Bescom sets up EV battery-swapping station, 20 more on way
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Time of India
5 hours ago
- Time of India
EV fast chargers have a surprising health downside
Hundreds of public fast chargers are popping up across the US to serve electric vehicle drivers seeking a cleaner alternative to gas-powered cars. But they come with a surprising risk: Charging stations create air pollution. While EVs contribute vastly less to air pollution than combustion-powered vehicles, fast-charging stations are what a recent study called an 'overlooked source of air pollution.' The US added 703 high-speed charging stations in the second quarter, bringing the total across the country to 11,400, according to Energy Department data. Charging firms are planning to install hundreds more before year-end, making it important to address health risks now before the infrastructure becomes entrenched. The problem 'can be solved,' said Yuan Yao, a co-author of the study and a postdoctoral researcher at the University of California, Los Angeles' Fielding School of Public Health. 'We want to make sure that EV adoption is clean.' The emissions are likely tied to the fans used in direct current fast chargers ' power cabinets. While they help keep equipment cool, the recent study indicates they likely have the unintended side effect of kicking up particles from tires, brakes and dust into the air. Researchers took air quality measurements at 50 direct current fast charging stations in Los Angeles County, California, the majority of which were Tesla Inc. Supercharger locations. The company didn't respond to a request for comment. The average concentration of fine particulate matter in the air at the charging sites was 15.2 micrograms per cubic meter, slightly higher than what researchers found at gas stations and significantly higher than in other urban locations such as parks. Nearly half of the charging sites had daily fine particulate matter emissions that exceeded the World Health Organization's air quality guidelines. (The study focused on non-exhaust emissions and therefore didn't measure many types of pollution related to gas-powered cars.) EV charging companies can include filtration in charging cabinets to mitigate pollution, the study's authors said. They can also avoid putting the chargers near places like schools and residential areas. Some companies say they've already taken measures to reduce the risks of particulate matter. 'On all of our current DC fast chargers, ChargePoint enforces a minimum height for the air intake and exhaust to limit the ingress of dust, debris and water,' said a spokesperson for ChargePoint Holdings Inc. , which operates the largest charging network in the US. The company plans to add air filters to its 'DC chargers to further reduce the risk of dust or water entering the system, or particulates being expelled.' Gas-powered cars are still a much more potent health risk, both because of their emissions and gas stations' environmental impact, said Joe Allen, an air quality expert and professor at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health who was not involved in the study. Research shows fueling stations are major sources of volatile organic compounds, a category of chemicals that includes the carcinogen benzene, while internal combustion vehicles produce smog-forming pollutants. Greenhouse gas emissions also adversely affect health due to their influence on climate change. 'I'd much rather be charging my EV than filling my gas-powered car at the gas station,' Allen said. 'As we expand EV charging — especially fast-charging stations — we should also pay attention to potential emissions from the charging equipment itself,' Yao said.
Time of India
6 hours ago
- Time of India
Can fintech fix India's EV resale and financing woes
India's electric vehicle (EV) dream will not fail because of poor engineering or weak demand. It will fail if buyers cannot get a fair loan today and a fair resale tomorrow. You can design the most energy-efficient EV with swappable batteries and advanced digital dashboards, yet if a buyer cannot secure affordable financing or recover value when they sell, the promise of sustainable mobility collapses into a financial dead end. The challenge is no longer about product development. It is about trust. And for many financiers, it is about a reluctance to embrace change. Most lenders hesitate to underwrite EVs because the vehicles themselves are still unfamiliar territory. Bridging that trust gap is where fintech can play a decisive role. The real bottleneck: Residual value & risk Most lenders in India still underwrite the borrower, not the vehicle, because there is no reliable way to measure battery health, range degradation, or residual value. To many, the EV remains a black box. When risk is unclear, the cost of capital increases. Non-banking financial companies raise interest rates. Loan-to-value ratios fall. Insurance premiums become uncertain. Resale pricing is often little more than guesswork scribbled on the back of an envelope. This is not a model that can support mass-market adoption. In mature automotive markets, the used vehicle segment is often larger than the new vehicle segment, creating liquidity and confidence. In India, the used EV market is still undeveloped, with no consistent pricing, no widely trusted battery certification, and very limited financing options. Early adopters who purchased EVs three to five years ago are ready to upgrade, but many are stuck. Potential buyers are wary of used EVs, dealers lack a pricing framework, and banks often refuse financing unless backed by significant collateral or a personal guarantee. The EV economy needs fintech companies to do what legacy players have not done: measure the right metrics, quantify the