2. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY PROJECT REPORT
ON
FUTURE OF ELECTRIC VEHICLES
SUBMITTED TO
IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENTFOR
DEGREE OF
BACHELOROF TECHNOLOGY
IN
(MECHANICAL ENGINEERING &ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING)
SUBMITTED BY SUBMITTED TO
JAIDEEP-15ME006
MONU -15ME009
SACHIN -15ME014
NAVEEN -15EE003
CHANCHAL-15EE001
DINESH -15EE002
RITESH -15EE004
SATYAVEER-15EE005
3. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Apart from the efforts of ours, the success of any project depends largely on the
encouragement and guidelines of many others.
We take this opportunity to express our gratitude to the people who have been
instrumental in the successful completion of this project.
We would like to show our appreciation to the Dean of SOE Mr. Amit for his
support. We would also like to thank Lab assistant mr. Krishan, Mr. Rajkumar,
Mr. Ramkumar for sharing his knowledge. We feel grateful to Co-ordinator & our
project guide Prof. Mr. Sunil & Mr. Dinesh Tyagi Without her encouragement
and guidance this project would not have been materialized.
The guidance and support received from all the members who contributed the non-
teaching staff, the library staff was vital for the success of the project. We are grateful for
their constant support and help
4. OBJECTIVES
To study the perceptions and expectations of potential, for alternative technologies in
automobiles, such as Electric Vehicles.
To know why electric vehicle couldn‘t get enough consumer attraction
To study the willingness of buyers of considering Electric Vehicles as a
practical commuting option and at when.
To study the maximum price consumers can afford for buying an Electric Vehicles
To study the other options available for Range Anxious Consumer with respect to
existing batteries used in Electric Vehicles
To study the Government initiatives taken for promoting Electric Vehicles and
subsidies provided on Electric Vehicle batteries.
To study the current expectations of consumers with respect to Electric
Vehicles, this will lead to its potential for future.
To study the current threats, this is causing slow growth of Electric Vehicles.
5. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
India today is one of the top ten automotive markets in the world and given its burgeoning
middle class population with buying potential and the steady economic growth, accelerating
automotive sales is expected to continue. In the last couple of years, there has been a lot of
discussion around the prices of fuel – apart from the deregulation of petrol prices. Moreover
the threat of disruption of supplies from the Middle-East has heightened the debate on energy
security and brought the focus on to alternate drive train technologies.
The potential for alternative technologies in automobiles such as electric vehicles (EV) in
India, as in the case of many other comparable markets, depends on improved battery
technologies, driving ranges, government incentives, regulations, lower prices and better
charging infrastructure.
There seems to be a lot of interest on the part of Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) based
manufacturers to adopt electric technology, not just supplemental to the ICE, but as a stand-
alone offering. There are also specialized EV manufacturers that have come up all over the
world.
While many of the factors that influence the EV market are understood intellectually, we
carried out a consumer survey to study perceptions and expectations of potential for
alternative technologies in automobiles such as electric vehicles (EV) and hybrid EV.
Assessing future demand for electric vehicles was somewhat challenging since it meant
testing consumer preferences for a product with which they are largely unfamiliar. For this
reason, we focused on uncovering consumers‘ familiarity with EV technologies and
products; with their opinions around price, brand, range, charging, the infrastructure, and the
cost of ownership; and with the consumer‘s imagined ―fit‖ of an EV in his or her lifestyle
given a range of demographic parameters.
6. Automotive Industry in India
The automotive industry in India is one of the larger markets in the world and had previously
been one of the fastest growing globally, but is now seeing flat or negative growth rates.
India's passenger car and commercial vehicle manufacturing industry is the sixth largest in
the world, with an annual production of more than 3.9 million units in 2011.
Chennai is home to around 35-40% of India's total automobile industry and for this reason it
is known as the Detroit of Asia. It is on the way to becoming the world's largest Auto hub by
2016 with a capacity of over 3 million cars annually.
