The 2016 edition of the Smart Cities India expo has kicked off in the national capital, and is currently underway as we speak. In its second running this year, the three-day expo comprises an exhibition of national and international brands displaying their products and services in sectors such as clean energy, smart manufacturing, urban planning, e-Governance, green transport, etc. While the show mainly focusses on building future smart and sustainable cities in India, this year it’s also included Smart Transport as part of the program. So what’s in store for the future in terms of sustainable mobility? Let’s take a brief look at some of the ‘smart’ transport solutions from the expo,
Before discussing the future of transport, let’s take a quick backgrounder about this venture. The Smart Cities project was incepted in 2015 by the current ruling government. The initiative took off with the government shortlisting 98 cities and towns from the country to be developed into smart cities. In January 2016, the first 20 cities were further finalized and will receive funds (around Rs 50,800 crores) to start the process of converting them into smart cities. Now, turning a town or city into a ‘smart’ location is no cakewalk, especially in India - it’s a task of gigantic proportions. The Smart Cities expo in this case serves as a platform that brings all the stakeholders together on a single stage to form alliances.
At the Smart Transportation 2016, it is kind of a given that the future of mobility will greatly depend on eco-friendly vehicles. Naturally, there are electric vehicles, battery and storage systems, alternate fuels, navigation systems, intelligent transport systems, digital parking management, in-car connectivity, etc. on display at the event. Some of the highlights at the event include Lohia Auto’s forthcoming Oma Star Li electric scooter and their e-Autorickshaw concept. The Oma Star electric scooter is already on sale in India, but it currently comes with a lead-acid battery. The Li version replaces that with a lithium-ion battery. As per the manufacturer, it will go on sale by year end and should cost around Rs 45,000 – Rs 50,000. It will have a range of 60km.
Then there was an android-based electric smart car, called Pixy. The diminutive city car has a hybrid powertrain (petrol + electric) and comes with solar charging panels. It also has automatic gull wing doors. As per its maker, auto pilot mode is currently under development for the car.
Kinetic also had their Safar electric auto-rickshaw on display. Claimed to be India’s only ARAI approved electric auto, the Safar can go up to 100km on one charge while it can reach to speeds up to 25km/h. Other interesting solutions at the venue include smart parking solutions, which help you spot a parking space within seconds using your smartphone, and traffic surveillance functions for over-speeding, traffic light violation, lane violation, etc. Overall, the event focuses in making the transportation sector more eco-friendly, less congested and a hassle-free experience – at least in the forthcoming smart cities.
If you're planning to attend the Smart Cities expo, do visit us at the autoX stall.
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