About Electric Vehicles - History; Types of EVs; How they work and more.

Remember what electric cars used to be like? The slow driving, boxy-looking, small obstacles on the highway? Well, no more. The face, the looks, the style, the power, the speed, the efficiency, the performance and most importantly the technology of electric vehicles (EVs) has changed over time and now it is one of the classiest, good looking, stylish, silent, pretty fast and eco-friendly vehicles you will see on the roads today. Today’s EVs are way different and advanced than what you saw or remember from the time dating back to the mid-1900s. For starters, not even the battery is same anymore and don’t even get the debated started on the speed of the car and the efficiency of the batteries; that, and the higher prices were exactly the reason why they saw a worldwide decline in interest. Are you familiar with the ‘land speed record’? If you are then let us tell you that only one EV was able to make and maintain that record until around 1900. However, the interest levels in the EVs starting rising again as the technology got better and as some great souls started thinking about the environment. (click here to read a brief history about EVs)

Types of EVs:

EVs can be broadly classified into the following categories:

Battery Electric Vehicles (BEV): These vehicles use a high-capacity electric battery pack to power the electric motor and other electronic components. They are fully electric vehicles with rechargeable batteries and no other source of power. BEVs are charged by electricity from an external source. They can be charged using 3 types of chargers. 

The chargers are classified according to the speed with which they recharge the batteries. The 3 types are: 

Level 1 – Charges using a standard household outlet of 120v; takes about 8 hours to create a charge enough for 75-80 miles; this type of charging is generally done at home or workplace. 

Level 2 – Requires a specialized station that provides power at 240v; takes about 4 hours to create a charge enough for 75-80 miles. 

Level 3 – The fastest charging solution. Also known as ‘DC fast charging’ or commonly, ‘fast charging’. Found at specialized charging stations, capable of providing a charge enough for 90 miles in about 30 minutes. 

Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEV): It is a hybrid electric vehicle whose battery can be recharged by plugging it into an external source of electric power, as well by its on-board engine and generator. PHEVs are capable of recharging their batteries through regenerative braking and plugging-in into an external source of electric power. While “standard” hybrids can (at low speed) go about 1-2 miles before the gasoline engine turns on, PHEV models can go anywhere from 10-40 miles before their gas engines provide assistance. 

A PHEV’s all-electric range is designated by PHEV-[miles] or PHEV[kilometers]km in which the number represents the distance the vehicle can travel on battery power alone. For example, a PHEV-20 can travel twenty miles (32 km) without using its combustion engine, so it may also be designated as a PHEV32km. 

Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEV): These are a combination of conventional internal combustion engine (ICE) system with an electric propulsion system (hybrid vehicle drivetrain). The presence of the electric powertrain is intended to achieve either better fuel economy than a conventional vehicle or better performance. There is a variety of HEV types and the degree to which each functions as an electric vehicle (EV) also varies. The most common form of HEV is the hybrid electric car, although hybrid electric trucks (pickups and tractors) and buses also exist. 

HEVs start off using the electric motor, then the gasoline engine cuts in as load or speed rises. The two motors are controlled by an internal computer, which ensures the best economy for the driving conditions. 

Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEV): These are powered by hydrogen. They are more efficient than conventional internal combustion engine vehicles and produce no tailpipe emissions—they only emit water vapor and warm air. FCEVs use a propulsion system similar to that of electric vehicles, where energy stored as hydrogen and oxygen from the air are used to create electricity by the fuel cell. They do not produce any harmful tailpipe emissions. They are fueled with pure hydrogen gas stored in a tank on the vehicle. The tanks can be fueled in less than 5 minutes and have a driving range over 300 miles.

How do they work? 

As mentioned above, the EVs could be of several types and all of them function differently but one common component in them is the battery. So, let us understand how a battery works. A battery does not store electricity but electrical energy in the chemicals inside it. It has 3 main components, 2 terminals or nodes made of different chemicals, typically metals, the anode and the cathode and the 3rd component is the electrolyte. The electrolyte separates both terminals and is present to put the different chemicals of the anode and cathode in contact with one another, in a way that the chemical potential can equilibrate.

During the discharge of electricity, the chemical on the anode releases electrons through the negative terminal in ions in the electrolyte. Meanwhile, at the positive terminal the cathode accepts the electrons, completing the circuit for the flow of electrons, converting stored chemical energy into useful electrical energy. That’s what generates an electric current. It took a while before humans could improve the battery technology enough, that it could power an entire vehicle to travel practical distances. With time, we got there. From a single charge battery to a rechargeable, lead-acid battery to the lithium-ion battery. (click here to read more about how EVs work)

Should you buy an EV? 

