Tata Motors unveils futuristic `Ziptron' electric mobility technology

Tata Motors on Thursday unveiled a state-of-the-art electric vehicle technology ‘Ziptron’, which will power a range of aspirational Tata electric cars, starting with a new launch in the fourth quarter of the current financial year.

• The new technology will form the basis of Tata Motors’ future EVs, and with it the auto major will ramp up its presence in the electric vehicle segment. The new technology, branded ‘Ziptron’, will first be used on a model set for launch in early 2020.
• “Ziptron, a soon to be introduced EV powertrain technology, is a building block towards Tata Motors’ consistent strive for commonality, to drive economies of scale and to make new technologies affordable for the Indian consumers. It embodies distinctive characteristics: efficient high voltage system, zippy performance, long range, fast charging capability, battery with warranty of 8 years, and adherence to IP67 standard,” Tata Motors stated in a release.
• Tata Motors says Ziptron has been developed keeping Indian climatic and traffic conditions in mind, and also addresses typical EV buyers' concerns of performance, range and safety. 
• While Tata Motors has not revealed final specifications as yet, company spokespersons announced that cars built with Ziptron will have a “minimum range of 250km” and will support fast charging. The battery pack comprises lithium-ion cells and features liquid cooling to maintain the ideal operating temperature. The battery pack comes in a high-strength steel casing and boasts an IP67 rating, assuring highest standards for waterproofing and dust protection. Tata Motors will offer a standard eight-year warranty on the battery pack and motor.
• The high-voltage 300V-plus permanent magnet synchronous electric motor also promises to be leagues ahead of the 72V AC induction-type motor on the Tigor EV in performance and output. The motor will come mated to a single-ratio transmission that has been optimised for Indian traffic. Ziptron cars will also feature drive modes to give drivers the option to maximise range or enhance performance.
• Speaking at the launch, Guenter Butschek, CEO and MD, Tata Motors said the state-of-art technology brand `Ziptron’ has been designed in-house while utilising the group’s global engineering network. 
• “At the heart of our future EV line-up, this technology will deliver a thrilling driving experience to our customers aspiring to go-green. Rigorously tested across 1 million kms, Ziptron technology is well proven, advanced and reliable. With this technology, we hope to usher in a new wave of eMobility in India and accelerate faster adoption of EVs, supporting the government’s vision,” he added.
• Connected technology will also be part of the package on Tata’s upcoming electric cars giving buyers remote access to vehicle health, status and location reports.
• Ziptron technology comprises a highly efficient permanent magnet AC motor providing superior performance on demand. It also offers best in industry dust and water proof battery system meeting IP67 standards. Further, Ziptron utilises smart regenerative braking to charge the battery while on the drive, the company stated. 
• Along with Ziptron, Tata Motors also rolled out the Ziptron Freedom 2.0 campaign. This campaign aims at highlighting how this technology breaks existing barriers and provides freedom from pollution, addresses range anxiety, and offers electrifying driving performance. Source: https://www.domain-b.com/

Read More........→July 15, 2020

World's first fully electric plane takes to air for almost 15 minutes

• The world's first fully electric commercial aircraft took its inaugural test flight on Tuesday, taking off from the Canadian city of Vancouver and offering hope that airlines may one day free themselves from polluting fossil fuels and end their polluting emissions.
• The first flight of the fully electric commercial aircraft took place on Tuesday around Vancouver, Canada. The whole flight lasted just 15 minutes.
• The plane was a 62-year-old, six-passenger seaplane that had been retrofitted with an electric motor. It was designed by Australian engineering firm MagniX and tested in partnership with Harbour Air, the world’s largest seaplane airline. 
• Harbour Air says it plans to electrify its entire fleet by 2022, depending on whether it can secure the necessary safety and regulatory approvals. The aircraft can only fly about 100 miles (160 kilometers) for now, but that’s sufficient for the sort of short-hop journeys the airline needs.
• However, Harbour Air will have to wait at least two years before it can begin electrifying its fleet of more than 40 seaplanes. The e-plane needs to be tested further to confirm it is reliable and safe. In addition, the electric motor must be approved and certified by regulators.
• Harbour Air ferries half a million passengers a year between Vancouver, Whistler ski resort and nearby islands and coastal communities.
• "For me that flight was just like flying a Beaver, but it was a Beaver on electric steroids. I actually had to back off on the power," he said.
• "This proves that commercial aviation in all-electric form can work," said Roei Ganzarski, chief executive of Seattle-based engineering firm MagniX.
• Ganzarski said the technology would mean significant cost savings for airlines - not to mention zero emissions.
• "This signifies the start of the electric aviation age," he told reporters.
• Civil aviation is one of the fastest growing sources of carbon emissions as people increasingly take to the skies and new technologies have been slow to get off the ground.
• At 285 grammes of CO2 emitted per kilometre travelled by each passenger, airline industry emissions far exceed those from all other modes of transport, according to the European Environment Agency. The emissions contribute to global warming and climate change, which scientists say will unleash ever harsher droughts, superstorms, and sea-level rise.
• In Ottawa, transport minister Marc Garneau told reporters ahead of the maiden flight that if the flight proves successful. "it could set a trend for more environmentally friendly flying."
• While battery power can be used to fly about 160 kilometers on lithium battery power, Ganzarski said, "The range now is not where we'd love it to be, but it's enough to start the revolution." 
• The aviation sector is a significant contributor to global carbon emissions, and a move to electric mode is the ultimate goal for many in the industry.Source: https://www.domain-b.com/

Read More........→July 07, 2020