We live in a VUCA environment — Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, Ambiguous — where yesterday’s playbook fails to solve today’s problems. Businesses are under immense pressure: raw material prices fluctuate overnight, technology disrupts industries at lightning speed, and customer expectations change faster than trends on social media.
But here’s the real game-changer: The antidote to VUCA is CURE — Cost-effectivity, Urgency, Revenue, and Efficiency.
Why VUCA is Your Wake-Up Call
Volatility: Rapid, Swift – unpredictable change — e.g., fuel price spikes impacting logistics overnight etc.
Uncertainty: Forecasts fail, Difficulty in predicting outcomes — Pandemic blindsided industries from airlines to automotive.
Complexity: Interwoven global systems, interconnected factors — trade tariffs, currency shifts, and digital supply chains etc. All collides
Ambiguity: Lack of clarity, inability to take decisions — consumer behavior pivots (e.g., EV adoption) leave traditional players & game plans behind.
CURE Framework – The Antidote to VUCA Challenges
The CURE framework—Cost-effectivity, Urgency, Revenue Turnaround Time (TAT), and Efficiency—is not just a survival mechanism but a strategic blueprint for organizations navigating a volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous (VUCA) world. Each element of CURE directly counters VUCA pressures and provides tangible business benefits, which can be illustrated through real-world management examples.
1. Cost-effectivity – Driving Value with Precision
Benefit:
Helps businesses maximize returns on every dollar spent, ensuring resource allocation is strategic rather than wasteful.
Reduces overheads while maintaining quality, enabling sustainable profitability even during turbulent times.
Examples:
Automotive leaders like Bajaj and TVS should evaluate leveraging shared warehouses and digital dealer platforms in Africa to reduce distribution costs by 15-20%.
Toyota’s Lean Manufacturing (Kaizen): Toyota revolutionized global manufacturing by focusing on continuous improvement and eliminating waste (e.g., reducing defects and inventory costs). This approach improved cost-effectivity while enhancing product quality and operational flexibility.
Amazon: The company optimizes its logistics network to minimize delivery costs while still offering fast services (e.g., Prime). Their data-driven approach ensures cost-effectivity by predicting demand and optimizing inventory placement.
2. Urgency – Accelerating Decision-Making and Execution
“Speed is the currency of business today. It’s all about faster decisions, faster execution, and faster adaptation.” – Jeff Bezos
Benefit:
In a VUCA environment, speed often trumps perfection. Acting quickly on opportunities ensures a first-mover advantage, while rapid responses to crises reduce damage and recovery costs.
Encourages a culture of proactive leadership and real-time decision-making.
First-mover advantage in volatile markets
Examples:
Tesla: Elon Musk’s leadership emphasizes urgency. For example, when facing supply chain disruptions, Tesla swiftly redesigned its software to work with alternative chips, keeping production moving while other automakers were stuck waiting.
Serum India, Pfizer-BioNTech Vaccine Development: The urgent development and rollout of COVID-19 vaccines is a powerful example of how urgency (supported by fast decision-making, regulatory coordination, and agile teams) saved lives and captured massive market share.
3. Revenue Turnaround Time (TAT) – Speeding Cash Flow
Benefit:
The shorter the time between product creation and revenue realization, the stronger the cash flow and reinvestment potential.
Reducing TAT allows companies to convert opportunities into tangible results quickly, which is vital in volatile markets.
Examples:
Apple’s Rapid Product Launch Cycle: Apple streamlines its supply chain and product rollout strategy to ensure that new devices hit shelves quickly and generate cash flow almost instantly.
E-commerce in Africa (e.g., Jumia): To survive in challenging markets, companies like Jumia are investing heavily in last-mile delivery and digital payment solutions to cut delivery timelines and accelerate revenue collection. Nigerian e-commerce startups are aggressively investing in 24-hour delivery models, converting inventory to revenue faster.
4. Efficiency – Leveraging Technology and Process Excellence
Benefit:
Efficiency enables organizations to achieve higher output with lower resources.
It reduces operational complexity, boosts productivity, and creates room for innovation.
Enhanced efficiency also improves customer satisfaction and loyalty by offering faster, better, and more reliable services.
Examples:
Netflix: By using AI algorithms to personalize content recommendations, Netflix achieves better user engagement without increasing content costs disproportionately. Their data-driven efficiency reduces churn and maximizes viewer satisfaction.
Walmart: Through automation, supply chain optimization, and AI-driven inventory tracking, Walmart minimizes stockouts and overstock situations while improving customer experience and operational margins.
Tesla: Data-driven predictive maintenance has reduced vehicle failure rates while lowering costs, proving efficiency isn’t just cost-cutting — it’s smart growth.
Strategic Impact of CURE on Management
From firefighting to foresight: CURE transforms leadership from reactive problem-solving to proactive opportunity creation.