People have different perspectives about the good an EV can actually do. Some individuals are still skeptical about the advantages that others think EVs might have. Following are some common opinions and concerns people have about EVs: 

Positive opinions: 

• Since electric motors react quickly, EVs are very responsive and have very good torque. Often EVs are more digitally connected than conventional vehicles, many EV charging stations provide the option to control charging from a smartphone app. 
• Just like a smartphone, you can plug in your EV when you get home and have it ready for you to use the next morning. Since the electric grid is available almost anywhere, there are a variety of options for charging: at home, at work or on the road. By charging often, you may never need to go to a gas station again! 
• EVs provide more than just individual benefits. EVs can help countries have a greater diversity of fuel choices available for transportation. For instance, the U.S. used nearly nine billion barrels of petroleum last year, two-thirds of which went towards transportation. The reliance on petroleum makes it vulnerable to price spikes and supply disruptions. EVs help reduce this threat because almost all U.S. electricity is produced from domestic sources, including coal, nuclear, natural gas, and renewable sources. 
• EVs can also reduce the emissions that contribute to climate change and smog, improving public health and reducing ecological damage. Charging your EV on renewable energy such as solar or wind minimizes these emissions even more. 
• Earlier, owning an electric car would cost a bomb. But with more technological advancements, both cost and maintenance have gone down. The mass production of batteries and available tax incentives have further brought down the cost, thus, making it much more cost effective. 
• The maintenance cost of these cars is low. You don’t need to send it to service station often as you do a normal gasoline powered car. There are fewer moving parts and thus chances of wearing out are fewer. 
• The electric engine is quiet and thus does not contribute to noise pollution, unlike cars powered with gas. 

Negative opinions: 

• There isn’t sufficient infrastructure to support the technology yet. Electric powered vehicles require charging stations, and for people to travel long distances there needs to be a network of such stations located strategically. Not all charging terminals are equipped with Level 3 fast charging infrastructure. Majority have a Level 2 charging infrastructure which requires at least 3-4hrs for a battery to charge enough to travel 75-80 miles, and that is a significant amount of time. 
• Not all domestic households get their electricity from renewable sources. Majority of the countries still use a great amount of non-renewable energy sources to create electricity, like thermal power plants. A larger amount of thermal energy is required to create a small amount of electricity. This in no way is doing any good to the environment, in fact its worse because a lot of energy is getting wasted and the carbon footprint while doing so can be higher than just simply using a conventional source of fuel directly in the vehicle. This means electric power production per se entails pollution. 
• The traveling distance on an average is around 100 kms. Thus, it is not very practical for long distances. 
• In general, electric cars are still behind gasoline powered vehicles in their ability to accelerate and climb quickly. 
• Batteries that power these cars are a costly affair. The promising and long-lasting lithium-ion batteries contribute to about half of the cost of the car, which for the most part make these cars expensive. And if the batteries last only about 4 years, they could add to the maintenance costs. 
• The ‘clean & green’ electric cars cause pollution too, albeit indirectly. While themselves being clean, there are toxic elements within batteries and which could spew toxic fumes. Further, the car’s engines are powered by electricity, and all of which isn’t generated from renewable energy sources, as discussed further in the next point. 
• Silence can be a bit of a disadvantage as people like to hear noise if they are coming from behind them. An electric car is however silent and can lead to accidents in some cases. Due to this, the European Union will require automakers to fit their EVs with systems that emit warning noises when the car is moving at a slow speed — fake engine noises, essentially. 
• As electric cars need power to charge up, cities already facing acute power shortage are not suitable for electric cars. The consumption of more power would hamper their daily power needs. 
• The batteries are heavy, the pressure created on the batteries can lead them to drain faster.

Is India Ready for EVs?

