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Indian Express
08-07-2025
- Automotive
- Indian Express
Defer rollout: Mahindra to government on more accurate emissions test
Automaker Mahindra & Mahindra has requested the government to defer the implementation of a more accurate emissions measuring standard for passenger and light commercial vehicles, proposed to take effect from April 2027, The Indian Express has learnt. The draft norms, issued by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) on April 28, introduce a new testing procedure as part of enforcing the next phase of Bharat Stage (BS) VI standards. The Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicles Test Procedure (WLTP), which the European Union adopted in 2018, ensures that emissions of carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides (NOx), and particulate matter from vehicles on the road more closely reflect results recorded in laboratory conditions. In its response to the draft notification, Mahindra & Mahindra, in a letter dated May 26, urged the Ministry that a 'standalone migration to WLTP be avoided' and its implementation be deferred. The automaker also suggested that the government wait until the upcoming Corporate Average Fuel Efficiency (CAFE) phase 3 norms — currently under discussion — clarify their position on adopting WLTP. While both CAFE norms and BS VI rules currently rely on the Modified Indian Driving Cycle (MIDC) for testing, they serve different purposes: CAFE focuses on fuel efficiency and CO2 emissions, whereas BS VI covers a broader range of emissions, including particulate matter and NOx, which are key pollutants. Although CAFE 3 norms have not yet been notified, the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), the nodal agency framing them, proposed in June 2024 a shift from MIDC to WLTP starting March 31, 2027. 'Migrating to WLTP brings the emission and CO2 measurement closer to real world driving conditions. However, the emission worthiness of vehicles in Real Driving conditions have already been captured through Implementation of RDE (Real Driving Emissions) boundary conditions and its limits as part of Bharat Stage 6.2,' Mahindra said in its letter to the Ministry. The government is examining the merits of the automaker's claims, an official aware of the exercise said. Auto industry experts said that given Mahindra has a high diesel mix in its portfolio, it could pose a challenge for the company to comply with stricter norms since that would need after-treatment technologies to reduce emission of pollutants. Diesel engines account for more than 70 per cent of Mahindra's SUV sales. They said that Mahindra's pitch is to essentially delay the implementation of the third phase of the BS VI norms, given that the manufacturer has the highest exposure to diesel engines and could face the most amount of compliance burden when the WLTP norms are officially implemented. In response to a query, a Mahindra spokesperson said, 'We wish to not comment on the story.' The Ministry did not respond to a request for comment. BS VI phase two rules, which have been in place since April 2023, introduced the RDE test, which, unlike MIDC or WLTP, measures on-road emissions. The purpose of WLTP is to calculate a more accurate conformity factor vis-a-vis the RDE test. In other words, it aims to narrow down the convergence between laboratory and on-road emissions. BS VI norms were introduced in 2020, followed by the second phase with the introduction of the RDE test in 2023. From 2027, India is proposing to introduce the WLTP test cycle as part of the third phase of BS VI norms. Experts said that Mahindra's argument to seek a delay of WLTP norms hinges on the fact that under BS VI phase 2, real world emissions are already being captured. However, they also said that phase 2 has a much more relaxed RDE, with a conformity factor of 1.43, whereas under phase 3, the planned RDE has a conformity factor of 1. They said both CAFE and BS 6 phase 3 have been known for a long time to kick in from 2027, and many manufacturers have prepared for it. In its letter to the MoRTH, Mahindra said it expected that during migration to WLTP, there would be clarity on CAFE III norms as well, with an adequate development time to ensure compliance. 'This coherence is presently not established,' Mahindra said, adding: '…a standalone migration to WLTP be avoided, and its implementation be clubbed at a later point after clear definition of CAFE III on WLTP'. Aggam Walia is a Correspondent at The Indian Express, reporting on power, renewables, and mining. His work unpacks intricate ties between corporations, government, and policy, often relying on documents sourced via the RTI Act. Off the beat, he enjoys running through Delhi's parks and forests, walking to places, and cooking pasta. ... Read More Soumyarendra Barik is Special Correspondent with The Indian Express and reports on the intersection of technology, policy and society. With over five years of newsroom experience, he has reported on issues of gig workers' rights, privacy, India's prevalent digital divide and a range of other policy interventions that impact big tech companies. He once also tailed a food delivery worker for over 12 hours to quantify the amount of money they make, and the pain they go through while doing so. In his free time, he likes to nerd about watches, Formula 1 and football. ... Read More
India.com
30-05-2025
- Science
- India.com
China gets ready for new age war, shocks everyone with 600 second testing of..., claims to leave behind...