Employee alignment: Cost-effectivity and efficiency create clarity of purpose, while urgency and revenue focus build a performance-driven culture.
Customer-centricity: Faster TAT and efficient service delivery directly improve customer satisfaction and brand loyalty.
Scalability: By optimizing costs and processes, companies build a strong foundation for scalable growth even during market disruptions.
There are moments that sneak up on you, quietly, almost casually — and then end up shifting your entire perspective.
For me, one such moment happened in the least dramatic way possible. I was attending a collage & browsing through their Library when I stumbled upon a book titled “Nothing by Chance”. It was about the origin of Lagos Business School — an inspiring tale of vision, planning, and strategic action.
As I skimmed through the pages, I couldn’t help but chuckle softly to myself.
“Nothing by chance?” I thought. In my life, it’s been the complete opposite.
If I ever wrote a memoir, I know exactly what it would be called: “Luck by Chance.” Because that’s what it’s been — one long, magical, meaningful, unpredictable accident.
Nothing was planned. Nothing was carefully calculated. And yet… here I am, living a life more incredible than I ever dreamed of.
Here’s the story of how the dots connected — not by design, but by divine timing.
💍 Love That Happened When I Wasn’t Looking
Let me start with the most precious chapter — my marriage.
I didn’t fall in love with someone I was “supposed to” marry. There was no strategy, no matchmaking, no pressure. I fell in love with a friend. The kind of love that sneaks in slowly and suddenly becomes everything.
She was the only person outside of my family whom I ever truly loved. And the best part? That love wasn’t built in some fairy tale fantasy — it was forged in real life, through years of shared laughter, struggles, growth, and everyday joys.
Today, she’s not just my wife. She’s my anchor, my home, my chosen forever. And I’ll always be grateful that love didn’t follow a plan — it followed the heart.
🚗 A Career That Chose Me
I work in the automobile industry — arguably one of the most thrilling, glamorous, and ever-evolving sectors out there.
But I didn’t grow up dreaming of working with cars. I didn’t have a childhood obsession with engines or a life plan centered around the automotive world.
One opportunity led to another. A conversation turned into an interview, which turned into a role, which turned into a passion. I simply followed the road signs that life put in front of me — and somehow, I ended up in the driver’s seat of a career I now love.
They say, “Look out of the window and you’ll see humans or automobiles.” I get to work with both.
The path that started from two wheelers, three wheelers, passenger cars, trucks, buses, tractors……staring Domestics (PAN India) & Internationsl (PAN World)……Starting Petrol, Diesel & Electrics…..Established or Start ups……All this is romantic only now on the hind sight.
🎓 The Accidental Academic
My academic journey looks pretty deliberate on paper — an engineering degree, a diploma in marketing management, a gold medal, and a postgraduate in international business.
But behind every degree was a leap of faith, a decision made on instinct, not strategy. Sometimes I chose a course because it felt interesting. Sometimes because it was available. Sometimes just because I didn’t want to stop learning.
It wasn’t a curated CV. It was a trail of curious steps — and they somehow formed the foundation of a career that’s deeply fulfilling.
✈️ The Wanderlust I Never Chased
I never wrote “world traveler” on a vision board. But the world… oh, it came to me.
Be it for work, family, or pure whim, I’ve had the chance to see places that still take my breath away. I’ve collected passport stamps and priceless memories. From bustling metropolises to serene corners of the earth, my feet have walked on more soil than I ever imagined.
No checklist. No #travelgoals. Just chance, timing, and saying “yes” when life invited me.
And among all the travel stories, living in Mexico City for three years with my family takes the crown. It wasn’t a relocation — it was a celebration. A culture-rich, color-drenched, unforgettable chapter of life where every day felt like a festival. It felt like we were gifted a long holiday, disguised as an international assignment.
🏋️♂️ The Day I Decided to Return to Me
Losing 28 kilos wasn’t part of some carefully drawn fitness roadmap.
It started with a moment — a subtle, quiet moment of enough is enough. No external push, no influencer inspiration. Just an internal nudge.
And from that day, I began the slow, steady journey back to myself. To my energy. My health. My confidence. My clarity.
Transformation didn’t begin with a gym. It began with belief. A belief that I could do better — not for the world, but for me.
💰 Money Moves That Found Meaning
Even my financial planning was never rooted in spreadsheets and early strategies. But now, I find myself building towards financial independence with intention and pride.
I’ve started to accumulate, invest, and plan not just for comfort — but for freedom. For security. For the ability to make choices not driven by fear or compulsion.
It didn’t begin with a plan. But it’s ending with a purpose.
🧩 The Grand Design I Never Drew
Born to parents, most educated and modern in their generation & in their surroundings. Parents who have never set any boundaries….gave me confidence to take on the world. ‘Even if you accidentally do the worst, you have a house to come to’ I reallly painted the canvas without a plan….but a solid support always
Now when I look back, what amazes me isn’t how well everything turned out — it’s how unexpectedly well it all came together.
