Safa-E
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A service that aims to collaborate with the Delhi Metro & the E-Rickshaw sector to create a seamless eco-system with the inclusion of battery swapping to provide E-Rickshaw drivers with a better way to manage their finances & Increase Adoption of E-Rickshaws.
Team : Yashashvi Bisht, Jahnavi Rajaram, Priyanshu Kumar, Gurkeerat Singh, Me
My Role : Team Leader, Research (Primary and Secondary), Conceptualization and Ideation, User Interface Design, Prototyping, Visualization and Infographics, Customer Journey Mapping, Usability Testing, Narrative and Documentation
Time Frame : December 2021 - May 2022 (6 Months)
Accolades : 3rd place winning entry globally in the Student Service Design Challenge 2022 organised by Phillips & IBM in collaboration with IKEA & Ellen McArthur foundation.
Overview
This project was undertaken during our participation in the Student Service Design Challenge 2022. Guided by the competition's directives and criteria, we meticulously navigated through a comprehensive four-phase development process. Each phase was dedicated to honing a distinct facet of the service design journey, ensuring a meticulous and purposeful evolution of our project.
Competition Brief
Engaging with this design brief proved exceptionally innovative and captivating for us. The unique challenge of navigating through imposed restrictions, a departure from our typical individual projects, fostered substantial growth. It compelled us to stretch the boundaries of our thinking beyond conventional design solutions. In my interpretation, the design brief was:
Push the boundaries of service design by encouraging a transdisciplinary approach to solving a prevalent global issue in a local context by disrupting the current ownership economy and come up with a Human-Centered solution which can be scaled up and is relevant in the future.
Shared Economy Future
Key considerations from the brief:
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No new infrastructure or products.
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Optimize existing strategies.
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Promote sharing, discourage ownership.
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Blend local significance with global impact.
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Ensure visible user impact.
Project Structure
Adhering to competition guidelines, this project unfolded in 4 strategic phases, each dedicated to a vital aspect of service design methodology. The phases comprised:
Phase 1: Explore and Propose
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Identify potential areas of intervention and present a research proposal.
Phase 2: Contextual Reassessment
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Reevaluate the research proposal in light of local context, conduct in-depth fieldwork, and discover insights.
Phase 3: Synthesize and Define
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Unpack and synthesize empathy findings into compelling needs and insights.
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Clarify the problem in relation to its local context and ecosystem.
Phase 4: Conceptual Development
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Engage in a developmental phase where concrete service solution is proposed.
Phase 1
Exploring the concept of a sharing economy, we delved into individual industry responses to Covid, considering future economic influences. Five potential intervention areas emerged for a shared system approach. Our breakthrough came in the fast-evolving EV (Electric Vehicle) market in India, revealing a significant gap in battery disposal.
Batteries used in EV ( Electric Vehicles )
The rapidly growing EV sector in India, supported by government initiatives, is developing infrastructure to meet the rising demand. Local EV vehicles currently use a Cradle to Grave system for batteries, for which we planned to explore Cradle to Cradle opportunities.
Interesting Find: After its lifespan in the electric vehicle (EV), a battery retains around 70-80% of its original capacity. The critical juncture lies in what happens post-discarding. This is where our intervention begins, aiming to complete the battery's journey and extend its utility.
To understand the battery scenario on a ground scale better, we conducted field trips and talked to stakeholders to understand how they buy and use these batteries.
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Lead Acid Batteries (used in E-Rickshaws) have:
Avg Life : 6~10 months (in E-Rickshaws)
Per month Maintenance : ₹3-4.5K
Range (When new) : 80~90km at a charge
The quality and battery life degrades with time i.e. the first 3~4 months the battery life spans to a full day, the next following months it starts degrading to almost 2 charges a day, range drops drastically.
A battery when used is returned to vendor, from where either companies collect them or local workers recycle it to build a new battery (to be noted: Positive terminal gets useless, while the Negative Terminal (here Lead) is re-used.
We made a map from our understanding of the lifecycle of Lead Acid and Lithium Ion batteries.
