All that glitters is ….. Gold ?

 

 

Wrong.  It is Aluminum  !

Context :

Indian Oil-Phinergy JV partners Maruti Suzuki and Ashok Leyland for aluminium-air battery pilot  / 17 Mar 2021

 

Extract :

 

Ø  IOC Phinergy plans to manufacture aluminum-air systems in India and recycle used aluminium. The JV aims to enhance domestic energy supply based on domestically available aluminium.

 

Ø  The company is expected to reach commercial production stage for the car energy system by 2024.

 

Ø  It is reliably learnt that the two Indian automakers to sign the letters of intent with IOC Phinergy are passenger vehicle market leader Maruti Suzuki India and commercial vehicle major Ashok Leyland. As is known, in January 2018, Ashok Leyland inked a tie-up with Phinergy to explore the potential of using Al-Air batteries for commercial vehicles. 

Ø  Phinergy’s aluminium-air technology enables storage, transport and discharge of clean energy around the world. The aluminium-air systems produce energy by combining aluminium, oxygen, and water. Oxygen is a key reactant releasing energy from metal. Unlike conventional batteries that carry oxygen within a heavy electrode, metal-air energy systems freely breathe oxygen from ambient air, making the systems significantly lighter. The metal-air batteries are said to match the performance of traditional fuel, can be refilled in just 5 minutes, require light-infrastructure, are weather-proof and most importantly lower the cost of EVs. 

Ø  It may be recollected that in January 2021, Autocar Professional had broken the news that the IOCL and Phinergy have been testing the al-air batteries in Mahindra Treo electric three-wheeler. 

Ø  Phinergy’s air-electrode technology has enabled it to master the metal-air reaction process and develop an aluminium-air system with a lifespan of thousands of working hours, relieving the main constraints of electric transportation and clean distributed generation.

ALSO :

 PhiEnergy Metal Air Battery tested with Mahindra Treo electric Auto  

 

Extract :

Ø  Israel’s Phinergy performs some tests with their aluminium-air battery on the Mahindra Treo electric auto. This was done with Indian Oil (IOCL), one of India's leading oil company who has invested in Phinergy

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

Dear Shri Nitin Gadkariji,

 

 Ø  Alu-Air Battery could prove for India ( if we stop moving at the current snail-pace and start firing on all barrels ) a “ Second Mover Advantage “ over rest of the World, whose giant Auto Manufacturers ( TESLA – GM – VW – TOYOTA – NISSAN – HYUNDAI – MERC – FORD – GWM – SAIC etc ) are all investing billions in developing Lithium-Ion ( and its many variants ) batteries

Ø  Over the past 3 YEARS, through my following E-Mails, I have been advocating to re-focus ( from Lithium-ion to Alu-Air batteries ), whose advantages I listed in my last e-mail as follows:

#  Eliminating dependence on imported Lithium ( near world monopoly of Lithium by China )

      #  No need for Cobalt

     #  No liquid electrolyte ( no chance of catching fire )

     #  Abundance of Aluminum in India ( also much cheaper than Lithium )

     #  Automatic / continuous, extraction of Oxygen from atmospheric Air ( by car-mounted battery itself )

     #  Being “Primary / Non Rechargeable “ batteries , there is no need for road-side charging ( therefore no need for EV charging stations ) . An immediate saving ( in investment ) of Rs 195 lakh*crore  

    #  No “Range Anxiety“( one of the reasons EV are not selling like hotcakes in absence of charging stations )

    #  Quite likely, Al-Air Battery cost can be brought down to $ 20 / Kwh ( as compared to current $ 100 / Kwh for Lithium-ion Batteries ). This will enable EVs to sell for Rs 5 lakh ( below ave price of Rs 7.7 lakh for India made ICE cars ) . In turn, this will eliminate the need to “ incentivize “ the car-manufacturers , or “ subsidize “ EV buyers . End of FAME II ?

   #  No need to import Oil worth BILLIONS of DOLLARS ( for refining into Petrol / Diesel ) . No need to face public agitation for daily rise of Petrol / diesel prices !