My life wasn’t constructed. It was composed. Like jazz — improvised, soulful, spontaneous, yet beautiful in its own rhythm.
Each “accident” — my marriage, my degrees, my job, my travels, my transformation — was actually a step in a song I didn’t even know I was dancing to.
🌠 Final Thoughts: Trust the Dots
If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s this:
We don’t always need to have a plan. Sometimes, the best thing you can do is show up, stay open, and trust that life — in its own mysterious, magical way — knows where it’s taking you.
Nothing by chance? Not for me.
Everything by chance. And I wouldn’t change a single thing!!!!
“If I were born again, I would do exactly the same thing.” Fidel Castro
There are moments in life when you pause, take a deep breath, and look back — not with regret or nostalgia, but with deep, undiluted gratitude. Today is one of those days for me. As I sit down to write this, my heart is full. Not because everything has been perfect, but because everything has been real, enriching, and oh-so-beautiful. So here it is — a tribute to this life I’ve been lucky enough to live. And the top 10 reasons why I feel like the universe has been incredibly kind to me.
1. Born to Fly – The Defence Life
Everybody says it & means it, I need to also. The very best Parents, Parenting & the sibling you want. The best from the word go, my life has been anything but ordinary. Born into a defence background, I was practically raised on discipline, adventure, and exposure. Every couple of years meant a new city, new friends, new schools — and that meant building confidence early, learning to adapt, and discovering modern ways of living before most even stepped out of their hometowns. I didn’t just grow up. I evolved. And I owe that to the rich, diverse canvas that only a defence upbringing can paint. I grew up with parade grounds, marching bands, Naval Sips, Submarines, Shooting, Sports, Sailing, Dancing, Parties, Defence Mess & Institute, with travel to school the Kendriya Vidayalya every morning. Being born into a defence family wasn’t just a part of my identity — it’s shaped my soul & brought me my soul mate.
2. International Exposure – Lessons Beyond Borders
Imagining Jesus Christ was born in India 😉 by the time most kids were figuring out their college plans, I had already soaked in cultures from around the world. Studying internationally at a young age taught me more than just textbooks ever could. Independence wasn’t a concept — it was my reality. From languages to cuisines, customs to connections, my soul has been seasoned with global flavors. The world wasn’t just a map. It was my classroom. Sri Lanka at the time was the best thing that could happen to a young boy!! Having till besides India, now stayed in Sri Lanka, Mexico & Nigeria
3. Brain & Brilliance – The Academic Journey
Three professional degrees, including a gold medal in one — my academic life has been a beautiful blend of hard work and heart. An engineering degree laid the foundation, a diploma in marketing management added perspective, and a PG in International Business opened up the global arena. Learning has never stopped — and that’s been my superpower. Now I get to teach & mentor when I get the chance….
4. The Glamour of Gears – Automobile Industry
“Look out of the window — you’ll either see a human or a machine.” That’s the sheer impact of the industry I’m proud to be part of. From roaring engines to sleek designs, every day in this world feels like you’re part of something dynamic, beautiful, and constantly evolving. I didn’t just choose a career. I chose passion on wheels. Petrol, Diesel, Electric…..Domestic & International….Motorcycles, Scooters, Tricycles, Cars, Buses, Trucks, Tractors……Indian & Multi National…..Established & Startups…..OEM & @ Distributor
5. Love, Actually – Marrying My Best Friend
They say you’re lucky if you fall in love once. I say I hit the jackpot. I married the only person whom I ever truly loved — my best friend, maybe my only friend ever. Now 25 years later you think of this girl with pony tails with whom not only have grown up together…you have negotiated teh turns & curves of life together!! The kind of love that doesn’t just spark but grounds you, relizing there is someone who is there to take care of you. We’ve seen highs, lows, chaos, and calm — and through it all, our bond has been unshakable. Life is richer, deeper, and infinitely more beautiful with her by my side.
6. My Little Universe – The Kids
Then came the most delightful chapter — our kids. ‘Maa Roti la’. I don’t say this lightly: they are the most respectful, energetic, sincere, and incredibly loving souls I know. Watching them grow is like reading a book you can’t put down. They’ve not just changed our lives — they’ve completed it. Their hugs, their laughter, their questions — they are the rhythm of our hearts. They are apening so fast…I pray for their hapiness, success, & all the comforts in life.
7. A Passport Full of Stories – The Most Travelled
I’ve been to places people dream of. Mountains, oceans, cities, deserts, you name it. From solo trips to family getaways, from work travels to spontaneous escapes — I’ve collected stamps and stories in equal measure. In my circle, nobody’s travelled as much — and that’s not a flex, it’s a blessing. Travel didn’t just show me places. It showed me myself.
