How are we building a sustainable future? | Nishita Baliarsingh & Nikita Baliarsingh | TEDxSCBMCH
The co-founders argue that Electric Vehicles (EVs) adoption is stalled not by concept design, but by the current battery pack technology, proposing the biodegradable Nexus battery, powered by proteins and utilizing crop residue, which offers superior range, faster charging, and solves local pollution issues. The project’s success relies on the synergy between biomimicry, industrial ecology, and the founders' demonstrated emotional resilience. The final challenge to the industry is realizing that *a ship in the harbor is safe but that is not where it is meant to be*. ## Speakers & Context - Co-founder of the company behind the technology; involved in research, development, and execution. - Co-founder (Nikita); discussed initial EV research. - Observed auto expos in Delhi and Detroit. - Initial focus was understanding the barriers to EV adoption in India. ## Theses & Positions - The primary flaw preventing widespread EV adoption lies within the battery pack component, not the vehicle structure as a whole. - The chemical composition of current batteries is toxic and degrades uncomfortably in the environment. - Lithium is not sourced from India, creating both cost and dependency issues for the resulting vehicles. - Biomimicry, using natural processes like the human energy cycle, can inform the creation of a biodegradable battery. - The integration of crop residue waste with battery technology offers a superior, circular economy solution for the Northern Indian plains. - Entrepreneurship success requires not only a breakthrough idea but also sustained emotional strength, stability, and meticulous documentation. - *A ship in the harbor is safe but that is not where it is meant to be.* ## Concepts & Definitions - **Biomimicry:** Deriving inspiration from natural processes (e.g., the human body's energy cycle) to build man-made products. - **Industrial Ecology:** A sustainability concept where the waste material of one industry is used as the raw material of another, aiming for a purely circular, full closed economy. - **Protein (as a material):** A nutrient that can be used to construct a battery, offering biodegradability and fast energy transfer properties. - **Circular full closed economy:** An economic model defined by having zero waste. - **Air Quality Index (AQI):** A measurement used to track and report air quality concerns, particularly in Northern India. - **Energy Cycle (Human/Battery):** Food $\rightarrow$ Energy created $\rightarrow$ Energy stored $\rightarrow$ Energy used $\rightarrow$ Energy replenished/recharged. ## Mechanisms & Processes - **EV Concept:** Displaying models at auto expos to showcase future vehicle designs. - **Bio-Battery Construction:** Mimicking the natural energy storage cycle by substituting lithium-ion chemistry with proteins for the battery structure. - **Pollution Reduction Workflow:** Procuring crop residue $\rightarrow$ Using it to extract necessary materials $\rightarrow$ Mitigating the pollution caused by farmers burning residues. - **Battery Testing Process:** Assembling basic components (anode, cathode, electrolyte, separator) into cells; escalating from testing two cells to scaling up to a 48 volt prototype pack for road viability testing. ## Timeline & Sequence - **2010-2011:** Period when the speaker and co-founder began researching EVs after observing concept cars. - **2018:** Year when the speaker and Nikita were discussing the lack of EVs on the road despite advancements. - **Past several years:** Timeframe characterized by research and development leading to current prototypes. - **Next century:** Timeframe associated with the potential environmental benefits of fully biodegradable batteries. - **2026 or 2027:** Potential timeline for achieving government-projected EV goals. ## Named Entities - **Delhi:** Location where the speaker observed auto expos. - **Detroit:** Location where the speaker observed auto expos. - **Northern plains:** Region in India suffering from severe winter air pollution due to crop residue burning. - **India:** The national context for the pollution and economic solution. ## Tools, Tech & Products - **Electric concept cars:** Vehicles displayed at auto expos. - **EVs:** Electric Vehicles. - **Battery pack:** The specific component identified as the core problem area. - **Lithium-ion battery pack:** Existing, current battery technology being addressed. - **Protein crystal batteries (Nexus batteries):** The proposed, novel battery technology. - **Prototype cells:** Initial rudimentary battery elements (anode, cathode, electrolyte, separator) assembled for testing. - **48 volt battery pack:** The size of the initial, scaled-up prototype assembly. ## Numbers & Data - **2010:** Year the speaker and co-founder began looking at EVs. - **2011:** Year mentioned regarding observing concept cars. - **5 to 6 hours:** Estimated charging duration for an electric vehicle (initial concern). - **Few kilometers:** Range barely achievable after an extended charging time. - **3 and a half to 4 hours:** Charging time for a battery pack, compared to ICE vehicles. - **20 years:** Lifespan timeframe cited for the end of the life cycle of lithium-ion cells. - **7 to 8 years:** Lifespan given for a battery pack using current Li-ion technology. - **100 kilometers:** Range capability of the Nexus batteries for two-wheelers per charge. - **60-70 kilometers:** Range cited for a two-wheeler using a Li-ion battery pack per charge. - **Couple of thousands:** Additional income benefit provided to farmers through the process. ## Examples & Cases - Observing auto expos in Delhi and Detroit: Initial observations of concept vehicles. - Human Body Energy Cycle: The biological process of consuming food, converting it to energy, and replenishing it. - Lithium-ion battery life cycle: Deposing cells after 7-8 years, resulting in environmental hazards. - Crop residue burning: Concrete example of pollution source in the Northern plains of India. - Initial testing: Successfully testing two basic battery cells which proved promising. - Scaling Up: Successfully building out approximately 200+ cells into a 48V pack for subsequent testing. ## Trade-offs & Alternatives - **Current EVs:** Low adoption rates; suffer from long charging times (5-6 hours) and low range. - **ICE Vehicles:** Implied reliance on exhaustible resources. - **Lithium-ion Batteries:** Current standard, but components are toxic, non-biodegradable, and require imported lithium, making the system expensive. - **Protein Crystal Batteries (Nexus):** Biodegradable, fast charging, high range, utilizes local agricultural waste, and is entirely manufactured in India. ## Counterarguments & Caveats - The perceived problem was initially believed to be the EV vehicle design itself, but the true issue was identified as the battery component. - The primary technological hurdle is transitioning the successful PoC lab prototype into a commercially scaled, mass-produced product. - The solution's viability is partially dependent on the consistent procurement of crop residue waste. ## Methodology - **Research:** Comprehensive study combining sustainable management courses and analysis of the current EV market limitations. - **Biomimicry Analysis:** Modeling natural energy storage and transfer processes (human metabolism) onto battery design. - **Proof of Concept (PoC) Testing:** Building and validating basic cell structures, progressing to a 48V prototype for field testing. ## Conclusions & Recommendations - The battery pack must be fundamentally changed to provide a comprehensive solution for EV adoption. - The Nexus battery offers a holistic solution by being biodegradable, utilizing local waste, and improving both range and charging time. - The economic benefit extends to agriculture by providing farmers with an additional income source. - Founders must maintain meticulous records and documentation to ensure credibility when facing external questioning. ## Implications & Consequences - Successful implementation of the Nexus battery will significantly improve the AQI of the Northern Indian plains by diverting crop waste. - The technology boosts the local agriculture industry by creating a value chain for crop residue. - Successfully addressing the battery component could advance global EV adoption targets significantly, potentially by 2026/2027. ## Open Questions - Establishing the commercial scalability of the PoC lab prototype. - Ensuring the affordability and accessibility of the protein-based battery for the middle-class Indian market segment. ## Verbatim Moments - *"we've been looking at companies launching their electric concept cars in auto expos in delhi and detroit and in fact across the globe but even then we have not really seen them on road"* - *"it is not in the vehicle as a whole but in one component of that vehicle which is the battery pack"* - *"let's not look at metals and let's go beyond that into biomimicry as it is normally referred"* - *"a pure circular full closed economy you don't have any waste"* - *"The Nexus batteries are capable of going beyond 100 kilometers per charge"* - *"a ship in the harbor is safe but that is not where it is meant to be"*