বাংলায় পড়ুন
Autorickshaws could be running on leased batteries by end of 2019 or beginning of 2020 according to IIT Madras professor, Ashok Jhunjhunwala. Originally from Kolkata, Jhunjhunwala made this announcement when he was recently in the city to deliver a lecture in IIM Calcutta on whether India can achieve its goal of having e-vehicles on the streets by 2030.
According to Jhunjhunwala, a lot of hard work and careful planning needs to go in for the next 2-3 years, failing which China and other countries would start exporting all kinds of e-vehicles to India. Europe, the US, and China are targeting the premium 2% segment of cars where price is not a factor. India needs to target the remaining 98%. Unlike the West, India can’t afford to subsidise vehicles. The efficiencies of e-autorickshaws have gone up considerably from 70-80 Wh/km to 45-50 Wh/km. An autorickshaw could start the day with a battery that would let it run 50 km. Most drivers are not keen to recharge their batteries as it may take up to 45 minutes. Moreover battery life is shortened if charged at high temperatures. The concept that Jhunjhunwala’s team has evolved is to get drivers to swap batteries at petrol pumps.
Drivers would have to deposit the used-up batteries and get them recharged. This would save their time and they can keep driving. Drivers wouldn’t even have to buy batteries. The Padma Shri scientist also claimed having had discussions with oil majors for petrol pumps to stack batteries and charge drained ones in cool environments to prevent damage.