Well, after reading some of the points from the opinions mentioned above, I’m sure you must have been able to relate some of the scenarios to India. Many say India is not ready for EVs. In terms of infrastructure, we are way behind and it is going to be a difficult task to have the required facilities installed. Many existing facilities will not be able to support the infrastructure that EVs require. Many cities in India have power shortages and many towns don’t even produce enough electricity to meet their daily requirements. Still many villages in India don’t even have electricity. Even if we think of restricting the use of EVs within tier 1 and 2 cities, setting up the charging facilities in the already cramped and overpopulated cities is going to be a big challenge. Even if facilities are installed to encourage purchases there is no surety that the people will get influenced and buy an EV.  We don’t even know to what extent is the decision for lower taxes on EVs by the government going to encourage people. The cars in itself are so expensive that people are already discouraged and not very keen on buying them. However, for electric 2 wheelers, the scenario is a tad bit better. Most of the electricity generated in India comes from non-renewable sources like thermal energy. Thus, it does not make sense to burn so much energy to create electricity, as discussed earlier a larger amount of thermal energy is required to create a small amount of electricity. Rather, using a car powered by gas will be more efficient and will be lower on its carbon footprint and vehicular emission levels, and it will also be cheaper to buy. Most Indians might not even be able to afford an EV and thus their main concerns will be related to the costs involved in both short term and long term, the added benefits if any like better mileage, long durability and others rather than concerns related to a cleaner environment and lesser emissions.  Just after nine months of the launch of Ola’s ambitious Electric Vehicle project in Nagpur, it faced major roadblock with Ola drivers wanting to return their electric cars and switch back to petrol or diesel variants. The reason being high operating expenses and long wait times at charging stations.

electric cars in India

electric bikes in India

Most players in the Indian automobile market are ready with their working prototypes just waiting for the right time to send them into production. Prominent manufacturers such as Maruti Suzuki India, Hero Electric Vehicles, Mahindra and Mahindra have already registered themselves as electric manufacturers in India, latest collaborations such as Suzuki and Toyota, are planning to launch electric vehicles in India. Players in the 2-wheeler segment such as Hero Electric, Revolt, Ather, BattRe Okinawa are already selling their vehicles in the Indian market. This is a sign of optimism, some say. Some say it's just a preemptive move to compete, being ready for what’s next. And facts as per the data of Society of Manufacturers of Electric Vehicles say, only 22,000 units of EVs were sold in India by March 2016, of which 2,000 were four-wheelers. At the same time, sales of electric cars grew at a staggering rate of 94% from 2011 to 2015 worldwide, led by China, the US, and Europe. As a signatory to the Paris climate agreement, India is obligated to bring down its share of global emissions by 2030. That is the reason why the government of India is taking key initiatives such as the launch of National E-Mobility Programme, planning guidelines to encourage the use of such vehicles by NITI Aayog, etc. to promote EVs in India. 

We all know that any trend takes time to come to India and have its impact due to inherent factors such as the size of the population, the diversity, the complex geography, the vast culture, and the developing economy. So, it is likely that EVs too will take some time as new trends and technology disruptions can cause few setbacks and adoption takes some time and requires a lot of strategic flexibility which is not prevalent. 

Thus, it is safe to say that the spirits are high and the optimism is visible but sufficient backing is not yet available for this to turn into a reality and have a significant and substantial effect yet. The momentum has just begun so it will take some time until the pace picks up.

How does an Electric Vehicle work?

The EVs could be of several types (BEV, HEV, FCEV, PHEV) and all of them function differently but one common component in them is the battery. So, let us understand how a battery works. A battery does not store electricity but electrical energy in the chemicals inside it. It has 3 main components, 2 terminals or nodes made of different chemicals, typically metals, the anode and the cathode and the 3rd component is the electrolyte. The electrolyte separates both terminals and is present to put the different chemicals of the anode and cathode in contact with one another, in a way that the chemical potential can equilibrate.

During the discharge of electricity, the chemical on the anode releases electrons through the negative terminal in ions in the electrolyte. Meanwhile, at the positive terminal, the cathode accepts the electrons, completing the circuit for the flow of electrons, converting stored chemical energy into useful electrical energy. That’s what generates an electric current. It took a while before humans could improve the battery technology enough, that it could power an entire vehicle to travel practical distances. With time, we got there. From a single charge battery to a rechargeable, lead-acid battery to the lithium-ion battery.

These days the batteries in most HEVs and BEVs are lithium-ion batteries which look like these. 

lithium-ion battery from the BMW i3

The metal case of these batteries holds a long spiral, comprising of 3 thin sheets pressed together. Inside the case, these sheets are submerged in an organic solvent, often ether, that acts as the electrolyte. The outermost sheet is the negative electrode, which is made of carbon (C). The middle sheet is a separator, which is a very thin sheet of micro perforated plastic. And the innermost sheet is the positive electrode, which is made of Lithium Cobalt Oxide (LiCoO2).

When the battery charges, ions of lithium move through the electrolyte, from the positive electrode to the negative electrode and attach to the Carbon. During discharge, the lithium ions move back to the Lithium Cobalt Oxide form the Carbon. 

