NITI Aayog Member V K Saraswat has raised concerns about the feasibility of hyperloop technology for high-speed trains in India. He chairs a committee that assesses the technological and commercial viability of Virgin Hyperloop technology, indicating that the technology is not currently mature enough and may not be economically viable.
Saraswat also mentioned that some foreign companies have shown interest in bringing hyperloop technology to India, despite concerns about its maturity.
What are Hyperloop Trains?
Hyperloop is a high-speed train concept that runs within a vacuum in a tube. It was initially proposed by Elon Musk. However, Saraswat emphasized that the offers received from foreign countries are at a very low level of technological maturity, and thus not considered as viable options for India’s transportation infrastructure.
What are the future prospects for Hyperloop in India?
According to Saraswat, the hyperloop technology is currently part of a study program in India, and he does not anticipate its immediate integration into the country’s transportation framework.
Challenges and the way ahead
Saraswat addressed India’s reliance on lithium imports from China, explaining that India’s production of lithium-ion batteries is currently limited. Consequently, the country depends on battery imports, primarily from China.
He noted that India has offered incentives for establishing battery manufacturing facilities within the country and expects some business houses to begin large-scale lithium-ion battery production in India in the near future.
Regarding lithium supply, Saraswat mentioned that there have been discussions about India exploring lithium mining in countries like Chile and Bolivia. However, instead of direct government acquisition, Indian private sector companies have initiated business-to-business agreements with foreign counterparts for a more secure supply chain.
Promotion of methanol as an alternative fuel
Saraswat also highlighted successful trials of blending 15% methanol with diesel, collaborating with the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) and Ashok Leyland, signaling progress in promoting methanol as an alternative fuel in India.
(With PTI Inputs)