, a clear policy outline from the government was necessary. 

“If we have projections regarding potential volumes for EVs, the component industry will get cracking. That will only happen once we have clarity regar- ding government policy, based on which we can start work on electric vehicle projects for the Indian market,” he said.

I urge , SIAM ( Society of Indian Automotive Manufacturers ) / NITI Aayog  /  Shri Nitin Gadkariji , to peruse following emails for inputs to framing of such a Road Map :

AutoIndustry : Policy Inputs 

https://myblogepage.blogspot.com/2017/12/auto-industry-policy-inputs.html

21  Jan  2018

www.hemenparekh.in / blogs

Aadhar Fact : Privacy Fiction ?

For last two days , Supreme Court is hearing arguments from the petitioners who are opposing Aadhar

For details of arguments advanced by advocate Shyam Divan ( for the petitioners ) and the observations made by the Supreme Court , read :

Aadhar: Supremely Satisfying ?

https://myblogepage.blogspot.com/2018/01/aadhar-supremely-satisfying.html

 

My  Observations  :

·         For over 60 years, Indians have submitted far more personal data , mostly to dozens of government agencies, to obtain goods or services . All of this was in long paper forms .  No one objected  !  

·         Just a few examples are : banking / insurance / gas connection / credit card / income tax / police / driving licence / ration / kerosene / healthcare / school-college admissions / property tax / PF / Passport  etc .

·         Now the petitioners are objecting to the following information captured by Aadhar form :

     Name  /  Gender   /  Birth date  /   Address  /

     Mobile No  /  Email  /  Biometric  /  Photo

     

·         On the other hand, we have been ( voluntarily ) furnishing , a lot of personal information to private parties for decades , even knowing that these parties are either “ selling “ or “ commercially exploiting “ , that information !

·         Just one example is the following type of personal data which jobseekers make available to Job Portals and URGE them to share it freely with the World ( including blasting of their resumes to unknown employers / recruitment agencies – the governing principle being :  Tell World  About  Me [  TWAM  ]

==================================================

         First Name  /  Middle Name  /  Last  Name  /  Address  /  Current  Location  /

         Photo ( sometimes , optional )  /  Mobile  Number  /  Email  ID  /  Birth Date  /

         Gender  /  Educational  Details ;  Degrees -  Diplomas  -  Colleges  -  Years

        attended  -  Marks  obtained  /  Current  Employer -  Designation  -  Salary  /

        Jobs  held  in past – names of Companies – Periods worked – Salaries drawn –

        Designations held – Reasons for leaving /  Position applying for or interested in

        /  Preferred location  /  Salary expected  /  Current   Industry – Function – Job

       Role  /  Skills acquired  /  Languages spoken – written  /   Area of specialization

       /  Marital  Status  /  Names of  References for checking background / Name of

       Spouse / Number of Children ( with their ages ) etc

====================================================

A few months ago, after Supreme Court held that

 “ Privacy is a fundamental right “,

Delhi Metropolitan Magistrate ordered a probe against online jobs portal Monster.com for allegedly selling data on website users to a third party.

Before start of the current hearing on 17^th , I wish the Supreme Court had read my following email :

A Fool’sParadise ?  [  29  Aug  2017  ]

https://myblogepage.blogspot.com/2017/08/a-fools-paradise.html

 

=======================================================

  

My  Take  :

·         Aadhar is Inescapable

 

·         Modifications / Improvements must continue

 

·         Privacy  is an Illusion

=======================================================

Why  do I say  that  ?

·         2024! – V 2.0 of Orwellian 1984 ?  [  07  July  2017  ]

     https://myblogepage.blogspot.com/2017/07/2024-v-20-of-orwellian-1984.html

·         DataProtection without Data Privacy ?  [  08  Jan  2018  ]

     https://myblogepage.blogspot.in/2018/01/data-protection-without-data-   privacy.html

 

20  Jan  2018

www.hemenparekh.in / blogs

Aadhar : Supremely Satisfying ?

Aadhar  Opponents  :  Privacy  Proponents

========================== 

For last two days , Supreme Court is hearing arguments from the petitioners who are opposing Aadhar

Their advocate , Shyam Divan submitted as follows :

=====================================================================================

Petitioners’ Demand :

·         Strike down the law giving sanction to the programme which mandates all citizens to part with their biometrics for myriad uses by the state 

·         Destroy all data collected from 2009 till 2016, when the law was enacted to give the scheme a legal standing. Prior to that the data were collected on the basis of executive instructions, he said. 

Shyam Divan argued  :

·         Scheme was reminiscent of a totalitarian state which believed in exclusion, and was contrary to the inclusive philosophy of the Indian Constitution. 

·         No democracy in the world has any scheme with such a vast sweep.

·         It will forever tilt the power balance between the citizen and the state

·         It will place the citizen on an electronic leash, which can be used to track real-time transactions and the location of citizens . 

·         Aadhaar would reduce India to a totalitarian state in which a person's body could be used as markers when demanded by the state.

·         It impedes the citizen's right to ownership over his own body, his right to choice and his right to informational self-determination.

·         Government cannot ask citizens to part with sensitive biometric information to unknown private entities over which it exercises little control, as they can misuse the data. The government does not even have a contract with these entities, neither does UIDAI . Data which is very personal goes to unknown entities. Where is the integrity of data ?

·         What happens if you lose your Aadhar , or it is not accepted or it can’t be accessed ?

·         Dignity cannot be taken away or conferred. It is an inalienable , natural right

·         In a hugely digitized environment, the state has to be an ally of citizens to protect BIG DATA from unknown private entities whom citizens surrender Big Data , while they use and engage with their services

·         There is no problem with an individual parting with private information on his own

·         The private party was so much outside the control of the Unique Identification Authority of India that they can use it for their own commercial purpose

·         State must come up with alternative and less-intrusive identification schemes which did not act as instruments of exclusion. A probabilistic scheme such as Aadhar has the potential to reduce citizens who cannot be verified for technical reasons or otherwise to ghosts

Supreme Court  observed  :

·         Is there anything wrong in using Aadhar to increase the efficiency of government welfare schemes ?

·         The State may say all we are trying to do is to ensure that money is going where it ought to. If you are depending on social welfare benefits, equally States have countervailing interests to ensure that they reach the right people

·         Could Aadhar be used ONLY for verification or tracking citizens ?

·         Can State compel citizens to part with biometrics in public interest ?

·         Is Aadhar “ safe “ and biometric was being used for the purpose they were collected ?

·         Biometric entry could also be used for children and teachers to ensure right to education

·         State spends crores on mid-day meals, but money is not reaching children

·         Can courts review the decision of the Speaker to designate a Bill as a money Bill ?

·         How submitting biometrics for Aadhar was different  from giving them up for a US Visa ?

·         You want an insurance policy, you go to a private company. You want a mobile connection, you go to private entities and part with personal information . Here , the government has multiplied the options….the moment the government asks you to give proof of address and other details, you have a problem and you say sorry

·         What are the nature of safeguards to ensure that the information was not purloined ?

20  Jan  2018