risk, and enable resale liquidity. The next wave of EV adoption in India will not be written only in kilowatts and subsidies. It will be shaped by algorithms, battery scores, and integrated resale platforms. A trust infrastructure built on reliable data is essential. Battery health scoring systems must emerge as industry benchmarks, functioning much like a credit score, to reveal the true remaining useful life of an EV. Artificial intelligence-led residual value prediction models should give financiers the confidence to structure loans for used EVs. Pricing on dealer and buyer platforms must be dynamic and transparent rather than speculative. Underwriting frameworks should extend beyond borrower credit history to incorporate telematics, charging behaviour, and maintenance records, enabling far more accurate asset valuation. Original equipment manufacturers have historically paid little attention to the used market. Margins are thinner, customers are less predictable, and revealing real-world battery degradation data can create commercial risks. While manufacturers hold vast amounts of performance data, they are often unwilling to share it, citing intellectual property and competitive concerns. Even when data is provided, it may be incomplete, inconsistent, or framed in ways that downplay product limitations. Without transparent and standardised data, the resale market cannot mature, and financing will remain restrictive. It is unlikely that manufacturers or the government will solve this challenge on their own. The real opportunity lies with fintech companies and independent platforms that have the incentive and agility to create transparent, standardised systems for valuing EV assets. The next wave of solutions will include battery analytics that are accessible to consumers, dealers, and financiers, marketplaces that integrate health scores with instant resale and financing options, and insurance or loan products priced according to actual asset condition rather than broad assumptions. If India is to truly democratise EV adoption, batteries must stop being treated as proprietary secrets and start being recognised as valuable assets. The next chapter of fintech innovation will focus less on payments and lending, and more on building trust frameworks for the assets of tomorrow. In the EV industry, the player that can make battery risk visible and resale liquidity possible will not just lead the market — they will decide its future.
Fashion Value Chain
9 hours ago
- Fashion Value Chain
EV Adhesives Driving Safety, Speed & Smarter E-Mobility
The global shift toward electric mobility is fueling innovation in design, engineering, and material science. A vital yet often overlooked enabler of this transformation is the EV adhesives market, which is redefining how electric vehicles are built, optimized, and maintained. According to Fairfield Market Research, adhesives are expected to see accelerated adoption, as they strengthen safety, improve efficiency, and support sustainability in next-generation EVs. Redefining Safety with Structural Bonding Advanced structural adhesives are replacing traditional welds and rivets, offering even stress distribution and enhanced crash resistance. In EV battery packs, adhesives prevent cell displacement and add fire protection, reinforcing both passenger safety and vehicle durability. Lightweighting for Range & Performance Adhesives enable the integration of lightweight materials such as carbon fiber, aluminum, and composites without heavy fasteners. This reduces mass, improves aerodynamics, and extends driving range, positioning lightweight bonding as a key driver of EV performance. Thermal Management & Battery Efficiency Thermally conductive adhesives are transforming battery design by ensuring efficient heat dissipation, preventing overheating, and enabling faster charging. Their integration into thermal interface materials (TIMs) is reshaping EV battery safety and efficiency. Supporting Automation & High-Speed Production With EV demand surging, adhesives that cure quickly and integrate into automated assembly lines are streamlining gigafactory operations. These automation-friendly solutions improve precision, consistency, and cost efficiency in large-scale production. Durability Across Extreme Conditions EVs face harsh environments, from freezing winters to scorching summers. Adhesives provide superior resistance to vibration, moisture, and thermal cycling, ensuring long-lasting reliability that builds consumer confidence. Driving Sustainability & Circular Design Sustainability is central to automotive evolution. Eco-friendly and debondable adhesives are enabling recyclability and circular design, while low-VOC and bio-based formulations align with global green mandates. Regional Market Insights Asia Pacific, led by China, dominates EV adhesive adoption due to large-scale production and battery manufacturing. Europe is driven by strict emission norms, while North America benefits from EV infrastructure growth. Fairfield notes regional opportunities ranging from cost-efficient bonding in Asia to premium, high-performance adhesives in Western markets. Innovation & Industry Leadership The competitive landscape is defined by R&D in hybrid adhesives, bio-based formulations, and smart bonding technologies. Strategic collaborations among automakers, adhesive suppliers, and battery manufacturers are accelerating the commercialization of breakthrough solutions. Adhesives as Catalysts of E-Mobility From safety and lightweighting to thermal efficiency and sustainability, adhesives are emerging as a cornerstone of modern EV manufacturing. Fairfield Market Research concludes that adhesives are not just supporting components but key catalysts shaping the future of electric mobility—making EVs safer, faster, and smarter.