8. The Great Mexican Fiesta – Life as an Expat
Three unforgettable years in Mexico City — with my family! Imagine living where every day feels like a carnival, every meal is a celebration, and every moment is a new story. From tacos to tequila, from ancient ruins to vibrant culture — it was more than a stint. It was a long, joyful, enlightening holiday with a salary. And it changed us forever.
9. Mind Over Matter – 28 Kilos Down! which is just a number
The Infinite game — shedding that kind of weight wasn’t just about looking better — it was about feeling unstoppable. It’s a physical victory, sure. But more than that, it’s a testament to discipline, perseverance, and believing in yourself when it’s the hardest. Every drop of sweat was worth it — for the energy, the confidence, and the health I reclaimed.
10. Money Matters – Building My Freedom
Now, as I look to the future, I’m laying the bricks for something equally important — financial independence. I’m not just earning anymore. I’m planning, investing, securing. The goal? A respectable corpus that lets me live with dignity, freedom, and options. Because freedom isn’t just a feeling — it’s also a number. And I’m getting there.
And So…
If my life were a movie, it would be part adventure, part romance, part drama — and all heart. I’m not claiming perfection. But I do claim joy, richness, gratitude, and a zest that’s never stopped burning.
To everyone reading this: cherish your journey. Celebrate your milestones. And when in doubt, pause and look back — you might just find that your life has been more beautiful than you realized.
Because mine certainly has.….& it continues….such has been my life….
“A sale is incidental while providing a reason to buy – its not something you should pursue; it’s what happens to you while you are immersed in serving your customer.”
For decades, we’ve heard the phrase “Customer is King” drilled into our minds. Businesses worldwide have built their strategies around customer satisfaction, bending over backward to meet their every demand. But have we ever stopped to consider the sellers in this equation? Shouldn’t they also be satisfied and motivated in their roles for a truly great experience? A happy seller is just as important as a happy customer.
The Flawed Mindset: Putting Customers on a Pedestal
The concept of “Customer is King” has often led to toxic scenarios where sellers feel pressured, undervalued, and demotivated. Here’s why:
Unreasonable Expectations: Customers, empowered by the notion that they’re royalty, sometimes demand more than what’s fair. Discounts, last-minute changes, unrealistic deadlines – all at the cost of the seller’s peace of mind.
One-Sided Service Culture: Employees are trained to serve at any cost, but what about their motivation? A burnt-out, underappreciated seller can never truly provide the best experience.
Transactional Relationships Over Human Connection: If businesses focus solely on pleasing customers, they miss out on creating authentic relationships. Sales should be a partnership, not servitude.
The Emotional Toll on Sellers: Constantly prioritizing customer needs while neglecting their own well-being can lead to stress, frustration, and burnout. Sellers who feel empowered and valued are more likely to maintain enthusiasm and perform at their best.
Flipping the Script: The Seller’s Satisfaction Matters Too
If a business is truly committed to creating a win-win situation, it must balance customer satisfaction with seller well-being. A motivated, fulfilled seller will not only deliver better service but will also bring passion, energy, and authenticity to the transaction.
1. Sellers as Experts, Not Servants
“A customer can have a car painted any color he wants, as long as it’s black.” – Henry Ford
While customers drive demand, they rely on sellers for expertise. A great seller isn’t just someone who blindly follows orders – they provide insights, guidance, and educate the customer on making the best choice. This balance of mutual respect ensures that both sides walk away satisfied.
2. Motivation Fuels the Best Sales Experiences
A seller who enjoys their job naturally sells better. Businesses should invest in employee satisfaction just as much as customer happiness. Recognition, incentives, and a positive work environment lead to higher enthusiasm, which in turn results in genuine and engaging customer interactions.
3. A Win-Win Philosophy: The Power of Equal Value Exchange
A truly successful sale is one where both the customer and the seller walk away feeling good. When sellers are respected, fairly compensated, and motivated, they provide better service, making the entire experience richer for the customer. This balance fosters loyalty and long-term relationships rather than one-off transactions.
4. Building a Culture of Mutual Respect
Businesses that acknowledge the hard work and dedication of their sales teams create a culture of appreciation. When sellers feel respected and valued, they take greater pride in their work, leading to stronger relationships with customers and higher-quality service.
5. Long-Term Business Success Depends on Seller Well-Being
A company that constantly prioritizes customer satisfaction at the expense of its sales team may see short-term gains but will struggle with employee retention and long-term business sustainability. A well-balanced approach fosters a healthy work environment, better sales performance, and ultimately, more satisfied customers.
The Future of Selling: A Paradigm Shift
It’s time to redefine the dynamics between customers and sellers. Companies that invest in their sales teams’ motivation will see higher engagement, better results, and happier customers.