So basically, it works on the same principle as any other battery but these lithium-ion batteries can store a lot of electric energy as chemical energy and that has helped electric cars take a leap from being a novelty to being a reality. These batteries can be recharged over and over again. 

The lithium-ion batteries used in most of the EVs are quite similar to each other. Each cell contains about 4.2 volts and about 30 amps. The voltage in a battery is like a stored charge it carries and the amps measure capacity – indicates how quickly the energy can flow out of it. The voltage and amperage in a battery can be changed as per need. But if you increase the amperage and don’t increase the voltage adequately, you can run out of juice before it does any good to you. Wiring the cells together can increase the voltage, amperage or both, depending on whether they are wired in series or in parallel. If you wire 2 identical batteries together in a series, the voltage rating doubles while the amperage rating remains the same. Whereas, in a parallel the amperage rating doubles while the voltage rating remains the same. In an EV the batteries are wired in a combination of series and parallels to get the desired output. For instance, the Tesla Model S uses 7104 cells wired in a combination of series and parallels over 16 modules to get the output of 400 volts and 1500 amps.

How does the electric motor work?

Back in the 1800s anyone and everyone was an inventor playing around with electricity and the resulting currents. Soon these people realized that wrapping wires and sending current through them can generate a magnetic field. This tangible physical force generated by the magnets is what electric motors use to actuate motion. Most EVs today, like the Tesla Model S use the induction motor. The motor consists of 2 parts, the rotor and the stator. The rotor is a series of conduction bars, short-circuited by end rings. A 3 phase AC pulse is given to the stator. This alternating current produces a four-pull, rotating magnetic field (RMF). The electricity running through the stator induces current on the rotor’s metal bars. The rotating field of the stator causes movement in the now charged rotor. In an induction motor, the rotor is just behind the RMF. The speed of the rotor is determined by the frequency of the AC current through the stator. When you accelerate, you increase the frequency of the current. An inverter switches the direct current (DC) from the batteries to an alternating current (AC) to drive the motor. It sits right by the motor and can determine the frequency of the current, which determines the speed of the rotor and the amplitude of the current, which affects the power output of the rotor. The only points of contact in this are the bearings that keep the rotor in place. Since there’s no other contact between the rotor and the stator they don’t wear out that easily. Unlike a conventional engine, who’s usable torque dwells within a limited rev range usually up to 8000 RPM, an electric motor, like the one in a Tesla Model S can effectively produce a much higher force to a rev range up to 18000 RPM. So, there’s no need for shifting or torque convertors of any kind. 

Unlike conventional engines that convert up and down or side to side motion of the pistons to rotational movement, the induction motor produces exclusively rotational force, that means almost all of that can be turned into forward motion when the wheels hit the road. Now, the biggest concern after discharging all that energy and spinning the rotors at 18000 RPM, is heat. Thus, so most of the components, including the motor, the frequency drive and the battery are liquid-cooled so that they don’t overheat. Also, in most electric cars, the induction motor, when it’s not producing movement at the wheels can be spun by the wheels which makes it like the alternator in your car, recharging the lithium-ion battery. 

So, that’s the science behind these cars.

EVs - A Brief History

Remember what electric cars used to be like? The slow driving, boxy-looking, small obstacles on the highway? Well, no more. The face, the looks, the style, the power, the speed, the efficiency, the performance and most importantly the technology of electric vehicles (EVs) has changed over time and now it is one of the classiest, good looking, stylish, silent, pretty fast and eco-friendly vehicles you will see on the roads today. Today’s EVs are way different and advanced than what you saw or remember from the time dating back to the mid-1900s. For starters, not even the battery is same anymore and don’t even get the debated started on the speed of the car and the efficiency of the batteries; that, and the higher prices were exactly the reason why they saw a worldwide decline in interest. Are you familiar with the ‘land speed record’? If you are then let us tell you that only one EV was able to make and maintain that record until around 1900. However, the interest levels in the EVs starting rising again as the technology got better and as some great souls started thinking about the environment. 