Chinese President Xi Jinping- File image Following the test, China has positioned itself ahead of global powers like the US and Russia in the hypersonic race. If their claims are true, this could mark a turning point where China not only dominates global trade but also gains a major edge during war. What is this explosive engine China is talking about? Unlike traditional jet engines, the Rotating Detonation Engine (RDE) is based on a completely different principle as it generates power through controlled explosions, not steady combustion. It works by creating continuous detonation waves that rotate inside a chamber. These intense shockwaves generate more thrust while consuming less fuel, making the engine extremely efficient and powerful. This technology is particularly suited for rockets and hypersonic missiles, allowing them to travel at blistering speeds over long distances. That's why countries like the United States have been trying to develop it for decades but with limited success. Why has the US struggled with it? The U.S. began exploring detonation-based propulsion back in the 1950s when the Air Force and the University of Michigan worked on the Oblique Detonation Engine (ODE). NASA joined in the 1970s, attempting to push the technology to speeds of Mach 16. Despite these efforts, no team was able to maintain a stable detonation wave or achieve the right balance of fuel and air, both critical to making the engine work. Even the U.S. Navy's ambitious 'Dream Shell' project, launched in 2012, was eventually shelved in 2021 due to technical roadblocks. If China's claim of successfully operating an RDE for 600 seconds proves true, it could be a game-changer, not just for military strategy, but for the future of aerospace propulsion as a whole. How did China pull this off? Scientists at China's National University of Defense Technology reportedly tested a small version of the Rotating Detonation Engine (RDE) inside a wind tunnel. By mixing ethylene and oxygen, they created continuous detonations and kept the engine running steadily and cool for a full 10 minutes. If this system can be scaled up successfully, it could have major implications, from powering hypersonic weapons to revolutionizing space travel.
Economic Times
26-05-2025
- Science
- Economic Times
China just tested a hypersonic engine powered by explosions; could this change the future of warfare?
TIL Creatives Hypersonic weapons are seen as the next big thing in military technology. They are hard to detect, harder to intercept, and capable of carrying nuclear or conventional warheads. Countries like the U.S., Russia, and China are racing to build the most advanced hypersonic systems. If China's claims are accurate, they could now have an edge over the U.S. The RDE could power next-generation missiles, spaceplanes, or high-speed jets. China says it has taken a big step forward in hypersonic engine technology. This could change the future of high-speed flight and military power. The announcement has caught global attention, especially among major powers like the U.S. and scientists claim they have successfully tested a 'Rotating Detonation Engine' (RDE) that can power vehicles at hypersonic speeds — more than five times the speed of sound. This new engine uses shockwaves to create controlled explosions. These explosions produce more thrust while using less fuel compared to traditional key advantage? RDEs are lighter, more efficient, and faster. If used in missiles or aircraft, they could travel farther and strike faster, before enemies can react. Interestingly, the concept behind this engine isn't entirely new. It traces back to research by the U.S. Air Force and the University of Michigan in the late 1950s. American scientists had originally proposed the Oblique Detonation Engine (ODE) as a possible solution for hypersonic propulsion. NASA explored this idea further in the 1970s, targeting speeds up to Mach 16. However, due to the technical challenges of stabilizing detonation and managing fuel-air mixing, the U.S. abandoned development of the U.S. Navy also explored advanced concepts like the 'dream shell' in 2012, designed to travel at Mach 5 using satellite navigation. That project continued until 2017 but was eventually scrapped by 2021. The breakthrough was made by a teamfrom China's National University of Defense Technology. According to Chinese media reports, they tested a small RDE in a wind tunnel. The engine reportedly ran steadily for 600 seconds (10 minutes), a record for this kind of engine. They also managed to maintain high thrust while keeping the engine temperature under engine used ethylene and oxygen as fuel and burned the mixture in a continuous detonation wave — a process that is extremely fast and very difficult to stabilize. Hypersonic weapons are seen as the next big thing in military technology. They are hard to detect, harder to intercept, and capable of carrying nuclear or conventional warheads. Countries like the U.S., Russia, and China are racing to build the most advanced hypersonic systems. If China's claims are accurate, they could now have an edge over the U.S. The RDE could power next-generation missiles, spaceplanes, or high-speed jets. While the Chinese test sounds impressive, independent verification is still lacking. China tends to keep military developments secret. International experts haven't confirmed the findings yet. However, if China has achieved a stable and scalable version of this engine, it could mark a major shift in global military power. China's interest in hypersonic tech is well known. This engine could pave the way from lab testing to real-world weapons. If so, it may intensify the global arms race in hypersonic warfare, and rewrite the balance of power in the skies.