The majority of India's car manufacturing industry is based around three clusters in the south,
west and north. The southern cluster consisting of Chennai is the biggest with 35% of the
revenue share. The western hub near Mumbai and Pune contributes to 33% of the market and
the northern cluster around the National Capital Region contributes 32%. Chennai, with the
India operations of Ford, Hyundai, Renault, Mitsubishi, Nissan, BMW, Hindustan Motors,
Daimler
Chennai accounts for 60% of the country's automotive exports. Gurgaon and Manesar in
Haryana form the northern cluster where the country's largest car manufacturer, Maruti
Suzuki, is based. The Chakan corridor near Pune, Maharashtra is the western cluster with
companies like General Motors, Volkswagen, Skoda, Mahindra and Mahindra, Tata Motors,
Mercedes Benz, Land Rover, Jaguar Cars, Fiat and Force Motors having assembly plants in
the area. Nashik has a major base of Mahindra & Mahindra with a UV assembly unit and an
Engine assembly unit. Aurangabad with Audi, Skoda and Volkswagen also forms part of the
western cluster. Another emerging cluster is in the state of Gujarat with manufacturing
facility of General Motors in Halol and further planned for Tata Nano at their plant in
Sanand. Ford, Maruti Suzuki and Peugeot-Citroen plants are also set to come up in Gujarat.
Kolkata with Hindustan Motors, Noida with Honda and Bangalore with Toyota are some of
the other automotive manufacturing regions around the country.
Electric vehicle industry:-
During April 2012 Indian Government has planned to unveil the roadmap for the
development of the domestic electric in the country. A discussion between the various
stakeholders including Government, industry and the academia is expected to take place
during 23–24 February. The final contours of the policy will be formed after this set of
discussions. Ministries such as Petroleum, Finance, Road Transport and Power are involved
in developing a broad framework for the sector. Along with these ministries big auto industry
names such as Mr. Anand Mahindra (Vice Chairman and Managing Director, Mahindra &
Mahindra) and Mr Vikram Kirloskar (Vice-Chairman, Toyota Kirloskar) are also involved in
this task. Government has also proposed to set up a Rs 740 crore R&D fund for the sector in
the 12th five year plan during 2012-17. The idea is to reduce the high cost of key imported
components such as the battery and electric motor and develop such capabilities locally.
Electric car manufacturers in India
-Ajanta Group -Hero Electric (Yo Bikes)
-Mahindra REVA -Tara International
-Tata (Indica Vista) -Chevrolet (Beat)
7. About Electric Vehicles
During the last few decades, environmental impact of the petroleum-based transportation
infrastructure, along with the peak oil, has led to renewed interest in an electric transportation
infrastructure. Electric vehicles differ from fossil fuel-powered vehicles in that the electricity
they consume can be generated from a wide range of sources, including fossil fuels, nuclear
power, and renewable sources such as tidal power, solar power, and wind power or any
combination of those.
An electric vehicle (EV), also referred to as an electric drive vehicle, uses one or more
electric motors or traction motors for propulsion. Three main types of electric vehicles exist,
those that are directly powered from an external power station, those that are powered by
stored electricity originally from an external power source, and those that are powered by an
on-board electrical generator, such as an internal combustion engine (a hybrid electric
vehicle) or a hydrogen fuel cell. Electric vehicles include electric cars, electric trains, electric
lorries, electric aeroplanes, electric boats, electric motorcycles and scooters and electric
spacecraft. Proposals exist for electric tanks, diesel submarines operating on battery power
are, for the duration of the battery run, electric submarines, and some of the lighter UAVs are
electrically-powered.
Electric vehicles first came into existence in the mid-19th century, when electricity was
among the preferred methods for motor vehicle propulsion, providing a level of comfort and
ease of operation that could not be achieved by the gasoline cars of the time. The internal
combustion engine (ICE) is the dominant propulsion method for motor vehicles but electric
power has remained commonplace in other vehicle types, such as trains and smaller vehicles
of all types.
A hybrid electric vehicle combines a conventional (usually fossil fuel-powered) powertrain
with some form of electric propulsion. Common examples include hybrid electric cars such
as the Toyota Prius. The Chevrolet Volt is an example of a production Extended Range Plug-
In Electric Vehicle.
Electric motor
The power of a vehicle electric motor, as in other vehicles, is measured in kilowatts (kW).
100 kW is roughly equivalent to 134 horsepower, although most electric motors deliver full
torque over a wide RPM range, so the performance is not equivalent, and far exceeds a 134
horsepower (100 kW) fuel-powered motor, which has a limited torque curve.
Usually, direct current (DC) electricity is fed into a DC/AC inverter where it is converted to
alternating current (AC) electricity and this AC electricity is connected to a 3-phase AC
motor. For electric trains, DC motors are often used.
8. Mechanical
Electric motors are mechanically very simple. Electric motors often achieve 90% energy
conversion efficiency over the full range of speeds and power output and can be precisely
controlled. They can also be combined with regenerative braking systems that have the ability
to convert movement energy back into stored electricity. This can be used to reduce the wear
on brake systems (and consequent brake pad dust) and reduce the total energy requirement of
a trip. Regenerative braking is especially effective for start-and-stop city use.