The first ever EV was built by… sorry we can’t tell you for sure because it is difficult to attribute the success to any one person. There were a series of simultaneous breakthroughs, that occurred in several places in the technology related to EVs, from the battery to the electric motor, it all happened in the early 1800s. There were several innovators in Hungary, the Netherlands and the USA who began experimenting with the concept of a battery-powered vehicle and created some of the first small-scale electric cars. The first crude electric carriage was built by a British gentleman named Robert Anderson in 1832. In 1834, professor Sibrandus Stratingh of Netherlands and his assistant Christopher Becker created a small-scale electric car powered by non-rechargeable primary cells. In 1890, William Morrison built the first successful electric automobile in the United States. And by 1897, most of New York’s taxis were electrically powered. In 1898, Ferdinand Porsche, founder of the sports car company Porsche, developed an electric car called the P1. He also created the world’s first hybrid electric car (powered by electricity and gasoline) around the same time. In the year 1900, electric cars accounted for around a third of all the vehicles on the road. They showed strong growth for the following 10 years. 

Porsche P1

At the turn of the 20th century, even though horse was still the primary mode of transport, people turned to the newly available motor vehicles available in steam, gasoline and electric versions; as individuals got more prosperous which led to the rise in their purchasing power. In 1914, Henry Ford partnered with Thomas Alva Edison for exploring the options of creating a low-cost electric car. This did not work out and meanwhile, Ford’s gasoline-powered Model T had started gaining more popularity by then and was made quite affordable and widely available since its introduction in 1908. By 1912, the gasoline car cost $650 and an electric one cost $1750. In the same year, Charles Kettering introduced the electric starter, eliminating the need for the hand crank and giving rise to more gasoline-powered vehicle sales. Other developments also contributed to the decline of electric vehicles on the road. For instance, the US had better-developed roads by 2020 and this led to more people going out and exploring and traveling for longer distances. Gas became cheap and readily available to the rural Americans after the discovery of Texas crude oil and more and more fuel stations started opening up. Somewhere after this point, electric vehicles lost their popularity as combustion engines became more popular. Very few Americans held electric vehicles and by 1935 they all disappeared. 

It wasn’t until the 1960s again that people started showing some interest in them. In 1959, American Motors Corporation (AMC) and Sonotone Corporation announced a joint research effort to consider producing an electric car powered by a "self-charging" battery. Many concept cars were developed but a handful made it to production and still weren’t as popular. In July 1971, an electric car developed by Boeing and Delco Electronics, a GM subsidy had the privilege of becoming the first manned vehicle to be driven on the Moon. That car was called the ‘Moon Buggy’, a Lunar Roving Vehicle which was first deployed during the Apollo 15 mission. Pretty cool right?

Moon Buggy

After years of being forgotten and out of the limelight, the energy crises of the 1970s and 1980s and the need for alternative and cleaner sources of energy led to the revival of interest in EVs. In the 1990s many companies like GM, Chrysler, Honda, Nissan, Toyota, and others launched a series of EVs. Around the same time, in California, the California Air Resources Board (CARB), the government of California's "clean air agency", began a push for more fuel-efficient, lower-emissions vehicles, with the ultimate goal being a move to zero-emissions vehicles such as electric vehicles. But the people voted against this move as they were not interested and still preferred cheaper gasoline vehicles even though they were not as efficient because the fuel was cheap. A series of revolts took place against this move especially against GM’s EV1; in an unusual move, consumers were not allowed to purchase EV1s, but were instead asked to sign closed-end leases, meaning that the cars had to be returned to GM at the end of the lease period, with no option to purchase, despite the lessee’s interest in continuing to own the cars. The suit finally led to the neutering of CARB’s move. CARB and the automobile companies had failed in effectively promoting their interest. Many car manufacturers had to withdraw their EV models from the US market.

Most EVs were and still are slow driving, not so appealing and boring cars and yes expensive too. Only the really conscious consumers were willing to make do with whatever options were available. Some others tried to go for Hybrid EVs. However, the EVs constantly faced a fluctuation in interest levels. The year 2004 was a landmark year as Tesla had begun its journey in developing its first Roadster. And there on we all know how its disruptive moves have changed the face of the EVs and people’s perception about them.

Tesla, the Electric Mule

Tesla, Inc., formerly (2003–17) Tesla Motors, the American electric-automobile manufacturer, was founded in 2003. And… it was not founded by Elon Musk (just clearing the common misconception) but by American entrepreneurs Martin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning and was named after Serbian American inventor Nikola Tesla. Elon Musk was one of the few people who provided the initial funding ($30 million) and served as the chairman in early 2004, after he sold PayPal.

Going back to how Tesla started…

Eberhard was freshly divorced and looking for a sports car but was also very concerned about the impact it had on the environment. He then set his eyes on the AC Propulsion tzero. AC Propulsion was a small company from San Dimas, California, that specialized in alternating current-based drivetrain systems for electric vehicles. He loved the car, saw its potential and quickly became an investor in the company. He looked into shaping it into a car manufacturing company not just some small boutique and R&D workshop.