Yahoo
04-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Rotating Detonation Engine For Future High-Performance Missiles Successfully Tested
A novel type of jet propulsion, a rotating detonation engine (RDE), has been successfully tested by Pratt & Whitney. The development could be highly significant for the U.S. military, with RDE technology at the center of the project called Gambit, which aims to provide a propulsion system for a mass-producible, low-cost, high-supersonic, long-range weapon for air-to-ground strike. RTX — of which Pratt & Whitney is a business unit — announced today that a series of tests on the RDE has been completed at the RTX Technology Research Center in Connecticut. Previously, RDE propulsion systems had only been run in the form of small prototypes. Next, the company says it will move on to integrated engine and vehicle ground tests, to be conducted with the U.S. Department of Defense 'in the coming years.' 'Our testing simulated aggressive assumptions for how and where the rotating detonation engine needs to perform,' Chris Hugill, senior director of Pratt & Whitney's GATORWORKS development team, said in a media release about the latest campaign. 'This testing validated key elements of Pratt & Whitney's design approach and provides substantiation to continue RTX vehicle and propulsion integration to accelerate future capabilities for our customers.' In terms of how they operate, RDE propulsion systems have significant differences compared to a traditional turbojet or turbofan engine and hardly require any moving parts. In turbojet or turbofan engines, air is fed in from an inlet and compressed and then is mixed with fuel and burned via deflagration (where combustion occurs at a subsonic rate) in a combustion chamber. This process creates the continuous flow of hot, high-pressure air needed to make the whole system run. In an RDE, the combustion (which happens at a supersonic rate) occurs in an enclosed, annular (ring-shaped) chamber. During flight, fast-moving air is sucked into the chamber and a mixture of fuel is injected into it. The injection ignites a flame-like detonation wave that travels around the ring for as long as fuel is injected, in a thermodynamic cycle, providing propulsive thrust. The advantages of an RDE include high thermal efficiency and more power, which means the engine can also be smaller, lighter, and more cost-effective. After all, most longer-range air-to-ground missiles today require scaled-down jet engines that are single use, making this a much less cost-effective propulsion setup. In a practical application, such as a missile, since an RDE is more compact than a traditional engine, there is more space for fuel, giving longer range. Additional capacity can also be used to house sensors, warheads, or other payloads. A video provides a more detailed walkthrough of the rotating detonation engine concept: Pratt & Whitney's current work on the RDE is based on a contract from the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), which called upon Raytheon (now RTX) to develop this kind of propulsion for 'effectors' — primarily missiles. The initial work was conducted by the RTX Technology Research Center, which then teamed up with Pratt & Whitney to mature the technology. Ultimately, the RDE is planned to power a new generation of effectors, including missiles designed and developed by Raytheon. Experimentation with RDE concepts dates back to the 1950s, but actually creating a workable engine of this type had proved elusive until very recently, at least publicly. According to RTX, there were two main technological hurdles to overcome before the RDE could be successfully demonstrated. The first challenge involved the fuel injection component. Simply put, the balance of air and fuel in the chamber has to be perfect, consistently, to ensure an effective detonation wave. The second challenge, RTX says, was designing and manufacturing parts, which relied upon advanced techniques, including additive manufacturing and physics-based modeling. Overall, RTX's work on the RDE is closely related to a Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) project called Gambit. The main aim of this effort is 'to develop and demonstrate a novel rotating detonation engine propulsion system that enables a mass-producible, low-cost, high-supersonic, long-range weapon for air-to-ground strike in an anti-access/area denial (A2AD) environment.' Gambit was launched in 2022, and the following year, Raytheon secured a contract from DARPA to develop and demonstrate a practical RDE for the Gambit project. While RTX talks about the potential for the rotating detonation concept to be harnessed in the broad category of 'effectors,' it would appear to be of greatest significance for future missiles, like the ones envisioned under DARPA's Gambit project. Missiles using this kind of propulsion arrangement would achieve greater efficiency and lighter (and potentially smaller) missile bodies, which in turn would allow for enhanced performance — especially in terms of range — and/or payload capacity. Future missiles that are able to achieve efficient sustained supersonic speed over long distances would be of considerable importance in terms of time-sensitive mission requirements. Above all, any future high-end conflict in the Pacific, such as one against China, would automatically involve all sorts of operational demands across a broad area, much of it covered in water. 'The government is looking for missiles that go faster and fly farther,' Beata Maynard, an associate director in Advanced Military Engines at Pratt & Whitney, said in a media release today. 'Combining Pratt & Whitney propulsion technology with a Raytheon vehicle could result in a weapons system that addresses warfighters' immediate needs.' RDE is not the only exotic propulsion system that's being considered to power future missiles, effectors, and even aircraft. There are also ramjets and dual-mode ramjets (the latter also using RDE technology), which can confer hypersonic performance. Hypersonic speed is defined as anything above Mach 5. While there's clearly an appetite for the kinds of advantages that a rotating detonation engine would confer on a variety of future missiles, it should be recalled that this technology is very much still in its infancy. There will be plenty more hurdles to overcome before propulsion systems of this kind find their way into actual missiles. However, once mastered, this technology promises to significantly help lower the cost and accelerate the production, on top of the various performance advantages. Contact the author: thomas@
