The next game changer of Sri Lanka: Electrified transportation
Thursday, 29 January 2015 00:25
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EESoc takes the lead to bring forth relevant expertise for an open discussion
By Guvanthi Abeysinghe
The world is becoming more and more competitive. Sri Lanka, even though a small island making home to around 20 million people, which is nearly 0.3% of the world population, too tries to survive in this competition, fighting as hard as they can.
As you step onto the roads today, you may see hundreds and thousands of people rushing here and there; schooling children, working ladies and gents of various age and social groups, all who are trying to survive in this competition of life.
In this daily struggle, transportation is one of their basic needs, which today has become one of the major weak points in surviving the competition. Stating in simple terms, this is because the Sri Lankan transportation is still in an underdeveloped stage.
Still there are the same old vehicles run by either diesel or petrol are on the road and same old trains powered by diesel engines, all of which use the fossil fuels to run. There are two major drawbacks in the choice of this fuel for transportation; one: it has very low efficiency and uneconomical in the long run, two: it affects adversely on the nature, which we, Sri Lankans have been boasting to be the owners of the most beautiful so far.
On the other hand, as a fair player for fossil fuels, they are depleting rapidly. So, it is clear that there is a necessity to move into a better option for fuel, which is not a big secret to be revealed, as most of the developed countries have already moved into a better solution. That is electrified transportation.
So far, Sri Lanka too being aware of the same solution has been struggling with its implementation due to some reason. Electrified transportation can be used on the roads as electric vehicles and on the rails as electric trains. Hybrid cars have already approached the local market at present. Electric trains too have been in discussion for several years. Experts have already proven its feasibility with reference to the Sri Lankan electricity demand curve (load curve), making it advantageous to both sectors: transportation and power.
However, there is a fracture at somewhere in the system, for these strategies not to be implemented. If the relevant authorities and expertise can join for an open discussion under single roof, the aforementioned fracture may be identified and treated, so that the policy makers can be urged to implement a duly-planned propaganda.
Today, EESoc, the Electrical Engineering Society of the University of Moratuwa, taking responsibility in this regard, has invited delegated parties for an open discussion. Established in the year 1994, EESoc has been able to take the lead to bring forth several crucial topics in the power sector for the attention of the relevant authorities as well as the public. All most all of these panel discussions have been able to provide suggestions and reforms to the existing policies in the power sector.
Passing its 20th milestone, EESoc has organised the panel discussion this year on the topic of ‘Electrified Transportation’, summoning a panel of expertise on 12 February at Waters Edge. The panellists are Dr. Narendra De Silva, Head of Engineering at Lanka Electricity Co-operation Ltd.; Dr. Tilak Siyambalapitiya, a premier energy consultant in Sri Lanka and Managing Director at Resource Management Associates Ltd.; Prof. Amal S. Kumarage, a Senior Professor at the Department of Transport and Logistics Management at University of Moratuwa and a former Chairman of the National Transport Commission; Dr. Lalithasiri Gunaruwan, a leading Economist, a Senior Lecturer at University of Colombo and a former General Manager of Sri Lanka Railways; Eng. Lakshitha Weerasinghe, Chief Engineer (Business and Operation Strategy) at Ceylon Electricity Board; Dr. Beshan Kulapala, a Research Scientist at CodeGen International; and Prof. H.Y. Ranjith Perera, a Senior Professor from the Department of Electrical Engineering at University of Moratuwa as the moderator of the panel.
The event will also be graced by the presence of the Minister of Power and Energy Patali Champika Ranawaka as the Guest of Honour. Organisations, companies, industries and other authorities having concerns with the topic are also invited to share their ideas at the event. While raising the public awareness on this subject, EESoc also expects to publish results of this discussion for the use of expansions and improvements in the relevant sectors.
