Retrofitting Electric Vehicles (EVs) presents a compelling opportunity to accelerate the transition towards sustainable transportation worldwide. Globally, as countries set ambitious targets for reducing carbon emissions, retrofitting offers a viable solution to upgrade existing internal combustion engine vehicles. It not only extends the lifespan of these vehicles but also significantly reduces their environmental impact.
However, challenges persist, such as ensuring compatibility with diverse vehicle models, optimizing battery technology, and addressing regulatory standards. Additionally, the cost-effectiveness of retrofitting compared to purchasing new EVs remains a critical consideration. In Africa, retrofitting holds immense promise, particularly in regions heavily reliant on older, polluting vehicles. The continent faces unique challenges, including limited access to charging infrastructure and a diverse vehicle fleet. Retrofitting offers an opportunity to bridge this gap by transforming conventional vehicles into cleaner, more efficient alternatives. By leveraging local expertise and resources, Africa can potentially lead in the adoption of retrofitting technologies, fostering economic growth and environmental sustainability.
In India, with a burgeoning automotive market and a rapidly expanding EV sector, retrofitting assumes strategic importance. It provides a practical approach to make the existing fleet more eco-friendly, especially in a country with a substantial number of older vehicles. Moreover, retrofitting aligns with India’s emphasis on ‘Make in India’ initiatives, spurring innovation and employment opportunities in the EV ecosystem. However, ensuring safety standards, establishing reliable battery disposal mechanisms, and creating robust regulatory frameworks will be essential to unlock the full potential of EV retrofitting in the Indian context.
pManifold organized a webinar on the topic “ Understanding Opportunities and Challenges in Retrofitting EVs” and to get a better understanding of the topic webinar had Stephan Lacock, Mechatronic engineer from the University of Stellanbosch, Rani Srinivasan – founder and CEO of Zero21 Renewable Energy Solutions and Vikrant Vaidya – partner and lead of EV systems engineering, pManifold.
The webinar focused on:
- Understanding the business case for EV retro-fitment and the associated challenges and opportunities (India & Africa)
- Understanding technical challenges and mitigation measures in EV retro-fitment to ensure reliability and safety (India & Africa)
- Overview of the existing regulatory support to navigate the challenges and drive widespread adoption
Stephan Lacock, mechanical engineer from Stellenbosch University, highlighted current transport and vehicle-related trends in South Africa, revealing that South Africa exports 63% of locally manufactured vehicles, with 70% going to Europe, contributing around 4.3% to South Africa’s GDP. However, the impending 2035 deadline in Europe to stop selling internal combustion engine vehicles poses a risk to approximately 500,000 local jobs. Stephan also stressed the importance of skill development, carbon emissions reduction, and affordability for a successful transition to electric vehicles
Giving an overview of the five-year study exploring the feasibility of retrofitting public transportation vehicles in Sub-Saharan Africa, Stephan highlighted retrofitting existing vehicles as a cost-effective solution compared to local manufacturing of Sub-Saharan Africa-specific electric vehicles. Although retrofitting costs are initially higher, scaling the process can reduce costs by large, making the transition much more affordable. Stephan showcased a prototype of a retrofitted a 65-seater bus and a small pick-up truck and emphasized on the Golden Rule for retrofitting – “Strive to maintain the vehicle as close as possible to its original physical condition and behavior”
The webinar also discussed challenges in electrification in countries like India. Rani Srinivasan – founder and CEO of Zero21-Renewable Energy Solutions who has deployed ICAT-authorised conversion kits, highlighted conversion kits as a \viable solution to accelerate EV adoption especially three-wheelers, with reduced environmental impact of mass manufacturing. He also emphasized the challenges for retrofitting which include the absence of a robust scrap policy, lack of specific standards for retrofitting, issues with vehicle uniformity to fit the conversion kit, and scalability.
Rani also highlighted that policy measures such as reduced GST and provision of financing for the new vehicles are impacting conversion kits uptake. He advocated the need for conversion over scrapping which addresses most of the financial, environmental, and logistical concerns, presenting retrofitting as a viable solution for the large-scale conversion of three-wheelers in India. Additionally, education and awareness efforts need to be focused on promoting the adoption of the conversion kits.
On the other hand, Lacock discussed financing challenges in retrofitting in South Africa and acknowledged that despite incentive programs by government entities and development banks in Sub-Saharan Africa, there is hesitancy due to perceived complexity and high costs. While technology is ready, convincing funders to support retrofitting projects is hindered by the need for ground data and tracking to prove the vehicle’s lifespan.
Lastly, speakers emphasized the importance of safety measures in retrofitting especially in the context of batteries and the need for compliance with regulatory standards. Both speakers highlighted the necessity of proper training and education to address safety concerns in the retrofitting process.