CA - S&T - 1226

SNT: Current Affairs

Ethanol blending program

Target: E20 by 2025 (advanced from 2030)

Advantages:
Fossil fuel: slow geological fossilization vs fast organic fermentation (or other processes)
Energy security:
CAD: estimated $4 BN
Environment: complete combustion -> reduced CO2 emission – 3L tonne P.A.; stubble burning;
Farmers income

Challenges:
Raw material: land, water, food security;
Production: distilleries, OMC’s, EC;
Distribution: Infrastructure; Pricing;
Consumption: Vehicle manufactures; Fuel cost;

Initiatives:
National policy on biofuels
E100 project
RUCO – repurposed used cooking oil
GOBAR Dhan scheme
PM JIVAN

National Hydrogen Energy Mission

Advantages
Energy efficient
Used in ICE, Fuel cells, Space propulsion
Carbon neutral - No GHG emission (fuel cells)
Energy security

Types
Grey
Brown/black
Blue
Green

Features
SWC portal
Grid to market connectivity
Store energy for 30 days
Tax free inter state transmission

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Challenges
Production
Technology
Distribution
Sectors
Geographical factors

H-CNG
Hydrogen- CNG

Drone Rules

Classification based on size/weight:

Nano
Micro
Small
Medium
Large

Features: UAS rules 2020, Draft 2021

Digital sky platform
Remote pilot license
Flying zones
Drone corridors – cargo
Drone council of India – promotion

Counter drone systems:

Hard kill, soft kill, jamming;

Lithium Ion Battery

Rechargeable battery - intercalated Li compound as cathode (+ve) and (typically) graphite as anode (-ve);
Lithium ions move from negative to positive electrode, through an electrolyte, during discharge.

Data:
BloombergNEF: Around 3/4th of battery cell manufacturing capacity is in China
BloombergNEF: Electric car production is expected to increase more than thirtyfold by 2030
In 2006, 10 million Sony batteries recalled – internal contaminants – short circuit and fire.
August 2007, Nokia recalled 46 million batteries - risk of overheating and exploding
September 2016, Samsung recalled approximately 2.5 million Galaxy Note 7 phones after 35
incidents of fire.

Applications/Need/Benefits:
High density; Low self-discharge; No memory effect;

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 Energy density: Lithium-ion 150 watt-hours of electricity in 1 Kg of battery; NiMH Battery pack
(100 watt-hours per kg); Lead Acid Battery (25 watt-hours per kg).
Weight: one-third the weight of lead acid batteries
Discharge: completely discharges i.e. 100% as compared to 80% for lead acid.
Self-discharge: 1 or 2% per month;
Lifespan: life cycle of 5000 times or more compared to just 400-500 cycles in lead acid.
Voltage: each cell – 3.6 volt; higher than Ni Cad and alkaline cells (1.5 v) - require less cells, can
supply power devices;
Load characteristics: constant through discharge; L-A-B: drops consistently

Applications:
Modern electronics; Smart devices(portable devices); Power devices;
Mobility: Electric vehicles; Industry: Power back up; industrial appliances; Space: Communication;
Satellites; IR 4.0: Smart devices; IoT

Challenges:
Fire: Fire Triangle
Mining: Lithium – water intensive; water contamination;
Import dependency: from China, South Korea or Taiwan; BloombergNEF : Around 3/4th of battery
cell manufacturing capacity is in China
Protection circuit: to maintain temperate and safe voltage limits;
Transportation: large quantities subject to regulations;
Expensive: 40% higher than Ni-Cad; Cost of batteries in Tata Nexon – 7 L;
Capacity/range: can’t replace internal combustion engines yet; Average range – 100KM;
Recycling: create toxic waste, heavy metals, risk of fire;

Steps initiative:
Technology: Safer alternatives – ceramic solid electrolytes;
ISRO – transfer Li-Ion cell technology to Indian industries.
Union Cabinet in 2019: National Mission on Transformative Mobility and Battery Storage
Khanij Bidesh India Ltd: has inked a pact with an Argentine firm to jointly prospect lithium in
Argentina - largest reserves of Lithium in the world

Lithium-Ion battery fire

Batteries store intense energy in small package - energy released in an uncontrolled fashion -> thermal
event can result in accidents and fire.