   #  If Alu-Air Batteries can be suitably modified for ENERGY STORAGE ( like TESLA’s POWERWALL ) , may be these can power ELECTRIC STOVES ( Cookers ) for use in kitchens , reducing indoor pollution

   #  Last , but not the least, India will be able to earn BILLIONS of DOLLARS of foreign exchange, by exporting , not only these revolutionary batteries, but India-Made Electric Cars, all over the world . No country will be able to compete with us in COST / SELLING PRICE

 

With regards,

Hemen Parekh  /  hcp@RecruitGuru.com  /  18  March  2021

 

MY EARLIER E-MAILS :

  

  EV juice from Alu-Air Battery ? ………………….[ 16 Jan 2018 ]

  Ashok Leyland is not waiting ! …………………..[ 17 Jan 2018 ]

  Ashok Leyland : On the double ………………….[ 01 Apr 2018 ]

  25,000 New Petrol Pumps ? Why ? ……………[ 18 June 2018 ]

        A Battery Breakthrough ? ………………………….[ 25 Feb 2021 ]

 

Copy To :

Ø  Shri Dharmendra Pradhan  / min.png@nic.in

Ø  Shri Tarun Kapoor / sec.png@nic.in

Thank You, Shri Dhakneji,

 

Thank You, Shri Dhakneji,

 

( Transport commissioner – Maharashtra / avinashdhakne@gmail.com / smccommissioner@yahoo.com )

 

Context :

Mumbai : Transport Department mulls GPS-based meter for quick re-calibration  /  FreePressJournal / 16 Mar 2021

 

The Maharashtra Transport department is looking at bringing GPS-based meters that can be installed in auto-rickshaws and taxis.

This is to ensure that next time e-meters are to be recalibrated; it can be done in a centralised fashion without wasting time, money, and effort.

Currently, the procedure of recalibrating these e-meters is slow-paced and tedious which is causing problems to drivers and passengers.

Sources in the Transport department said that they will examine the feasibility of such GPS-based e-meters and will also have meetings with their manufacturers.

GPS-based meters would get automatically updated like any software from a central place.

Moreover, the RTO authorities claim that they can also come to know if any e-meter can be found tampered with so that they can lock it.

"The option of GPS meters can be explored if found feasible. We will call a meeting with their manufacturers to see if it will work. If the process begins now, we could study it," said Avinash Dhakne Maharashtra Transport Commissioner.

At present, there are issues on the ground faced by drivers who claim to be paying up to Rs 1500 for the recalibration process. This is despite the Transport Department's decision to fix the rate at Rs 700. The unions claim that there has been a low response to auto and taxi meters recalibration due to the high costs involved. These e-metered chips need to be replaced every time there is a change in tariff.

The touts are charging around Rs 250-300 taking the price for recalibration. The Maharashtra government has given time till May 30 to recalibrate e-meters of nearly 2.20 lakh auto rickshaws and 40,000 taxis operating in the city. These autos and taxis will undergo test runs at 13 test tracks across Mumbai suburbs including 5 at Wadala RTO, 5 at Andheri RTO, and 3 at Borivali RTO.

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

MY TAKE :

Ø  Thanks Shri Dhakneji,

For considering my suggestion in my following e-mail :

      Tablets in Taxies ? …………………………………[ 16 May 2016 ]

 

Where I suggested as follows :

 

Ø      >  Expect some Indian Start-Up to come up with a digital taxi meter ( to be

           called , DigiMet  ? ), resembling a 8" tablet , with a screen on both the sides ,

           visible to both , the driver and the passenger

  

Ø      >  DigiMet will be integrated with :

 

             *  GPS based Google Map

  

            *  Mobile App (called, FareCalc ? ) downloaded from the web site of the

               Authority fixing " Tariff " ( RTO ? )

 

 

Ø       >  Passengers will also need to download / install, FareCalc app on their smart

             phones

 

 

Ø       >   As requested by the passenger, taxi driver will enter the destination

              location, in DigiMet

 

 

Ø       >   Immediately, DigiMet will display the following routes to the desired

              destination :

 

            *  Shortest route ( distance-wise )

  

           *  Fastest route ( time wise ) , taking into account the traffic conditions on

               different routes

 

 

Ø       >   DigiMet will also display , the amount of " fares " payable for each route (

              also displaying tariff : Rs per Km )

 

 

Ø       >   Now it is the passenger's turn to select / choose the route that he wants

              the driver to take

 

         The taxi / rickshaw will start only thereafter !

