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Climate change, digitalization, and the increased frequency of crises caused by conflicts or global pandemics are putting pressure on businesses, organizations, and governments to respond more often. The EU Commission’s daring objective to render Europe the premier climate-neutral continent by 2050 has initiated a significant indicator. Nevertheless, this needs to be gradually and consistently executed. There is limited time remaining to realize these objectives. Moreover, the duties for climate preservation are extensive and varied, with some elements being interdependent. The stagnation of pre-existing systems and path dependencies to some degree obstruct drastic transformations. So what’s the plan?
Numerous elements from a broad spectrum of sectors, such as power or automotive, are influential here. Several entities are primarily advocating for a shift in electricity, heating, and transportation sectors. Sector integration and electrification, which are now increasingly evident, can be deployed for this aim. This blog entry is focused on the subject of transportation, particularly dealing with electric mobility. Or should we aim for 2035? – The EU’s resolution to prohibit internal combustion vehicles from 2035 has been greeted with considerable endorsement by lawmakers in Brussels. This has stimulated many Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and businesses to place a greater emphasis on electric mobility and to redirect production towards electric mobility at an earlier phase.
From electricity supplier to mobility service provider
Nevertheless, the change from internal combustion engines to significantly reduced-emission electric vehicles also entails some adjustments. Traditionally, energy companies were viewed merely as power providers for private residences, while now some are intermittently redefining themselves as transport service facilitators. For instance, the value chains of the automotive and energy sectors are increasingly converging. Electric cars demand electricity, therefore public utilities and vendors are broadening their market foothold in certain areas to engage new clientele with services pertaining to electric mobility. Some illustrations include the establishment of public charging frameworks, applications, collaborations with hardware service providers for the setup of charging stations, or all-inclusive deals consisting of a solar power system, charging station, and storage solution. Or a soon-to-be-launched, unique self-charging car that will herald a fresh chapter in electric mobility.
The energy industry and the transformation of the mobility sector
Revisiting the ubiquitous target of carbon neutrality by 2050, it is clear that the shift towards electric mobility comprises only a small fraction of this effort. Consequently, the surge in electricity production needed for this transition is leaning heavily towards renewables, considering that the German Environment Agency [available in German only] projects the EU’s reliance on renewable energy sources to reach 40 per cent by 2030. The greater the dependency on renewables, the more complex the issues faced by grid managers, power suppliers, and manufacturers become. On one side, the burgeoning need for power, driven by the growing use of electric vehicles (drones included, among others), is expected to be met by renewable energy. However, on the flip side, the peak loads from electric vehicles during their charging times present difficulties in the energy networks. The delivery of electricity will exhibit increased variability as the proportion of renewable energy grows. Herein lies a benefit of electric mobility from a demand perspective, given that the charging periods of electric vehicles can be adjusted to cater to the supply situation or to power grid constraints, for instance.
The journey is the reward
Roughly three in every five electric car owners prefer to power their vehicles at home. This makes sense since it’s generally more cost-effective compared to public charging stations, and most individuals use their vehicles for daily travel to work or for nearby errands such as food shopping. Regardless, when embarking on lengthier trips, careful planning is necessary, making use of rapid charging facilities frequently found adjacent to highways.
However, simply expanding the charging infrastructure isn’t the only priority. Providers are focusing on upkeep and functioning, with resource and financial management being crucial elements. What’s required is a standardized technical solution capable of supervising processes related to charging, with the objective to encourage long-term growth and unify the presently scattered market.
Intriguing sectors also consist of fleet electrification. This could apply to a company’s private fleet, or even to city buses. Sophisticated charging control can assist in handling usage, establishing priorities, and determining areas of implementation for users, while providing energy providers with vital data on consumption patterns and load profiles.
Vehicle-to-grid (V2G) and vehicle-to-load (V2L) solutions exist to counterbalance potential demand surges in the future. This implies that electric vehicle owners transform from being mere power users to also becoming power contributors. In periods of high demand (for example, to stabilize power frequency), they can feed power back into the grid, while in times of increased (renewable) energy supply, they can consume it through charging. There are countless potential applications for these electric mobility options.