AC Propulsion tzero

But co-founder Alan Cocconi and his partner Tom Gage were not keen on making it a production car. Thus, borrowing the lithium-ion tzero as a demonstrator they approached their silicon valley investors and pitched their idea. So, AC Propulsion was like a catalyst for Tesla.

Tesla began searching for a chassis to build their first car and they ultimately settled on the Lotus Elise. Tesla worked out a licensing deal with AC Propulsion to use their motor and controller for the powertrain. With Musk on board, the deals all set and money in the bank, they hired Ian Wright (a person with a rich experience in building race cars) to build their first-ever car, the Tesla Roadster. 

Tesla Roadster

It had its official launch party in July 2006. Tesla booked the first 100 orders at $100,000 and the debut was planned for sometime later in the same year but due to issues related with the design and engineering of the car, the debut kept getting delayed and pushed back until 2008. Finally, the car set its debut and sold a little over 2400 units in between 2008 and 2012. The motor used in the Roadster was a 3-phase, 4-pole, induction electric motor with a maximum output of 248-horsepower and a torque of 200 FT-LB. Later in its production, the torque was boosted to 295 FT-LB for an even faster acceleration, it went from 0 to 60 mph in under 4 seconds and did a quarter-mile in just over 12.5 seconds.

In 2012 with the launch of the Model S, they entered the luxury car segment. The Model S was a spacious and stylish luxury sedan. This luxury sedan was a quiet beast, ‘quiet’ because it made no sound at all, it's electric and ‘beast’ because it created a horsepower of 588 and a maximum torque of 920 FT-LB and went from 0 to 60 mph in just 2.3 seconds. Its regenerative braking system helps your battery get back some juice every time you slow down. The Model S has seen many upgrades over the years from 2012 to 2016, but essentially it is the same generation car because Tesla does not distinguish its generations on the basis of modifications and developments on a particular model like other OEMs do.

Tesla Model S

Tesla distinguishes their generations by making a new vehicle. They come up with a new vehicle for a new segment for every new generation because that was their plan, going from the top of the pyramid to bottom.  Tesla was able to jump its production from around 15 cars per week in 2010 to about 1000 cars a week in 2015. In 2015, Tesla decided to launch a new generation, the Model X. The Model X was an SUV, it went from 0 to 60 mph in 2.9 seconds – that almost matches the Ferrari 488. The inspiration was taken from the Audi Q7. Musk wanted the car to have doors that could open easily in tight spaces and third-row seats that could be accessed without folding the second-row seats, thus came the ‘falcon door’ design with this model. The Model X was a highly anticipated car, it received 30000 pre-orders.

Tesla Model X

Next came the Model 3 in 2017. It was the third mass-market car in their line-up. The Model 3 booked 305,000 reservations in the first week itself. It was a lighter, smaller and more attainable, rear-wheel drive, single motor sedan. The production capacity for Model 3 is 5000 cars per week. It was the number one selling car of 2018, it even beat the Toyota Corolla, now that’s some feat. There are different variants ranging from $42000 to $60000. It goes from 0 to 60 mph in 5.6 seconds for the lower tier models and from 0 to 60 mph in 3.3 seconds for the top-level, all-wheel-drive performance model. It produces a horsepower of 450 and a torque of 470 FT-LB.

Tesla Model 3

So, since they’ve covered all the segments… any guesses on what’s next for the Tesla line-up?  It’s the new Roadster 2020, that has been slated for production in 2020. The new roadster will be built on an entirely new Tesla chassis unlike the previous one and will have several other substantial changes, it's essentially going to be a completely different car. Tesla claims that the new roadster will be able to reach 60 mph in about 1.9 seconds and a 100 mph in 4.2 seconds, that is as fast as an F1 car. The car is expected to be priced for around $200,000.

Tesla Roadster 2020

Over the past two decades, Tesla has caused a massive disruption in the EV market and is the reason why the market has started rising again. Elon Musk never fails to surprise us… don’t even get us started on Space X.

Abrogation of the Provisions of Article 370

Quick Facts:

1.    More than 7 lakh military personnel are generally deployed in Kashmir. 10000 more were added on 5^th August 2019.

2.   More than 41000 deaths have taken place in 27 years – the anatomy of Kashmir militancy in numbers; that is an average of 4 deaths a day.

