Technology has a shelf life of a banana
Ican’t help myself but quote American Businessman Scott G. McNealy, one of the co-founders of computer technology company Sun Microsystems founded in 1982. “Technology has a shelf life of a banana.” Like the ink tank printers are fast making a compelling case for customers to steer away from inkjet printers with their higher yield capacity, alternative powertrains are threatening the internal combustion engine dominance.
While being a firm believer that every technology has a gestation period, some lesser than the others, it still surprises me to see the pace at which the components industry as a whole is evolving. Fast forward from my last visit to Belgium in 2017 to my recent 2019 visit, the components constituting a driveline have undergone a sea change. From EV drivelines being talked of as prototypes to EVs being commercialised, and mass commercialised in countries like China, the world has clearly moved on to newer innovations. Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) are now ready with Fuel cell-based prototypes and production-ready units. Known to surpass the energy density of most batteries, the OEMs are creating a pull for fuel cells in markets typically known to consume conventional fossil fuels. This pull is beginning to make a strong business case with the required infrastructure being put in place to lay the foundation of yet another wave of change. While we wait for fuel cells to be mass commercialised, it might not be a bad idea, after all, to ponder over it with the Banana Boat Song playing in the background. Stack banana till the mornin’ come!
The November ‘Powertrain Special’ delves a lot deeper to make the hunt for this answer easier for you. We touch base with Daimler India Commercial Vehicles, Ashok Leyland, Mahindra Truck and Bus Division to capture their BSVI journey while looking at technology companies like Wabco, Meritor and Carraro. You will also find an exclusive interaction with Director at Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) on the certification and approval of BSVI products gathering speed. Prof. Dhananjay Kumar helps us further join the dots as he predicts the future of CV powertrains. As always there is ample focus on new aftermarket and road safety initiatives. Here’s hoping you find the November issue of Auto Components India an interesting read and something you can fall back upon even in the future.