Not Tough At All
!
---------------------------
Today’s Editorial in Hindustan Times reads :
“ All charged up and nowhere to go / The
electric car in India is a novel idea , but getting clean energy will be tough
“
India plans to drive the internal
combustion engine to extinction. The Narendra Modi government has set a sales
target of six million electric vehicles by 2020
with an even more ambitious goal of having sales of new oil-driven vehicles
ceasing by 2030.
The benefits for a country whose cities
are choking on air pollution and one that is considered among the most
vulnerable to climate change are obvious.
Finally, IF INDIA CAN DEVELOP A SUITABLE
TECHNOLOGICAL LEAD and manufacturing base for such
vehicles, it could allow the country to leapfrog ahead of others in the
automotive sector.
In most electric vehicles the battery is
the most expensive item, sometimes as much as two-thirds of the cost.
Pricing will be crucial. China, which
sells more electric battery and plug-in vehicles than the rest of the world
combined, took the path of direct subsidies for electric car vehicles. While
the number of such cars grew dramatically, petrol and diesel vehicles still
dominate in China and are still relatively cheaper.
Worse, the subsidy bill has become
swollen by corruption and leakages and has cost Beijing a cumulative $12 billion.
The other concern will be the fuel
source of the electrical power.
An electric car transfers the carbon
emissions from under the bonnet into the power plant.
If the power plant is burning coal, then
driving an electric car accomplishes nothing as far as the climate is concerned
– and the pollution is merely moved from the city centre to the exurbs.
The Modi government deserves praise for
the sheer ambition of the idea and its continuing commitment to greening India.
However, given how the renewable energy
sector is still not self-sustaining, the real challenge will be the actual
implementation of something that will be created almost from scratch.
It seems the Editors of Hindustan Times
are unaware of the ISRO designed
Electric Car , whose Li-ion battery gets charged
through solar panels mounted on car roof top and ,
therefore :
·
Do not need the expensive infrastructure of millions of charging
stations , which draw their own power from coal-based power stations ,
addressing the very real concern of the Editors ( “ An electric car transfers the carbon emissions from under the bonnet
into the power plant “ )
I strongly urge the Media, to create an
all-round awareness about ISRO’s singular
achievement ( - far ahead of the Electric Car Industry of the World )
I am appalled at the “ deafening silence “ ( re: this remarkable breakthrough ) on the part of
:
·
Scientists and Academicians
·
R&D Managers of the Car Manufacturers
·
PV Solar Panel manufacturers
·
Policy Makers in Road Transport and Energy Ministries
·
NITI Aayog
I urge them to read :
09 May 2017
www.hemenparekh.in
/ blogs
Why a
Begging Bowl ?
----------------------------
A news report in MINT ( 08 May 2017 ) reads :
“ Roads ministry in talks with Japanese
fund for Rs 2 trillion loan “
The
ministry of road transport and highways is in talks with a Japan-based fund for
a Rs 2-trillion loan at low
interest rates.
A
cabinet note will be moved shortly for the same as part of a strategy to generate funds for
India’s new integrated infrastructure planning initiative.
India
has been trying to leverage its relationship with Japan to access technology
and funds. Japan has pledged investments of around $33 billion between 2014 and 2019 in India’s manufacturing and
infrastructure sectors.
“ Fund requirements is not an
issue.
There
is a fund from Japan which wants to offer this loan at around 5% rate of interest.
We
will prepare a cabinet note for the same,” said a senior government functionary
requesting anonymity.
He
declined to name the Japanese fund. Mint could not ascertain the fund’s name.
Why is Road Ministry ( ie : NDA government ) shying away from raising such
funds for Infrastructure Projects at 4 % interest ?
And locally ? And super-fast
? And without worrying about repayment ?
Just as tiny Indonesia did , a few months back
By offering an AMNESTY SCHEME to Indonesian Citizens to declare their BLACK MONEY
Just pay 4
% tax and NO PENALTY / NO
LITIGATION / NO QUESTIONS ( re
source of funds )
Within 4 months , Indonesians declared ( illegal funds
stashed abroad or domestically ), $
300 BILLION
No wonder , Indonesia does NOT
need any FDI for the next 10 years !
Compare this with our Road Ministry’s requirement of
just $ 31 Billion [ Rs 2 Trillion
] !
For the “ Strategy
“ which would liberate us from our dependence on FOREIGN
FUNDING ( - and a begging bowl ) , read :
09 May 2017
www.hemenparekh.in
/ blogs
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