Is a widespread transition to electric vehicles an inevitable future for transportation? The debate surrounding this question presents arguments from both proponents and opponents of the electric vehicle transition.
Proponents emphasize that electric cars do not emit exhaust gases, eliminating the need for catalytic converters, oils, coolants, and bulky engines. On the other hand, opponents argue that electric vehicles rely on electricity, which is predominantly generated by burning fossil fuels. Furthermore, energy transmission from generation to the consumer incurs losses in the power grid, ranging from 10% to 20% over long distances. Considering the efficiency of power generation at thermal power plants, opponents contend that operating machines with internal combustion engines may be more economically feasible. Additionally, claims that electricity generation from fossil fuels will be entirely replaced by solar and wind power by 2050 are met with skepticism due to their dependence on weather conditions.
Another aspect to consider is the environmental impact of large batteries used in electric cars. The production of these batteries is deemed harmful to the environment, and the current versions have a limited service life of around eight years. Proper recycling of end-of-life batteries is currently lacking cost-effective and environmentally friendly technologies. Notably, Chinese companies such as CATL and BYD dominate the global production of traction batteries, with a combined market share of 66%. Consequently, China leads the world in electric vehicle adoption, holding a 54% market share.
The ecological implications of present-day electric vehicles remain a controversial topic. However, the landscape could change with the development of second-generation electric cars, where the vehicle itself becomes disconnected from the centralized power supply system. Progress in this direction is already being made in India through a collaboration between the Berlin-based science and technology company Neutrino Energy Group, led by its president and mathematician Holger Thorsten Schubart, and India’s Centre for Materials for Electronic Technology (C-MET) in Pune. C-MET, a leading government laboratory under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, and its director Dr Bharat Bhanudas Kale, a renowned energy and materials scientist and member of the Royal Society of Chemistry in London. In addition, Ltd, India’s leading manufacturer of supercapacitors and advanced versions thereof, is contributing to the development of the self-charging Pi Car under the leadership of CEO Dr Rajendrakumar Sharma, also known as the “father of supercapacitors”.
This innovative project aims to create a self-charging Pi Car by utilizing the concept of Neutrinovoltaic technology. The Pi Car envisions a metamaterial body that converts the energy of the surrounding radiation fields of the invisible spectrum, including the kinetic energy of neutral neutrino particles with mass and colliding with the core of graphene atoms, and the thermal (Brownian) motion of graphene atoms into a direct electric current. The Neutrinovoltaic technology, which is already being used in the Neutrino Power Cubes autonomous fuel-free generators with a net output of 5-6 kW, is at the core of the development and will begin commercial production in Switzerland and Korea in 2024.
Adapting Neutrinovoltaic technology for electric mobility requires a different approach than fuel-free generators. Placing electric generating units in the vehicle’s trunk, for example, would increase its weight, leading to accelerated wear on tires and roads. To mitigate this, the development team focuses on reducing the weight of the Pi Car vehicle as much as possible. The technology incorporates not only electric generating plates but also graphene filaments specially woven into the carbon base of the car body. The body of the Pi Car acts as an “energy pump,” generating electricity for traction power while charging a small battery to handle peak loads. To facilitate this ambitious project, a dedicated research and development center is being constructed in Pune, India.
Upon completion of the research and development phase, the world will witness the unveiling of a second-generation electric vehicle, the Pi Car. This vehicle aims to overcome the limitations associated with existing electric cars, thanks to the collaboration between a highly qualified international team of scientists, engineers, and technicians who share a passion for technological breakthroughs and the creation of an environmentally friendly and sustainable living environment on our planet. The Pi Car represents a promising advancement in the realm of electric mobility, offering a potential solution to the concerns surrounding the ecological impact of current electric vehicles. As the project progresses, the Neutrino Energy Group and its partners strive to revolutionize the automotive industry and contribute to a greener and more sustainable future for transportation.
This is a translation from Russian, the original article can be found here: Будущее на наших дорогах – электрокары второго поколения