Imagine driving a car which never needs petrol or diesel. Not even electricity to run. All it needs is a liter of water to run 300 kms.
Whenever its ‘tank’ shows a red signal, all you need to do is recharge the car with a new aluminum plate.
Yes, this is a reality, and this magic has been accomplished by IIT Roorkee students!
Car Which Doesn’t Need Petrol, Electricity!
Log9 Materials is a startup founded by IIT-Roorkee students two years back. It was incubated by IIT-Roorkee, and they have been developing some interesting technologies since then.
Now, the team behind Log9 Materials have created a unique electric car, which actually doesn’t need an electric charge to run.
It needs water and a new form of an aluminum plate for recharging.
Akshay Singhal, founder-CEO of Log9 Materials said, “The car prototype is ready and we are already in talks with some automobile companies,”
How Much Will It Cost Per Km?
As per the founders of the startup, a single ‘charge’ will be enough to run for 1000 kms!
Every 300 kms, the engine will be needing one liter of water.
However, after 1000 kms, the engine will need a recharge, which can be done by replacing the aluminum plate, which currently costs Rs 5000. It will take only 15 minutes to replace the plate.
However, once this new technology is adapted commercially, then the cost of the aluminum plate can be brought down drastically.
None the less, if we calculate the average cost of petrol needed to run 1000 kms, the cost will be around Rs 5000.
Hence, if such a car is produced and sold commercially, it can permanently solve the woes of high cost of petrol and diesel.
How Does It Work?
The main principle behind this water and aluminum plate based car is fuel cell technology.
Using a electro-chemical reaction, the aluminum plate reacts with graphine rod (a form of carbon) to generate electric power, which runs the car.
When the power is low, simply load more water, and 1000 kms, change the plate.
Tutu Dhawan, automotive expert, and journalist, and is part of the Board of Advisors for Delhi Govt. to reduce pollution has lauded this idea, and have said that if handled properly, this can be the future of locomotives in India.
More tests are being conducted right now, and the founders are trying to solve their biggest problem right now: How to mass-manufacture those aluminum plates, to bring down the cost; and how to make this plate available on the roads, just like petrol or electric charge.
We will keep you updated, as we receive more information.