Month: July 2024

The subject of sustainable pump motors is something that is gaining momentum for various reasons. An article entitled “Sustainable Pump Motors: Green is Good Business” in Pumps & Systems June issue addresses them in detail.

Its author and ePropelled’s head of sustainability motors division, Nick DeSilvio, dives into the energy use problem, regulatory requirements, competitiveness, and efficiency of pump motors. Starting with the energy problem, Nick outlines why pump users and the environment alike cannot afford to stick to the old-style pump motors. He says:

“(…) pumps are responsible for 21% of all industrial sector motor system electricity consumption. Lowering this number will make pumps greener and reduce operational costs.”

With the number of people on the planet rising fast, industries need to keep up with the demand for all services, water, and electricity. Using the “same old” pumps will increase costs and greenhouse gases significantly. There is no reason why we can’t look for more efficient options that will reduce costs for the manufacturers and users, as well as reduce their carbon footprint and energy use.

Another point to remember is that, although the natural environment might not be the first things to consider for manufacturers or industry leaders, it definitely is high on the regulatory agenda. In the article, Nick points out that the European Union and the United States are introducing new regulations that affect required efficiency levels and energy conservation standards.

As specified in the article, regardless of the national or international regulations, going green is good business.

“Pump manufacturers that can meet the regulatory mandates will have a competitive advantage in the market.

Greener motors have tangible benefits to customers.

Savings from lower electric bills are important, particularly when costs are rising. Electricity costs for industrial use rose almost 6% from a national average of 6.9 cents per kWh in January 2021 to 7.3 cents in January 2022.”

Being competitive and green is not only possible, it’s necessary. So it’s important to focus on efficiency and finding solutions that beat the current levels. Induction motors are typically 75% efficient at best. This is not good enough and we know that better results are possible because ePropelled’s high efficiency 3 HP variable speed pump motor is 95% efficient.

Nick makes a point to drive home the possibilities:

“What we have found is that a well-designed system can actually use less material, resulting in motors and drives that are smaller, lighter, and very cost effective. By taking a systems approach in motor evaluation, pump manufacturers can optimize their products to meet the end customers’ goals and the regulatory requirements.”

To learn more about pump motor efficiencies, the green problem, the relevant regulations, and the future potential of the industry, read the full article here. You can also learn more about Nick and our sustainability division here.

Micromobility is a given in India. Two-wheelers (scooters, motorbikes) and three-wheelers (autos, tuk tuks, rikshaws) dominate the automotive sector with the country being the largest market in terms of both sales and production. But the beginnings were not ideal. Companies wishing to build 3-wheeled vehicles would import kits including motors, controllers, and (sometimes) batteries, and go from there.

More recently, government initiatives have made it more profitable to build all three components in India. And the consumers also prefer local products. Things are finally moving in the right direction, but they’re far from perfect. There are two main issues that are significantly affecting the Indian original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and the 3-wheeler market. They also illustrate how the industry at large can get more efficient, profitable, and provide improved products for the end user.

Issue #1

No manufacturer in India is currently offering the option of motors and motor controllers built and sold together as a propulsion system. These are always separate purchases for 3-wheeler companies whose lives would be so much simpler if they could find combined motors and controllers, developed to work well together.

If this was possible, the final product would be improved in addition to the OEMs’ job becoming easier. After all, if the components are made specifically to work together and if they’re tested together, then they are guaranteed to work better than the currently available alternatives. There would be no need to make any changes, improvements, or redesigns simply to make two separately made products work together better.

Everyone benefits

• The OEMs have a simplified job building and testing the 3-wheelers
• The final product is easier, quicker, and more cost effective to build
• The consumer has a better propulsion system with components built and tested together

Issue #2

Some manufacturers in India have been building their motors and motor controller using designs that were tested in other parts of the world. The problem with this approach is that these designs are not fully adapted for local operational conditions.

The main challenges experienced by manufactures in India include:

• Elevated temperatures and humidity
• Bad roads (dust, water to wade through)
• Stop and go heavy traffic that makes it almost impossible to reach full speed

Motors and controllers need to be efficient (and therefore greener), reliable, and up to the task in these conditions. Offering a product that is made for the local market will garner consumer trust and make manufacturers more competitive.

ePropelled solutions

ePropelled focuses on the idea of reliability and efficiency to get the most out of the paired motor and controller propulsion system. In India, our approach contributes to the OEMs’ success that comes from:

A fully developed product that is a combined motor and controller

Motors and controllers tested in their own vehicles for optimal performance

A system that is specifically built to endure Indian environmental and road conditions

Reliability and efficiency enhancements that are future-proofing their vehicles

By developing and testing our 3-wheeler motors and controllers in India and for the Indian driving conditions, we simultaneously solve two problems which have been seriously affecting the local market.

This is because we understand that each market is different and its manufacturers have their own challenges to face. In this case, the localization of our products contributes to the success of the 3-wheelers in their country of use, as opposed to the propulsion system being built and tested in one country and then shipped to be assembled elsewhere.

Our approach to the Indian market is a gauge of how the industry should look at its propulsion challenges. We believe that as innovators and engineers, we have to understand the end user and the end market while making our motors greener.

To learn more about micromobility or ask some questions about our solutions, go here.