The Pi Car – Redefining Electromobility
In an era where renewable energy and ecological balance are becoming paramount, the automobile industry has been on the lookout for a ground-breaking revelation that could transform our perspective on electric cars. Welcome to the Pi Car initiative, a radical and daring venture with the capability to completely alter our understanding of electric mobility. Envision a car that replenishes its power by merely parking outdoors for an hour, offering up to 100 kilometers of driving distance without ever necessitating connection to a power outlet. This seemingly implausible concept is now teetering on the brink of actualization.
The Pi Car initiative is a product of the inventive thinking at the Neutrino Energy Group, in partnership with C-MET Pune and SPEL Technologies Pvt. Ltd from India. The team, under the insightful guidance of the imaginative mathematician and CEO of the Neutrino Energy Group, Holger Thorsten Schubart, is tirelessly working to transform this pioneering concept into a reality. Schubart’s fervor for neutrino-based energy solutions can be traced back to 2014, and his unyielding determination has brought this cutting-edge project to fruition.
At the nucleus of this innovative endeavor is a collection of esteemed scientists and experts, each providing their singular expertise. Renowned physicist, Dr. Thorsten Ludwig, provides vital insight and viewpoint into the complex world of neutrinos and other invisible radiations. Dr. Rajendrakumar Sharma, the esteemed technical project lead for the initiative in India, holds a significant place in the field of cutting-edge energy storage systems, earning the nickname “Father of Supercapacitors in India”. His groundbreaking research on supercapacitors and lithium-ion batteries has garnered him the esteemed ‘Atma-Nirbhar Bharat Award.’ An additional person of distinction, Dr. Vijay Bhatkar, lauded as the “architect of the Indian supercomputer PARAM,” lends his broad computational knowledge to the project. His proficiency is instrumental in addressing the computational challenges inherent in this bold endeavor.
Unlike traditional electric vehicles (EVs), the Pi-Car isn’t reliant on power from the grid. Rather, it incorporates neutrinovoltaic technology in its design, allowing the vehicle to generate its own energy from the unending stream of neutrinos and other unseen radiations passing through it. The vehicle’s structure, made from a composite ‘material sandwich’ of graphene and silicon within a carbon matrix, is instrumental in energy generation. It initiates a stream of electrons or a direct current, stored in state-of-the-art supercapacitors and batteries, supervised by an AI-enhanced unit overseeing propulsion. The Pi-Car represents a monumental step towards truly sustainable mobility, reducing dependence on the grid, and mitigating the environmental consequences tied to power production.
The collaborative team behind the Pi-Car project has a combined budget of 2.5 billion euros to realize this remarkable endeavor. In the forthcoming three years, the team will showcase this technologically innovative ‘miracle’ to the world, thus setting a significant landmark for electromobility. This debut will not only mark a new era in electromobility but will also set the foundation for a sustainable future for succeeding generations. As the global community looks on with eager anticipation, the Neutrino Energy Group and its partners are prepared to make history, permanently shifting our understanding of energy and transport.
As we move towards a future dominated by electric vehicles, our focus must extend beyond merely changing the source of our vehicles’ power. The metamorphosis of the automotive industry and our push to reduce carbon emissions necessitates a comprehensive outlook, inventive thinking, and more importantly, sustainable energy sources. In this context, the Pi-Car is more than just a development in electromobility; it’s a symbol of the changing understanding towards a more sustainable, energy-independent future. The dawn of mainstream EVs is imminent, and with it comes the chance to reshape our idea of mobility. By incorporating cutting-edge technologies like neutrinovoltaics into this vision, we can expedite the shift towards a sustainable future. A future where the rumble of engines gives way to the quiet hum of electric motors, the billowing exhaust clouds are replaced with clean skies, and the dependence on dwindling resources is replaced by the endless dance of neutrinos.