They can be finely controlled and provide high torque from rest, unlike internal combustion
engines, and do not need multiple gears to match power curves. This removes the need for
gearboxes and torque converters.
Electric vehicles provide quiet and smooth operation and consequently have less noise and
vibration than internal combustion engines. While this is a desirable attribute, it has also
evoked concern that the absence of the usual sounds of an approaching vehicle poses a danger
to blind, elderly and very young pedestrians. To mitigate this situation, automakers and
individual companies are developing systems that produce warning sounds when electric
vehicles are moving slowly, up to a speed when normal motion and rotation (road,
suspension, electric motor, etc.) noises become audible.
Energy efficiency
Electric vehicle 'tank-to-wheels' efficiency is about a factor of 3 higher than internal
combustion engine vehicles. Energy is not consumed while the vehicle is stationary, unlike
internal combustion engines which consume fuel while idling. However, looking at the well-
to-wheel efficiency of electric vehicles, their total emissions, while still lower, are closer to
an efficient gasoline or diesel in most countries where electricity generation relies on fossil
fuels.
It is worth noting that well-to-wheel efficiency of an electric vehicle has far less to do with
the vehicle itself and more to do with the method of electricity production. A particular
electric vehicle would instantly become twice as efficient if electricity production were
switched from fossil fuel to a wind or tidal primary source of energy. Thus when "well-to-
wheels" is cited, one should keep in mind that the discussion is no longer about the vehicle,
but rather about the entire energy supply infrastructure - in the case of fossil fuels this should
also include energy spent on exploration, mining, refining, and distribution.
9. Types of Batteries
Previously banks of conventional lead-acid car batteries were commonly used for EV
propulsion. Then later the 75 watt-hour/kilogram lithium ion polymer battery prototypes
came. The newer Li-poly cells provide up to 130 watt-hour/kilogram and last through
thousands of charging cycles.
Efficiency
Because of the different methods of charging possible, the emissions produced have been
quantified in different ways. Plug-in all-electric vehicles also have different consumption
characteristics.
Range
Many electric designs have limited range, due to the low energy density of batteries
compared to the fuel of internal combustion engined vehicles. Electric vehicles also often
have long recharge times compared to the relatively fast process of refuelling a tank. This is
further complicated by the current scarcity of public charging stations. "Range anxiety" is a
label for consumer concern about EV range.
Lead- Acid Battery
Li-ion Polymer Battery
10. Charging
Grid capacity: If a large proportion of private vehicles were to convert to grid electricity it
would increase the demand for generation and transmission, and consequent emissions.
However, overall energy consumption and emissions would diminish because of the higher
efficiency of electric vehicles over the entire cycle.
Stabilization of the grid: Since electric vehicles can be plugged into the electric grid when
not in use, there is a potential for battery powered vehicles to even out the demand for
electricity by feeding electricity into the grid from their batteries during peak use periods
(such as mid-afternoon air conditioning use) while doing most of their charging at night,
when there is unused generating capacity. This vehicle-to-grid (V2G) connection has the
potential to reduce the need for new power plants, as long as vehicle owners do not mind
their batteries being drained during the day by the power company prior to needing to use
their vehicle for a return-commute home in the evening.
Furthermore, our current electricity infrastructure may need to cope with increasing shares of
variable-output power sources such as windmills and PV solar panels. This variability could
be addressed by adjusting the speed at which EV batteries are charged, or possibly even
discharged.
Some concepts see battery exchanges and battery charging stations, much like gas/petrol
stations today. Clearly these will require enormous storage and charging potentials, which
could be manipulated to vary the rate of charging, and to output power during shortage
periods, much as diesel generators are used for short periods to stabilize some national grids.
Heating of electric vehicles: In cold climates, considerable energy is needed to heat the
interior of a vehicle and to defrost the windows. With internal combustion engines, this heat
already exists as waste combustion heat diverted from the engine cooling circuit. This process
offsets the greenhouse gases external costs. If this is done with battery electric vehicles, the
interior heating requires extra energy from the vehicles batteries. Although some heat could
be harvested from the motor(s) and battery, their greater efficiency means there is not as
much waste heat available as from a combustion engine.
However, for vehicles which are connected to the grid, battery electric vehicles can be
preheated, or cooled, with little or no need for battery energy, especially for short trips.
