M CUBE

beciIntroduction

As the issue of climate change becomes a bigger part of modern life so the need to replace large groups of polluting, fossil fuel powered cars with cleaner electric vehicles rises in importance. However the electric vehicle is still not a widely successful alternative especially in long journeys, where it is not possible to spend a long time refuelling as charging points are not available everywhere and people are not prepared to wait long periods to charge their car. To combat this we feel creating a system to replace the batteries with recharged versions would enable a “re-fuelling” time similar to a petrol or diesel car therefore making it a more competitive option. In particular we propose to create a system to allow London taxis to be replaced by electrical vehicles as they are required to travel long distances but are in a localised location so widespread infrastructure is not required.

conclusion

BECI is potentially a green-energy powered system which is able to solve the problem in the development and propagation of hybrids and electric vehicles. It breaks through the traditional idea of charging at home/work by mimicking the function of petrol stations by quickly „refilling‟ electricity and greatly extends the driving range of electric cars. The system is an integration of technologies, consisting of comprehensive design of switch station, battery technology, battery storage and charging. Although technically difficult it is possible to create a system that satisfies the customer, car manufacturer and the business.

BECI has proved to be profitable if there is a good response by target clients. The biggest drawback is that it is a high risk investment due to a large initial cost of batteries and switch stations. However, the costs of EV batteries are seeing a reduction of more than 50% by 2020 due to the technology blooming and larger scale production. By starting the business with London taxis and a careful business plan of gradually increasing investment, the risk of the project can be reduced. Consequently it can be a profitable solution (but it is very risky and requires huge initial investment that would be difficult to get). Arguably the social benefits of helping to combat climate change could be seen as more important. It provides a new alternative to switching to electric cars with fewer drawbacks in range of travel. Implemented correctly BECI has potential in shaping the future of greener transportation.