IIT Guwahati develops technology to standardise Electric Vehicles in India

Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati has developed a technology that rates the motors and batteries of electric vehicles and suggests the best drivetrain components for the Indian scenario to Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs).

According to IIT Guwahati, this is a unique method of its kind which standardises the electronic vehicles based on Indian drive-cycles.

So far, researchers have not been considering Indian drive-cycles and it was not focused on rural and urban drive-cycles. The electric vehicles currently available in the market also do not take into account the different climatic conditions in India.

T. G. Sitharam, director, IIT Guwahati, said, “The development in the field of next-generation energy-efficient EV technology is one of the most important breakthroughs required for the sustainable development of the country and to reduce the carbon footprint. IIT Guwahati is earnestly working in this direction. This development will augment this process and maximize the outcomes.”

At present, no OEM uses this technology and they have been requesting the drive-cycle data of Indian vehicles. IIT Guwahati hopes that this research will create better and more efficient drivetrains based on different regions. This will also be beneficial for start-ups and this research aims to reduce emissions and reduce fuel consumption.

The researchers of the Electric Mobility Laboratory of IIT Guwahati led by Praveen Kumar, a professor at the institute’s department of Electronics and Electrical Engineering, focused on Indian climatic conditions for both rural and urban areas. They developed the method to suggest the best drivetrain to manufacture. Drive-cycles developed by the IIT Guwahati team are unique and not available anywhere else.

An electronic drivetrain (group of components that deliver power to the drive wheels) developed in a humid region does not work the same in a dry NS colder environment. Therefore, the OEMs right now are considering creating standard drive-cycles for Indian conditions.

Kumar said, “Our goal is to prepare a document that can enable the new entrants into the EV market and help in levelling the playing field. The other primary benefit of this entire exercise is to prepare the next generation of technocrats that are ready for an excellent career in EV technology anywhere in the world.”

The institute intends to extend the research to commercial vehicles working with OEMs so that they can manufacture more efficient drivetrains that suit the different climates of India better. The researchers are also working to develop this technology for four-wheelers also as the current project focuses exclusively on two-wheelers.