 

 

Ø       >    At the end of the journey , passenger will have the options to pay the fare ,

 

            *  In cash

 

            *  By entering his Credit Card details into the DigiMet , or

 

            *  Through his Mobile Wallet ( using NFC  ? )

 

 

Ø       >    The Mobile App will also need to have a provision for any " Waiting Time "

                charges to be added

 

 

Ø      >    When the destination is reached, DigiMet will display :

  

            *  Distance travelled

 

             *  Time taken

 

            *  Waiting Time ( if any )

  

           *  RTO approved tariff ( Rs per Km )

 

            *  Fare amount payable

 

  

Ø       >    Any revision in the tariff will get updated automatically in DigiMet as also

                on the smart phone of passenger

 

 

Ø       >    For taxis / rickshaws running on Hybrid fuel ( producing less Co2 ) or

               Electric Vehicles ( zero emission ) , both, the driver and the passenger will

               get " Carbon Credits ", which will also get displayed on the DigiMet as

               also on the FareCalc Mobile App on the smart phone of the passenger ( @

               20 % of the fare payable ? ) . This could prove as an INCENTIVE for the

              TAXI-RICKSHAW owner, if “ Credits “ accumulated in one year, pays for the

              initial  Capital Investment of DigiMet ( approx.. Rs 5,000 / - ? )

 

 

Ø         >    These amounts will get transferred to their respective Jan Dhan Bank

                 Accounts ( thru DTB ) , every quarter

 

       >     I suppose some variation of DigiMet / FareCalc can be introduced in all

              State Transport buses and intra-city Municipal buses

 

 

 

Dear Shri Dhakneji,

 

Ø  I believe your initiative will be welcomed by the passengers and the Meter Manufacturers

Ø  However, expect stiff resistance from Taxi-Rickshaw Owners – who will need some incentive / motivation to replace their existing meters with DigiMet ( subsidy like planned “ Old Vehicle Scrapping Policy “ ? )

Ø  If Maharashtra manages to pull this off , it will be copied by all other States

Ø  It is, therefore ESSENTIAL that the “ Hardware ( DigiMet Tablet ) “ and the “ Software ( FareCalc mobile app platform ) “, are the SAME for all the States ( a National Public Digital Platform ). A Central Agency should draw-up these SPECIFICATIONS, which all manufacturers / RTOs must accept .

Ø  With lakhs of Auto Rickshaws / Taxies , even within Maharashtra, the switch-over may take 2 / 3 years ( partly depending upon the supply from Meter Manufacturers 

 

Ø  Auto Companies manufacturing Rickshaws, may be asked to “ factory – install “ DigiMet before sale. This could start from April 2022

 

With regards,

 

Hemen Parekh  /  hcp@RecruitGuru.com  /  17 March 2021

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

 

Related Readings :

Ø  Congratulations, Avinash Dhakneji ………………………..[ 15 Dec 2020 ]

Ø  Making Yourself Obsolete ? ……………………………………..[ 14 Feb 2016 ]

Ø  Carbon Finance through Carbon Credits…………………. [ 12 Mar 2021 ]

Ø  Internet of Vehicles ( IoV ) ? …………………………………..[ 04 Mar 2017 ]

   

 

CC:

Shri Anil Parab [ Transport Minister – Maharashtra / anildattatray@gmail.com ]

Shri Shashank Rao, [ Mumbai Autorickshaw Men's Union / shashank1510@yahoo.co.in ]

Mumbai Grahak Panchayat [ mpanchayat@gmail.com  ]

Mr. Ashok Datar, Advisor - Mumbai Parking Authority  / datar.ashok@gmail.com

Mumbai Mobility Forum  /  mumbai-mobility-forum@googlegroups.com

Mr A V Shenoy / shenoyav@gmail.com

All India Motor Transport Congress  /  aimtc@rediffmail.com  /  aimtc1936@gmail.com

 

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

NUMBER OF TAXIS – 2018 ( Thousands ):

 

Tamil Nadu………….373.52

Karnataka……………245.57

Maharashtra…………237.01

Rajasthan…………….131.91

West Bengal…………127.04

Gujarat………………….115.45

Kerala……………………107.57

Uttar Pradesh…………104.93

Odisha……………………102.8

Telangana………………101.49

Bihar……………………… 91.31

Delhi…………………….. .91.07

Andhra Pradesh……..77.54

Madhya Pradesh…….58.75

Assam……………….. …56.36

Haryana……………… ..52.76

Uttarakhand…………..39.82

Jammu & Kashmir.. 39.14

Himachal Pradesh….34.71

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

TOTAL…………………………2188.75 ( = 22 lakh )

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

MANUFACTURERS OF TAXI METERS :

Ø  Goldtech……………………………………………………………… sales@goldtechscales.com

 

Ø  SANSUI ELECTRONICS (P) LTD…………………………. sales@sansui.co.in / support@sansui.co.in

 

Ø  Precision Electronics Instrument Co

 

Ø  Devishree Mudran (p) Ltd………………………………….. marketing@dolphinscales.com

 