Let’s move from “Customer is King” to “Sales is a Partnership”, where both parties win. Because at the end of the day, a motivated seller doesn’t just sell – they create an experience that keeps customers coming back for more.
Final Thought: A Call to Change the Narrative
It’s time we stop treating sellers as mere facilitators and start recognizing them as key architects of exceptional business experiences. When sellers are empowered, businesses thrive, and customers receive genuine, high-quality interactions—not forced, robotic transactions.
So the next time you hear “Customer is King,” pause for a moment and ask: What about the seller?!!!
I read India’s Electric vehicle market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 90 per cent in this decade to touch $150 billion by 2030. The launch of state policies, rising fuel prices, tightening emissions laws and increasing awareness of the green environment are few factors making the sector attractive to larger automobile players.
The sheep mentality is ever so consenting. I feel now, as many things, we have once again decided to blindly follow the dictate of few that for definite ulterior motives have created this half faux knowledge that EV is the best thing that can happen to the Planet & to the future generations & habitants of our beloved world.
I believe we cannot be further than the truth….Why?
Let’s take a few steps back & understand just about early 2019 there was not much that was spoken on EV in India. I remember in Dec 2017 reading so much about EV across various journals/papers, remembering it was much in vogue to think at that time how can anyone disrupt the ICE Eco-system…there are ~12 Mn people associated directly with Auto & ICE engine trade currently in India. Ice trade generates over USD 150 Bn is involved in Auto ICE business in India with OEMs, Vendors, Suppliers, Ancillaries etc. This is on account of conventional automotive supply chain and particularly those into manufacturing ICE parts for two-wheelers, four-wheelers, and larger vehicles. To understand better the manufacturing an EV is with only 20 moving parts and is relatively very simpler as compared to making an ICE vehicle with around 2,000 moving parts. Hence, the supplier and manufacturer ecosystem of ICE vehicles would be disrupted & their addressable market size would shrink along with impact in the aftermarket including vehicle repairs or servicing.
Still looking for the Silver lining…it gets worse..
The batteries for electric cars use a lot of lithium, the lightest metal and the lightest solid element under normal conditions. Chile produces the largest amount of lithium (8,800 tons per year), with other big producers including Argentina and China, while Bolivia has the world’s largest known reserves. Other metals used in electric cars include copper, cobalt, aluminum, nickel and sometimes manganese, along with conductive non-metal graphite. Currently the EV share of business is 1.12% of total passenger cars & 4% of 2Ws required by the market. We will struggle to create large numbers of electric vehicles as simply because we don’t have sufficient access to sources of lithium to make the batteries and we don’t have the factories to make them in either.
Making electric cars creates more emissions
To get a real idea of how much greenhouse gas is emitted during the manufacture of an electric car, we have to look at how its components are sourced and made. The raw materials for making the car have to be mined, and the process of mining creates a lot of greenhouse gases. Then the raw materials have to be refined before they can be used, which again emits more greenhouse gas. Then more greenhouse gas is emitted in the manufacturing process. The same is also true when manufacturing a petrol or diesel car. So, taking into account the whole production process, making a petrol or diesel car releases about 7 to 10 tons of CO2 which will be the same as EV car. Additionally it is estimated that 150kg of CO2 are released for every 1 kiloWatt hour (kWh) of battery capacity. For an electric car to have a decent range (say 300 miles) between charges, it needs a battery that’s at least 60kWh in capacity. This means that a further 9 tons of CO2 will be emitted during the making of an electric car, giving a total of 16-19 tonnes of CO2 emitted. So at this point, an electric car seems worse for the environment than a fossil fuel one.
So to compare Pros & Cons in summary…
Pros – Environment Friendly (debatable!) – Engine cars burn fossil fuels and the by-product of this process are harmful gases that saturate in the atmosphere and create air pollution. Opting for an electric car leads to zero emissions and allows you to free yourself from the guilt of causing this environmental damage,Savings (OK) – as fuel prices continue to soar, electric cars are way more cost-efficient in the short as well as long run. If you own a petrol car, it can cost you around Rs 9 to Rs 10 per Kilometer of running on an average. As for an electric car, that cost comes significantly down to Rs 1.2 to 1.4 per kilometer as per the average electricity costs of today. Tax Benefit (this is only momentary) – in an effort to increase EV adoption, a number of Indian states are waiving off road tax on them. Moreover, the Government of India has come up with an extensive program for transport electrification, which is being implemented through Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid &) Electric Vehicles (FAME) schemes (I and II). These plans result 5% reduction of GST on EVs and even offer an income tax exemption of up to Rs. 1,50,000 on interest payments for EV loans; Lower Maintenance Costs (obviously) – Less parts mean less maintenance – Engine cars need large engines that occupy a lot of the space on their chassis. An EV runs on a motor that’s directly powered by a battery, which means there’s a considerably low number of parts to deal with. During the long term, this results in remarkably low maintenance costs.
