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Context
They are far less polluting, but pose a challenge to Indian driving practices
Indian Driving practices
As a rule, typically, two-wheelers and cars don’t consider lanes important. We don’t want to wait our turn but keep jumping lanes and wading around obstacles.
- We seem to be possessed by a primal urge to get ahead of others even if it means the driver of the car or the two-wheeler rider on the other lane has to jam hard on his brakes. In many cities, dents on car bumpers are the norm
- Practice has taught Indian drivers to be cautious about speed. They know enough to take it easy with the friction brakes, and they are mindful of the danger of tyres skidding. They are aware that any pedestrian can suddenly turn into a traffic policeman and stop the traffic so he or she can cross the road
Disruptive change
Author states that over the next 15 years, however, Indian driving is likely to be disrupted by electric vehicles that the Indian government seems keen on introducing, without transitioning to hybrids
- Without any noise: The motor is much quieter than the engine and the transmission system has fewer parts too. All one hears is wind, tyre and road noise, which is minimal in city driving
- Instant acceleration: Electric motors are capable of instant acceleration unlike traditional combustion engines which need time to do so
- Regenerative breaking:Another crucial, efficiency-boosting attribute of the electric car will be regenerative braking. It’s an application of an old physics law where the electric motor powering the car can reverse its role, becoming a generator and charging the battery. The generator load is the resistance that provides braking torque and it can be varied if you want to just bring down the speed, not stop the car altogether
Syncing the electric car to an Indian driver
- Artificial noise can be added to the car to make it as per the aspirations of a typical Indian driver who has an ever present need to differentiate his vehicle from the others on the road
- Adding a time delay: To ensure we don’t just step on the accelerator pedal and zoom our peppy, powerful electric car right into other vehicles on our chaotic roads, manufacturers can add a time delay in the software
- Our habit of jamming on the brakes may make regenerative braking less useful. During sudden braking, for safety reasons, normal braking takes over after initial regenerative braking. In other words, the energy savings can come down
Conclusion
Electric cars present a unique opportunity for Indian drivers. Instead of tamping down the technology, we can instead change our habits — be mindful of lanes, wait our turn, be polite and respectful of others and their needs, and make our driving smoother, as well as make best use of regenerative braking