3.   On 28^th June 2019, the Minister of Home Affairs, Amit Shah stated that the PM Modi’s led Central Government has taken a zero-tolerance policy to curb terrorism in the valley following which he proposed to abolish Article 370 as a temporary provision in the Lok Sabha.

4.   On 5^th  August 2019, Article 370 was abrogated. 

Historical background of the story:

Post-independence, there were 3 provinces (Kashmir, Hyderabad and Junagadh) that were problematic for the then Minister of Home Affairs, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel as it was difficult to get them on board for a secular, united India. Out of these provinces, Patel was not very interested in Kashmir because of the fact that it had 80% Muslim population.

Hari Singh, the then Maharaja of Kashmir was not very happy about the Jawaharlal Nehru – Sheikh Abdullah (then Chief Minister of Kashmir) friendship as he feared that if Kashmir becomes a part of India, Nehru might put it under the leadership of Abdullah; but being a Hindu king he did not want to join Pakistan as well. Hence, he wanted an independent Kashmir. Thus, he put forth a stand-still agreement to both nations for allowing no change in the ongoing agreements until a future for Kashmir has been decided. Pakistan signed the agreement but India asked for a negotiation.

Meanwhile, Pakistan waged a sudden attack on Kashmir. Maharaja Hari Singh asked for help from India. India agreed to help Kashmir but with a condition; this led to the signing of the Instrument of Accession – which joined Kashmir with India.

This matter went to the United Nations (UN); which then led to the UN decision, asking Pakistan to withdraw their troops and India to have minimal army presence in Kashmir until the valley situation is stabilized. And once the situation settles, Kashmiri people will be able to decide their political future with a referendum. Thus, Article 370 was formed and since then the situation of Kashmir has not improved because of which the people never got the opportunity to execute the referendum. This also led to the formation of POK (Pakistan Occupied Kashmir).

Article 370 was a ‘temporary provision’, its purpose was to join/link the Kashmiri constitution and the Indian constitution.

Till 1965 Kashmir elected its own PMs.

The union list has 97 subjects for which parliament makes laws, out of which 94 such are applicable to Kashmir, these 94 were added over a period of time by making amendments to Article 370. Not just that, out of the 390 Articles, 260 are applicable in Kashmir – so the question is where is the autonomy of Kashmir which they asked for?

Article 370 and 35 A:

Key points:

-       Separate constitution and separate flag.

-       Dual citizenship (to Kashmir and India).

-    The Indian Supreme Court had no jurisdiction in J&K. In other words, the law and order of the Indian Supreme court were not applicable in J&K.

-        Indian parliament had limited rights to make any laws for J&K.

-    The Indian central government had powers for taking decisions related to only external affairs, defense and communication.

-    In 1954 article 35 A was included in the constitution of India by the then president, Rajendra Prasad.

-      According to this article people termed or identified as permanent residents of the state will only be the people residing in Kashmir on or before 14^th May, 1954 or people residing in Kashmir, 10 years prior to this date and who have acquired any property in the state.

-       Land, property, government jobs, scholarship, voting rights, are entitled to Kashmiris only.

-        35 A gives Kashmir the provision to define their permanent residents. In simple terms, no one can make use of the state resources of Kashmir, apart from its defined permanent residents.

The current decision taken has not really abrogated the Article 370 entirely, but it has used a part of the article to abrogate the entire Article itself except for clause (1) which treats Kashmir as a part of India. 

The article 370 (3) states that 

“Notwithstanding anything in the provisions of this article, the President may, by public notification, declare that this article shall cease to be operative only with such exceptions and modifications and from such date as he may specify. Provided that the recommendation of the Constituent Assembly of the state referred to in clause (2) shall be necessary before the president issues such notification.” 

In other words, the President can modify or even repeal Article 370 in consultation with the Constituent Assembly; but no State Government or Constituent Assembly existed in Kashmir, thus, the powers were transferred to the Parliament of India. The Indian Parliament can thus take a decision in collaboration with the President to declare it null and void and that’s what happened. This also leads to the abrogation of Article 35 A. Thus, Article 370 was itself used against it to make it null and void.