Cons – Higher Prices (Bloody YES) – Dependency is high for Battery parts, today a good portion of the components are imported only. Local readiness for Lithium-ion-batteries is negligible. Also because of so much development & continuously upgrading technology (like Sulphur-ion etc.) there is cost associated with the EVs; Limited Charging Stations (not mentioning the real estate costs involved!) – The lack of charging stations is a major point of anxiety that discourages people from buying EVs. Long journeys become very tricky since there’s always the fear of finding yourself in the middle of nowhere with no charging station in sight; Charging Takes Time (in today’s day& age!) – Whenever you do find a charging station, juicing up the battery of your car takes a pretty long time. This is one advantage petrol/diesel cars have over EVs as they can be refueled in only a few minutes; Periodic Battery Replacement (up to 70% of the cost of the vehicle!) – The batteries of electric cars are expensive so whenever they reach the end of their cycles, replacing them will incur a big cost.
& to top the Cons – Electric cars ‘pose environmental threat’: The Norwegian University of Science and Technology study says “The global warming potential from electric vehicle production is about twice that of conventional vehicles.” This is based on toxic waste generated during production, usage & end-of-life dismantling of the vehicle affecting the environment! It is important to note that producing batteries and electric motors requires a lot of toxic minerals such as nickel, copper and aluminum.
What effects are possible in the environment because of toxic waste release by EV – acid rain, airborne particulate matter, smog, human toxicity, ecosystem toxicity and depletion of fossil fuel and mineral resources!!
In conclusion EV is what the ‘pager’ was to communication & lot of development needs to be done before Politicians, Business people take the customer for a ride!!
What can be…….check the Advance Engine technologies in ICE for mission control
if you can drive a gas-powered car without emitting any CO2? Recent breakthroughs show it may be possible.
Emissions-Free ICE Designs
Researchers have developed ceramic membranes that capture harmful gases within an engine before they exit into the atmosphere. They separate oxygen from the air to produce pure combustion that produces just water and CO2. The motor then captures that CO2 and liquefies it for internal storage.
Smart Cylinder Deactivation
Cars don’t always need the power of all their cylinders firing simultaneously, so they often waste energy, producing excessive emissions. However, if they could change how many cylinders they use in real-time, they would become considerably more efficient. Smart cylinder deactivation analyzes multiple factors within an engine to do just that. This can help reduce NOx emissions from 33% to 50% from LCV to HCV.
Transient Plasma Ignition
Transient plasma ignition (TPI), a recent breakthrough that could replace conventional spark plugs, is far more efficient. These systems generate a low-temperature plasma delivering millijoules of energy in nanoseconds, igniting the fuel faster and at a much lower temperature. As a result, TPI can boost fuel economy by 15% and improve engines’ power delivery.
Other measures that can be are – Predictive Maintenance – which analyzes various factors to alert drivers when they need repairs, solves both issues. Seemingly small readings can reveal a lot about a vehicle’s maintenance needs. Waste Energy Recovery – Only about 10%-16% of their fuel energy actually drives the vehicle, with most of it turning into heat or mechanical energy. Some researchers have suggested using this otherwise wasted power elsewhere in the car.
If we consider EV options like an Ather or a TVS iQube: they provide an approximate range of 80km per charge, i.e. a commuter needs to charge his vehicle only thrice a week. This is feasible and confirms that range factor is more of a mind-set concern and not an actual issue when it comes to EVs. Further with growing Charging infrastructure facilities & development of fast charging batteries & even the swappable batteries options coming up, the Range of the EV is definitely not a challenge for EV adoption.
Battery life of EV: Battery is the major cost component for any EV. Approximately, 60-70 percent of the cost component is determined by it. Therefore, the life of a battery plays a vital role in decision making or adoption of EV.
A good battery goes through 1500 charging cycles before it reaches 80 percent efficiency. It is not the number of years but the number of charging cycles that determines the life of a battery. Taking into account, the above-mentioned example of an average Indian commuter travelling less than 35 km in a day, clubbed with the EV range of 80 km per charging, it would take 1.2 lakh km or roughly 10 years for the battery to reach an 80 percent efficiency. This does not mean that the battery needs to be replaced after a decade of use but confirms only the fact that it may need more frequent charging. Besides, these batteries can be sold/used for other operations like power backup for home/garage etc., as they still have 80 percent efficiency. Considering the above points, Battery Life doesn’t seem to be a challenge for EV Adoption
Price of EV: The current government schemes have been set-up at two levels: Central Govt and State Govt.
For FAME-II: Rs 10,000 Cr is allocated which translates into a subsidy of Rs 15,000/- per kWh of battery capacity.
Along with this, there is also exemption of Green tax for EVs.
The GST (tax) goes down for EV to 5 per cent as compared to 12-18 per cent for ICE (Internal Combustion Engine).