Newer designs are focused on using super-insulated cabins which can heat the vehicle using
the body heat of the passengers. This is not enough, however, in colder climates as a driver
delivers only about 100 W of heating power. A reversible AC-system, cooling the cabin
during summer and heating it during winter, seems to be the most practical and promising
way of solving the thermal management of the EV. Ricardo Arboix introduced (2008) a new
concept based on the principle of combining the thermal-management of the EV-battery with
the thermal-management of the cabin using a reversible AC-system. This is done by adding a
third heat-exchanger, thermally connected with the battery-core, to the traditional heat
pump/air conditioning system used in previous EV- models like the GM EV1 and Toyota
RAV4 EV. The concept has proven to bring several benefits, such as prolonging the life-span
of the battery as well as improving the performance and overall energy-efficiency of the EV.
11. Environmental Impact of Electric Vehicle
Environmental impact of electric vehicles:-
Due to efficiency of electric engines as compared to combustion engines, even
when the electricity used to charge electric vehicles comes from a CO2-emitting
source, such as a coal- or gas- fired powered plant, the net CO2 production from an
electric car is typically one-half to one-third of that from a comparable combustion
vehicle.
Electric vehicles release almost no air pollutants at the place where they are
operated. In addition, it is generally easier to build pollution-control systems into
centralized power stations than retrofit enormous numbers of cars.
Electric vehicles typically have less noise pollution than an internal combustion
engine vehicle, whether it is at rest or in motion. Electric vehicles emit no tailpipe
CO2 or pollutants such as NOx, NMHC, CO and PM at the point of use.
Electric motors don't require oxygen, unlike internal combustion engines; this is
useful for submarines.
While electric and hybrid cars have reduced tailpipe carbon emissions, the energy they
consume is sometimes produced by means that have environmental impacts. For
example, the majority of electricity produced in the United States comes from fossil
fuels (coal and natural gas), so use of an electric vehicle in the United States would not
be completely carbon neutral. Electric and hybrid cars can help decrease energy use and
pollution, with local no pollution at all being generated by electric vehicles, and may
someday use only renewable resources, but the choice that would have the lowest
negative environmental impact would be a lifestyle change in favour of walking,
biking, use of public transit or telecommuting. Governments may invest in research and
development of electric cars with the intention of reducing the impact on the
environment, where they could instead develop pedestrian-friendly communities or
electric mass transit.
Raw materials increasing costs
There is an impending increase in the costs of many rare materials used in the
manufacture of hybrid cars. For example, the rare earth element dysprosium is required
to fabricate many of the advanced electric motors and battery systems in hybrid
propulsion systems. Neodymium is another rare earth metal which is a crucial
ingredient in high-strength magnets that are found in permanent magnet electric motors.
12. HYPOTHESIS
By 2025, India‘s pollution in cities is expected to grow two times as compared to 2018.
It is desired to have 3 lakhs EVs which could result in a reduction of over 16 lakh
metric tons of pollution by 2020, savings of over Rs.3,700 crore in foreign exchange
and significant health costs savings.
It is expected that the government will make regulations specific to financial, incentives
for manufacturers, parking and toll benefits to customers and research and development
grants to build next generation technologies.
The government will also form norms for promoting petrol-electric or diesel-electric
hybrids. We expect to see lots of Hybrid Vehicles on road within a short span. The
Revolvo Kit is meeting the current consumer‘s expectations hence it will be preferred by
consumers on a larger extent.
13. METHODOLOGY
1. Initiation of project.
2. Detailed study of component.
3. Selection of component
4. Cost analysis.
5. Designing of project.
6. Assembling of selected components.
7. Testing of project.
8. Final approval.
14. CONCLUSION:
The responses for the questionnaire proved to be crucial for the conclusion of our
research as the results were positive and where matching with what was predicted by
us.
The perception of people towards EVs is still unsatisfactory as a major section of our
society is still unaware of various Alternative Technologies used in Automobiles.
The current EVs don‘t meet the consumer‘s expectations to a larger extent.
The Government Initiatives taken for the promotion of EVs is still in developing stage
and is up to papers, though various agencies have been formed and various plans have
been brought by them but still its implementation is not yet done.
The consumers will prefer EVs only if they are comparable with current vehicles on
road, so a change in consumer‘s behavior is important. They should gradually become
more conscious about the use of cleaner technologies.
Though many consumers will not prefer the current Electric/Hybrid vehicles but still
there are lots of options available which is built to meet consumer‘s expectations such
as REVOLVO KIT.
Marketing of such products will really play an important role as a stepping foot
towards GREENER ENVIRONMET.
Various companies should take initiatives to promote electric vehicles as a part of
their corporate social responsibilities.
Finally the future of the Electric/Hybrid Vehicles is GREEN.