Examples:
In 2006, approximately 10 million Sony batteries recalled – internal contaminants could pierce
separator – short circuit and fire.
August 2007, Nokia recalled 46 million batteries - risk of overheating and exploding
September 2016, Samsung recalled 2.5 million Galaxy Note 7 phones after 35 incidents of fire.

Fire Triangle: Heat, Oxygen and Fuel

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Causes:
Manufacturing Defects: Flaws
in production e.g. metallic
particles (impurities) to seep
into the lithium-ion cell during
the manufacturing process.
Design Flaws: Car companies -
sleek and slim cars - push
battery pack manufacturers
for compact designs
Abnormal or Improper Usage:
External factors - keeping the
battery close to heat source;
penetrating the battery pack;
unauthorized assembly;
Charger Issues: destroy battery’s protection circuit;
Cost - Low quality components: keep price down - increases risk;
Regulatory challenges:
Degradation of battery:
o Thermal abuse, e.g. poor cooling or external fire e.g. above 130 F or below freezing during
charging;
o Electrical abuse, e.g. overcharge or external short circuit,
o Mechanical abuse, e.g. penetration or crash, dropping, crushing etc.
o Internal short circuit, e.g. due to manufacturing flaws or aging

Reactions:
Combustion reactions : Over heat → thermal runaway → short circuit battery → fire
Chemical reactions → by products → increase pressure → cell walls expand → leakage

Safety features:
Regulations: For batteries and associated equipment, testing standards (e.g., UL 2054) and setting
up certification agencies
Design: Have Pressure-sensitive vent holes, Separator as a fuse; Fail safe circuit: disconnect when
voltage outside safe range (3 - 4.2 v);
BMS: maintain battery temperature, voltage output, cooling;
Technology: Battery cathodes - heat release. - lower nickel content or moving to iron phosphate;
Solid state batteries;
Operations
o Guidelines: Follow manufacturer’s instructions for storage, use, charging, and
maintenance.
o Storage: lithium batteries and devices in dry, cool locations.
o Inspection: signs of damage, such as bulging/cracking, hissing, leaking, rising temperature,
o Training: workers who use or handle lithium-powered devices

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Electric Vehicles

Pros of EV
Environmentally friendly- use little or no fossil fuels; no GHG or pollutants released from tailpipe;
Paris agreement (INDC): cutting GHG emissions intensity by 33% to 35% percent below 2005
levels by 2030; India’s Net Zero Emissions by 2070;
Health problems from air pollution – (WHO - India is home to 14 out of 20 most polluted cities in
the world);
Clean and Low carbon Energy: decarbonising the transport sector; shift towards renewable energy
sources - cost reduction from better electricity generating technologies;
Energy efficient- EVs convert over 77% of the electrical energy compared to 40 to 50% of ICE;
'tank-to-wheels’ efficiency -3 times higher than ICE
Energy security: India dependent on imports for 80% of its oil requirements.
Performance benefits- quiet, smooth operation – less vibrations; stronger acceleration; require
less maintenance than internal combustion engines.
Low running costs- less moving parts for maintaining;
Employment: New sectors, manufacturing, services, repair;

Challenges facing EV:

Government policy: Lack of a stable policy for EV production
Technology: technologically deficient in production of electronics, batteries, semiconductors,
controllers, etc;
Infrastructural support: Charging stations, grid stability and range anxiety; e.g. In 2018 India had
only 650 charging stations; Charging time – upto 12 hours;
Raw materials: Battery - reserves of lithium and cobalt; India imported more than $1 billion of
lithium-ion cells in 2021;
Cost: Electric vehicles costly than ICE;
Driving range- shorter driving range than conventional vehicles;
Recharge time- Full recharge - 3 to 12 hours. Even a "fast charge" to 80% capacity can take 30 min.
Thermal runaway - battery accidents;

Initiatives:
Manufacturing - PLI Scheme for Auto Sector: In September 2021 - Rs 26,058 crore PLI scheme -
electric and fuel cell vehicles and drones in India.
Cost - FAME II Amendment: by increasing the subsidy rate for electric two-wheelers;
Infrastructure - Ministry of Power: at least 1 charging station in a grid of 3 km and at every 25 kms
on both sides of the highways; Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs - Model Building Bye-laws,
2016 (MBBL) - setting aside 20% of the parking space for EV charging facilities;
Support global EV30@30 campaign;
Policy - Delhi Government has announced the Electric Vehicle Policy 2020;

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