If a loan is availed to buy an EV, then the interest can be claimed as a deduction in income tax upto tan amount of Rs 1.5 Lakh.
In addition to the above benefits, the State Govt provides further support (subsidy/discount) of: 5k-10k discount per kWh of battery capacity.
Road tax and registration fee subsidies also add up to the benefits.
When we club all these benefits, the pricing of an EV is at par with an ICE vehicle. Further the cost of running an EV is very low (90 per cent less) as compared to an ICE. An approximate analysis states that the cost per km for an EV 2W is 30 paise/km and that for an ICE 2W is Rs 3 /km.
The above points on the Procurement cost and the Operating cost confirms that Price is really not a matter of concern when it comes to EV adoption.
Charging infrastructure: The growth of EV industry will be hindered if it’s found lacking in creating the charging infrastructure. This is the major challenge faced by all government authorities across the world. A report estimates that India needs about 4 lakh charging stations to meet the requirement for 2 million EVs that could potentially ply on its roads by 2026.
To cater to this huge demand, an integrated work approach between the government and the private sector is required. The fuel companies like BPCL and IOCL are trying to accommodate electric charging stations in their existing facilities.
The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) amended its Model Building Byelaws (MBBL) 2016 to include the provision of electric vehicle charging in buildings.
Charging infrastructure shall be provided for electric vehicles at 20% of all ‘vehicle holding capacity’/’parking capacity’ at the premises.
The building premises will have to have an additional power load, equivalent to the power required for all charging points to be operated simultaneously, with a safety factor of 1.25.
Below mentioned are some of the recent commitments by PSU and Pvt Sector for building the charging infrastructure.
OLAElectric has entered charging infrastructure tie-up with companies for $2 billion dollar investments. It means setting up more than 1 lakh charging stations in 400 Indian cities in next five years. Ola Electric made strategic investment in a fast-charging tech company StoreDot. StoreDot is a “pioneer in batteries with extreme fast charging technology”. As a part of the investment, Ola Electric will have access to the company’s battery technology, which it claims can fully charge a battery in five minutes. Ola will also have exclusive rights to manufacture batteries with StoreDot’s fast charge technology in India.
BPCL confirmed in April ’22 that it will invest Rs 200 Cr to set up 100 fast EV charging corridors with 2,000 stations, along the busiest 100 national highways.
Indian Oil has set up 1,000 EV charging stations. The fuel company now has EV charging points in more than 500 towns and cities including multiple state and national highways. It now plans to have a base of 3000 plus charging stations that will convert highways into e-highways across the country, over the next three years, as per a statement.
Tata Power has partnered with Apollo Tyres to deploy electric vehicle charging stations. Tata Power has a presence across all the segments of the EV charging eco-system and has deployed all types of chargers — DC 001, AC, Type2, Fast DC chargers up to 50kwh and up to 240kwh chargers for buses.
Hero MotoCorp, BPCL tie up to set up charging infrastructure for electric two-wheelers. Hero and BPCL will first establish charging infrastructure at the existing fuel stations and “subsequently may broaden the collaboration to develop more synergies within the EV eco-system and adjacent business verticals,” the companies said in a statement. In the first phase, charging stations will be set up across nine cities starting with Delhi and Bengaluru. The user charging experience will be controlled by a Hero MotoCorp mobile app.
Hero Electric, ElectricPe also join hands for EV charging network. The collaboration entails Hero Electric riders to access ElectricPe’s charging network, as the former recently committed to setting up 100,000 charging points by the end of this year.
Omega Seiki Mobility, Log9 Materials to jointly invest Rs 150 Cr in charging infrastructure. Supporting electric cargo three-wheelers, both the companies will facilitate deployment of InstaCharging stations that can fully charge the vehicle within 35 minutes as compared to upto 3.5 hours taken by conventional electric three-wheelers, a company release said.
TVS Motor Company to partner with Jio-bp for EV charging solutions.
Tata Power, Rustomjee ink pact to set up EV charging infrastructure across project in Mumbai region.
Big power companies like Tata Power or Power Utilities want to diversify their business and are exploring business opportunities where they can make money by creating an infrastructure for a business model which has a visibility of assured consumption — The EV charging eco-system.
All the above-mentioned Commitments shown by both PSU & Pvt Sector companies indicate that the challenge of charging infrastructure is going to be short-lived. Yes, it needs investment, but that is a given when there is an appetite for it.
Availability of the ‘Right EV product’: The current ICE market is segmented into Motorcycles contributing to 9.5 Lakh units sale per month, Scooters contributing to 3.25 Lakhs units per month, while Moped sales are pegged at 35k units per month. i.e: Motorcycles contribute to 73% of the Total 2W ICE Industry.
The EVs which contribute to about 2% of the 2Wheeler Sales volume however is highly skewed towards Scooter segment with a Sales contribution of more than 95%.