Ø  AL-Hadeed Manufacturing & Trading Pvt

 

Ø  M/s Pulsar Technologies (i) Pvt. Ltd………………..info@pulsartechnologies.in / mrn5608@gmail.com

 

Ø  Super Meter Mfg Co…………………………….info@supermeters.com / rajeshchinta@supermeters.com

 

Ø  National Meter Mfg. Co..................... nationalmeter@gmail.com

 

Ø  JNS Instruments Ltd…………………………….contact@jpmgroup.co.in

 

Ø  Nimit Technologies……………………………..ajitkumar4003@gmail.com

 

Ø  Dialtone Systems…………………………Info@Dialtonesystems.Com /  Support@Dialtonesystems.Com

 

Ø  DigiTax…………………………………. support@digitaxindia.com

 

Ø  www.rickshawchallenge.com/about/the-auto-rickshaw  /   / info@travelscientists.com

 

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

Energy Efficient Construction

 

 

Context :

Energy Efficient bricks for govt projects proposed   /  BL – 12 March 2021

Extract :

Ministry is proposing that all government-funded construction projects use bricks certified as energy efficient, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Power and New & Renewable Energy RK Singh said on Friday.

Under a new scheme being implemented by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency, fired clay brick manufacturers, who lower energy use during their manufacturing process, will be labelled as ‘ Energy Efficient Enterprises (E3) ’.

“It should take around three years for brick manufacturers to implement these energy efficiency reforms, after which we have proposed that any government-funded project such as the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana use only E3-certified bricks,” Singh said at the launch event for the scheme.

Singh also said that India will overachieve on the country’s voluntary commitment under the Paris Agreement to raise the share of non-fossil fuel sources in the national electricity generation capacity to 40 per cent.

“Share of non-fossil fuels in our power capacity is already at 38 per cent today. It will reach 60-65 per cent by 2030,” Singh said. “We are the only country who will achieve its pledges under the Paris Agreement.”

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

 

Dear Shri Hardeep Singh Puriji,

(  Minister for Housing )

About 10 weeks ago, I wrote to you :

Congratulations, Shri Hardeep Singh Puriji  [  03 Jan 2021 ]

 

In addition to the 6 technologies chosen by your Ministry for trial in 6 cities, I urge you to explore Construction Technology reported underneath, which has following advantages :

Ø  Energy Efficient

Ø  Recycles used Plastics

Ø  Speeds up construction

Ø  Light Weight

Ø  Longer Life

Ø  Easy to Transport

Ø  Can be printed at site

Ø  Lower Cost

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

3D printed plastic beams are stronger than steel

Lightweight 3D-Printed Lego-Like Beams Are Just as Strong as Concrete  /  Interesting Engineering / 11 Mar

Extract :

Researchers have developed and patented a new 3D-printed beam that assembles in a similar way to lego pieces, and is much less heavy than traditional concrete or metallic beams. 

The team from the Universitat Polytècnica de València (UPV) in Spain, explains that its beams use recycled plastic as the raw material, can be printed and assembled in situ thanks to their 3D-printing nature, and weigh up to 80 percent less than regular reinforcement beams.

After three years in the making, all in all, these new beams appear to be more sustainable, lighter, easier to assemble and transport than concrete or metallic beams, which could change the tides in the construction industry. 

"It is a very intelligent natural system and its reproduction in these beams awards them, with the low structural weight, very high mechanical capabilities," says José Ramón Albiol, [ joalib1@ csa.upv.es ] one of the researchers of the study.

 

The main novelty of the beams lies in its polymeric profile, which enables the pieces to be assembled, linked, and concreted wherever needed. There are no metallic components to the beams, which means they don't corrode with time.

Even though the beams' weight isn't as heavy as concrete beams, they still maintain their structural rigidity, explains Albiol.

The way the researchers managed to minimize the weight so drastically was by using an alveolar structure, a natural system that can be found in human bones, and which was the inspiration for the structure. 

On top of all that, as they're 3D-printable, the beams are more easily customizable nearer the construction site, which also simplifies transportation and lowers costs.

"To be able to customize the beams in situ makes it possible to adapt the characteristics of each of them to the structural needs at each point of construction," mentions Miguel Sánchez, from the Department of Systems and Computer Science (DISCA) of the UPV.

The team patented its creation in October last year, and it'll be interesting to see how the construction world integrates and welcomes these beams.

 

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

With regards,

Hemen Parekh  /  hcp@recruitGuru.com  /  16 March 2021