Developing a fuel cell three-wheeler
The DIA programme will support Dr Thundil in running network activities to bridge the technical requirement for a project between the Indian and UK partners for the effective implementation of smart mobility aspects for the steadily growing transport sector and the consequent reduction in expenditure of petroleum products.
Reducing transport’s carbon footprint in India
In India, people in urban and rural areas rely on two- and three-wheelers, but the emissions from these cause huge issues around air quality and pollution. By 2035, the Indian government plans to have more than 80% of two- and three-wheeler transportation powered by sustainable energy sources. This DIA-supported project addresses the design and development of a 500W three-wheeled electric vehicle powered by proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) and a lithium ion battery charged by solar photovoltaic modules. The project addresses the Academy’s strategic goals of using engineering to build sustainable and inclusive societies by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution in the urban centres of India and so improving living standards.
Dr R Thundil Karuppa Raj leads the project, which is a collaboration with other key academics: Professor D Elangovan and Professor S Denis Ashok from VIT Vellore; Dr Senthilarasu Sundaram from Edinburgh Napier University, UK; Dr P Karthikeyan, Professor from PSG College of Technology, Coimbatore, India; and Professor Rui Chen and Professor Ashley Fly of Loughborough University. The project team has experience across a broad range of disciplines, as the project encompasses a number of challenges. These include design of the PEMFC stack, including issues such as the catalyst, hydrogen storage, batteries, charging infrastructure, smart control systems, and the vehicle itself.
The project will also try to develop the network by interacting with Dr Pitchaimuthi Sudhagar from Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, UK, and Dr Tapas Mallick from the University of Exeter, UK, who lead the Solar Energy Research Group within the Environment & Sustainability Institute. They will help develop the solar energy charging elements. The DIA support will also allow the project team to develop the network in India and the UK on both academic and industrial fronts.
“This project will enhance employability of students engaged with it and in turn allow industries to obtain very talented, industry ready graduates for their green vehicle projects.”
Road map to a demonstrator
A functioning electric vehicle demonstrator, developed locally within India with input from a UK university, is an excellent tool for both research, dissemination and teaching at all levels. This project will enhance employability of students engaged with it and in turn allow industries to obtain very talented, industry ready graduates for their green vehicle projects. When extended with a bigger consortium in near future, this proposal will result in carbon-free transport, addressing the major climate change issues.
The skills and knowledge acquired through this project in dealing with design, analysis, development, and testing meet industry requirements. The cost reduction, enhanced efficiency and lifetime are of paramount important to industry and will be beneficial to the public. This will be disseminated to academics and automotive industries through international workshops aiming for future clean, green and sustainable transportation. The dissemination will also try to encourage Distinguished International Associates working in this domain to share valuable research knowledge for future of sustainable hydrogen transportation.
Further on, the project will also yield patent rights for the new products and processes and develop e-modules to teach students about sustainable transportation using inputs from industry/academia. Ultimately the project aims to attract large, globally funded proposals by developing a bigger consortium worldwide for four-wheeler and heavy vehicle transportation.