This confirms that there is a huge opportunity for new product offerings in EV Motorcycle segment.
Upon drill down of IC Engine Cubic capacity wise contribution, we understand that the highest contribution comes from the 100-110cc segment @ 58% followed by 125cc segment contribution of 25% of ICE 2Wheeler Sales. Here we see the EV’s following the pattern of ICE, with majority of EV’s benchmarking the performance parameters w.r.t the 100-125 cc segment.
95% of the EVs available in India today are scooters and are skewed more towards the 100-125 cc segment in terms of their performance parameters.
Out of the Top 20 Popular e2W Only 4 are Motorcycles.
The largest contributor to 2W industry is the Motorcycle segment (73%) which is hardly explored by the EV Manufacturers & club it with the performance range (Cubic capacity) segmentation of ICE & we come across this huge scope of product offerings that can be worked out in EV to cater to the varied needs of the Indian consumer.
EV companies definitely need to work a lot on providing the ‘Right Products for the Right Segment’ of customers, if they truly want to penetrate the ICE market.
As of now, the availability of the ‘Right EV product’ seems to be the only concern for faster EV adoption.
Now, that we are talking about ‘Right product,’ we would like to touch upon the recent incidents of EVs catching fire.
Why electric vehicles have been catching fire in India? While the adoption of EVs has been picking up in the country, with almost one million units on the road, the peddling of low-quality batteries ill-suited to Indian conditions is likely derail the progress of the industry.
Nearly 99 per cent of battery fires occur due to short circuits leading to uncontrolled current. Short-circuits happen for three reasons —
1. Poor cell quality: Due to manufacturing irregularities, there can be an issue with how the anode, cathode and separator are packed together. An accidental contact internally leads to short circuit, which in turn leads to uncontrolled current, eventually resulting in fire.
2. Poor battery design (the way cells are connected and packaged): Packaging refers to the way the cells are put together, and how they are electrically joined and how they are held together mechanically. Huddling cells together with zero spacing and insulation is a recipe for disaster. Every nut and bolt needs to be thought through. Indian roads can shake anything loose. Now imagine the EV plying on a patchy Indian road and a loose bolt dangling inside a tub full of active cells – it’s a ticking bomb.
3. Poor BMS (management of cells via sensing and software intelligence): Overcharging happens due to poorly designed Battery Management System’s (BMS) hardware (poor sensing and accuracy), lack of BMS intelligence or a badly written BMS Software. Overcharging leads to dendrite build-up which causes cells to bulge, crush into each other and in due course cause short circuit – eventually leading to fire.
Indian road conditions differ from Western nations that have cooler temperatures and comparatively smoother roads. Cells should be between 35 and 45 degrees Celsius, but in India, the ambient temperature itself is above 45 or 48 degrees. This raises the question of keeping the cells below the ambient temperatures, because batteries that are being imported from colder markets today do not support this. With higher ambient temperatures, the lack of a proper BMS and heat management systems make inexpensive battery packs a major safety hazard, while simultaneously reducing efficiency and its life.
The recent incidents of 2W catching fire have come as a wakeup call for EV manufacturers to look into the three points discussed above and work towards providing a better quality and a safe product which holds its grounds on the parameters of Safety – Security – Reliability – Performance.
The government has also swung into action. The government has asked electric two-wheeler manufacturers to halt new launches, as per a report by The Economic Times, until the fire incidents were thoroughly investigated.
Apart from asking to halt launches, EV two-wheeler makers have also been asked to recall EVs from the particular batch of vehicles that the fires were reported on. EV makers such as Ola, Pure EV, and Okinawa have already announced voluntary recalls for more than 7000 vehicles over the last week.
The Transport and Highway Minister Nitin Gadkari made an announcement saying if EV makers are being negligent, they will face hefty penalties. Gadkari said, “If any company is found negligent in their processes, a heavy penalty will be imposed, and a recall of all defective vehicles will also be ordered.”
The official quoted above, also said, “Manufacturers who did not have incidents of electric two-wheelers catching fire have also been cautioned to take corrective actions on their sold vehicles. The ministry has asked EV makers to educate consumers about charging safety and how to prevent fire incidents.”
Now, let’s understand the commitment levels being shown by the start-ups and investors to build the requisite eco-system for EVs.
Start-ups and investors commitment towards building EV eco-system: EV technology evolution in India requires sizable investment in R&D and product development, for both automobile platforms and battery/charging technology.
Considering the potential in EV business, investors are more than willing to fund the projects. Fund raising amounting to Rs 3,307 Cr have been raised by EV start-ups in year 2021 alone.
With these kind of investment commitment shown by investors and EV start-ups, we can be rest assured that the EV Technology is here to stay and grow. Now we only need to know is this the right thing…..stay tuned
Laveenomics 