A clean, green public transport

eco-friendly

Amidst the swanky cars and bikes in the 12th Auto Expo, there was a small set-up featuring EM4, an ecological city transport system.

It takes a fresh look at the public transport supported by an innovative technology. It offers a revolutionary approach to public transportation, which is safe, comfortable, economical and most importantly does not harm the environment
.
EM4 is a Fuel-Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV) powered by Hydrogen. The fuel-cell
provides electricity to the electric motor, which drives the wheels. And the fuel-cell
is supplied with Hydrogen that is stored in a pressurised gas tank.

According to Hrridaysh Deshpande, director of DYPDC Center for Automotive Research and Studies, who has manufactured this vehicle along with other students, “The design of this car centres around three core principles – sustainability, cost effective and integrated design. The vehicle is supported by a user-centric system and produces zero exhaust emissions. Its design is innovative and has used sustainable
materials and a modular approach which has decreased its manufacturing complexities and cost.”

The vehicle is expected
to be able to carry five passengers at a speed of upto 80 km/hr. The vehicle will travel a distance of 150 kms in one full charge. The time taken to charge the vehicle through traditional electric supply will be typically 5-8 hours and the time taken to fill the hydride through solar source is
5-6 hours.

If built for commercialised purpose, EM4 can be very user-friendly and cost
effective for daily commuters. “A user could access the vehicle via telephone, web portal, mobile application or using the traditional means ofEM4 stops. The journey cost is estimated at Rs 12/km,” added Hrridaysh.

An electric vehicle produces less than half as much CO2 as the other vehicles in the trasport sector. It will aid smoother mobility on road and also reduce congestion. Manufactured in a size similar to an autorickshaw, EM4’s easy availability of charging stations and hydride replacement stores can contribute to the relief of traffic congestion.

This green vehicle can also help people can breathe easy and can lead a healthy life.
The conceptualisation of the vehicle and its design has been done by DYPDC and the technology for EM4 has been developed by the Birmingham City University – School of
Engineering, Design and Manufacturing System
(BCU-EDMS) and
Spencer Ashley.