The Stand of Various Parties on the Abolition of Article 370:

In Support:

o   Bahujan Samaj Party

o   Shiv Sena

o   Aam Aadmi Party

o   Biju Janata Dal

o   AIADMK

o   Telugu Desam Party

o   Telangana Rashtra Samiti

Against:

o   Janta Dal (United)

o   Indian National Congress

o   Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam

o   People’s Democratic Party

o   Trinamool Congress

o   National Conference

o   CPI (Maoist)

Opinions:

Of the people who SUPPORT the move:

-     Economic Development in Kashmir: they believe that the economy in Kashmir will now develop since people will be allowed to buy land; will be allowed to invest in businesses and other opportunities that will cause a rise in the prices of land and locals will thus be able to lease their properties and make money; companies will start investing and bring in employment; education opportunities may arise, students might come in from other states; might also create an opportunity for government jobs.

-      More jobs = less terrorism: the overall development will create job opportunities for people, lead to a decrease in unrest among people and thus reduce terrorism and other crimes.

-       Share benefits under the Indian law: The Indian laws will now be applicable to Kashmir as well which will allow it to take benefit from the laws like RTI, RTE, and others.

-     Good for Kashmiri pandits: the Kashmiri pandits will now be able to return. (Click here to read more about it.)

-     Psychological impact: one flag – one nation; will make the Kashmiris feel more integrated with India.

-        Hotel Industry can experience a boom since many limitations will be removed.

-        Military expenditure and other resources deployed in Kashmir will reduce.

-        Ladakh will develop at a faster pace.

Of people who OPPOSE the move:

-   Kashmiris did not consent: thousands of troops were sent suddenly, without the consent of Kashmiri residents, the internet was shut down, telephone lines were disconnected, suddenly all communication mediums were cut-off. Government took the decision so discretely the residents couldn’t even bat an eye.

-     Kashmiri politicians under house arrest: 400 politicians in Kashmir were locked down under house arrest, including 2 former chief ministers. The common public was also locked inside their homes.

-      Fascist and undemocratic: since the Kashmiris were not consented many people believe it was an illegal move. Dissolving the state assembly and imposing the President’s rule without any elections was as good as a move under dictatorship. No ear was given to the people of Kashmir or the democratically elected politicians.

-    Unconstitutional cheating: this decision was taken when the state assembly was not existing, hence the Indian Govt used a loophole from the Article itself – this move was thus termed unconstitutional. Indian govt took the decision when the Kashmiris were vulnerable.

People felt cheated because the Indian Government said that they are deploying 10000 troops in the valley as they were expecting a major terrorist attack form Pakistan army-backed terrorist groups the real truth was hidden. (to counter this argument people said that: if this was not done and if the news was made public, there would have been a panic attack in the valley, it may have also alarmed the terrorist groups and cautioned them. Things would have then turned out to be worse. The act would have been much more violent than it was. People would have responded more violently if the army was not deployed and the correct news was out and above all if they were informed about the correct news it would be as good as elongating the already existing debate of 70 years).

-       Illegal Occupation: separatists say that Article 370 was the only legal connecting factor between India and Kashmir and thus after its abolishment there is no legal ground or evidence that Kashmir is legally a part of India.

Mehbooba Mufti tweeted – “unilateral decision of the Indian Govt to scrap article 370 is illegal and unconstitutional which will make India an occupational force in India”.

There could be a problem in the UN or even worldwide; some say that Kashmir has now become an Indian military occupied state.

-     No debate No discussion: On 05/08/2019, in the Rajya Sabha, the Indian Government decided that J&K along with Ladakh will be declared as Union Territories of India, without any debate or discussion on the bill.

-    Special status -to- Normal State -to- Union Territory: This transition form Special Status to Union Territory implies that the democracy level is much lower now since the Central Government has an upper hand over it. Democracy will become less because even though ppl can elect between the parties, the elected party will not have full power over the state as they will have to consult with the Central Government before taking any major decisions. If this can be done to J&K, it can be done to any other state in the future – a classic example of this is Delhi where the state and the center exist with each other and are at conflict since the past 5 years.

-       Pakistan’s reaction: Pakistan, the hostile neighbour to J&K reacted by saying it will downgrade its diplomatic relations with India and suspend bilateral trade with India. (Click here to read more about it.)

Some snippets of people’s reactions to the move: 

(see the entire tweet here)

Even if we accept and conclude that the decision was correct since it will bring about economic development in a place that was held back for so long; is there a guarantee that it will remain a success in the long run? It might fail because the state will not be integrated with India unless and until the people are.

While people are in a continuous debate about this abrogation, no one really knows about, nor can anyone accurately predict the long-term repercussions of this move. Will it turn out to be like the Demonetization decision, where the intentions were right but the implementation was a failure to a great extent? Let’s just wait and hope for the best.