The automotive industry is going through a massive transformation globally, while electric vehicle (EV) sales are booming, the worldwide race to net-zero emissions is quickly pushing several key industry processes out of compliance with the accepted Worldwide Harmonized Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP) standards.
In an exclusive interaction with Ashish Sharma, Senior Director Automotive India, Capgemini Invent, we discussed the role of OEMs and the need for careful design to influence the future of EVs and other alternative mobility solutions that will facilitate this worldwide transition in a sustainable manner.
While net-zero emissions are the goal, there are valid concerns over the availability of battery materials, the sustainability of entire supply chains and the carbon footprint that is generated by these solutions. Ashish Sharma told TOI Auto, “All these challenges will not be solved with a single innovation. The availability of materials for batteries, the sustainability of the entire supply chain, the need for more charging stations, and recycling capacities are key concerns that need to be addressed. Significant improvements in battery technology, including the move to solid-state electrolytes, implementing a successful circular battery economy will make them cheaper, safer, more durable, and faster to recharge.”
According to him, the lifetime of a battery pack is no longer a roadblock as they are already exceeding the lifetime of a car by offering 4,000 equivalent full charge cycles before depreciating to 80 percent depth charge from its rated capacity. Sharma stated, “The energy content of battery cells has been increasing over the years and smarter packages make it possible to put even more capacity (28Ah -> 63Ah) into the same volume, with a weight increase of only 25%. In the near future, we can expect batteries with an energy density to increase by a factor of 2-3.”
However, recycling is one of the essential segments where EVs will introduce additional opportunities, “Today, it is possible to salvage over 70 percent of a battery pack and over 90 percent of critical materials. The recycling industry is making strides in lithium-ion battery recycling and will continue to do so in the years to come. The manufacturer’s responsibility should not end when the product goes from the production line to the client. To make their mark, organisations need to look for ways to optimize technological innovation.”
And it isn’t the battery packs alone that will contribute to the recycle/repurpose industry. For a future that maximises sustainable mobility, conversion/retrofit kits for older ICE vehicles to run on electric power will also play a major role. “The process of building a new vehicle is costly, in terms of energy and greenhouse gas emissions, so there can be a scope of retrofitting to restore and electrify old vehicles based on the adaptability of the existing vehicle platform.” Sharma said.
This is where retrofitting older vehicle’s can contribute to the worldwide net-zero ambition. Such conversions have the potential to become a major contributor in lowering emissions of commercial vehicles in particular. OEMs are already adopting modular platforms that can accommodate different energy options.
Sharma also stated that, “it could be worth converting them at scale provided the platform design, vehicle architecture conforms to such conversions and at the same time are in accordance with existing CMVR regulations prevailing in the country.”
The next frontier: Smart Grids!
The issue of carbon footprint being generated at energy sources, currently depends upon geographical location or day time vs night time charging. The rollout of fully functional smart grids is essential to maximise efficiency and here’s why.
Currently in countries such as India, charging during night time uses fossil energy as that electricity is being produced by coal powered thermal plants, whereas, charging during day time is the only sustainable way as that utilises solar or hydro energy. As most EV owners prefer to charge their vehicles overnight, the indirect carbon footprint of their vehicles ends up being higher.
The answer, Smart Grids. Ashish Sharma tells us, “A fully functioning Smart Grid features sensors throughout the transmission and distribution grid to collect data, real-time two-way communications to move that data between utilities and consumers, and the computing power necessary to make that intelligence actionable and transactive. Renewable energy sources can be integrated at high penetration at the scale we need to address climate change by using these smart grids.”
“EVs can be made more economical and sustainable if they can communicate with the grid to agree on when to draw energy from the network. Currently, access to vehicle-generated data is usually limited to OEMs themselves, but this will change with the likely adoption of an app store model enabling third parties to provide services. The right Electrification System Strategy will be defined by designing the System & Electric architectures for an accurate energy management system and is the next crucial step in the electrification process.” He added.
Do you think electrification is a sound strategy towards the net-zero emissions goal? Tell us in the comments below.