Following this approach, we had enough data to realise that looking into Lithium ion batteries was a dead end for us given our resources, research capabilities and feasibility. We decided to explore Lead-Acid batteries (used in E-rickshaws) for our research.
Phase 2
Lead acid batteries dominate the current EV sector in India, particularly in vehicles like E-rickshaws. Known for their low cost and widespread availability, these batteries are preferred for their affordability and perceived safety compared to lithium-ion alternatives. Local recycling is common, with only a few undergoing controlled industry recycling. To gain insights into the ecosystem, we created a stakeholder map, identifying key individuals involved in the manufacturing, transportation, sale, and usage of these batteries.
Stakeholder Map
After creating our stakeholder map, we conducted field visits, engaging with diverse stakeholders, including Mayapuri, Delhi's largest scrap market, TATA showroom, battery vendors, E-rickshaw rental shops, battery recyclers, charging stations, electric taxi services, fruit and vegetable vendors, and second-hand battery shops.
Insights from these interactions underscored a critical environmental issue: the local recycling of lead acid batteries leads to acid ending up in sewers, contributing to pollution.
This groundwork proved pivotal for our competition approach. Initially focused on solving battery management and disposal issues through a sharing economy, we lacked clarity on the affected user group. Thanks to this exercise, we identified E-rickshaw drivers as our target group, central to discussions on lead acid batteries, representing a significant portion of the Indian EV sector with the highest battery usage.
Phase 3
Pain Points of an E-rickshaw driver: Drivers mentioned that batteries last around 4~6 months, during which they need to constantly suffer from minor inconsistencies. Drivers also claimed that the batteries provide low efficiency which resulted in multiple charging breaks and low run-time.
Empathy Map
The mechanic charges a minimum of ₹100 for E-Rickshaw diagnosis, and the driver incurs an additional ₹150-200 daily for charging. Despite earning only ₹20k-25k, the driver spends ₹300 or more monthly on maintenance.
Due to expensive recharges and inadequate regulations, E-Rickshaw drivers resort to unauthorized methods, often tapping electricity poles. This unlawful practice has evolved into a small-scale business, with drivers paying ₹50-100 per charge.
As-is Scenario Map
E-rickshaw drivers lead uniquely challenging lives, grappling with mental and physical stress daily. From early morning scouting to ongoing expenditures and the constant anxiety about battery drainage, their struggles are pronounced.
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Their earnings, just enough for survival, leave little room for savings. Financial management becomes a significant concern as a major portion of their income is allocated to rickshaw-related expenses, including:
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Cost of buying a new battery (included with the E-rickshaw) - ₹30k
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Cost of exchanging battery every 6 months - ₹15k
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Monthly maintenance cost - ₹300
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Daily charging cost - ₹100-150
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These financial burdens significantly impact the lives of E-rickshaw drivers, prompting us to address this issue and focus on improving their circumstances.
The Delhi government offers a subsidy of $413 (INR 30,000) on electric rickshaws, fostering increased demand. Despite government support and infrastructure development for electric vehicles, the unregulated E-rickshaw sector faces challenges.
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Lack of regulation means E-rickshaw drivers struggle with parking issues, often found in busy areas without proper permissions. Charging is also problematic, with drivers resorting to power theft, using any available power socket for battery charging to avoid charging fee.
Models of ownership for E-Rickshaws
Single ownership proves most practical, regarding benefits over costs. The rental system, while reducing charging time and costs, significantly impacts daily driver income. Meanwhile, the battery swapping system, although reducing charging times, remains in an early development stage.
We aimed to optimize the single ownership e-rickshaw market in India, integrating battery swapping seamlessly. This approach, aligned with the cultural preference for ownership, offers advantages such as a substantial reduction in charging time from 8 hours to approximately 5 minutes. By utilizing lithium-ion batteries, the e-rickshaw's range expands from 90 km to about 250 km, eliminating the need for biannual battery changes.
Shared Economy
Younger generations, especially millennials, prioritize access over ownership due to factors like limited purchasing power and a preference for fewer possessions. This shift challenges the traditional belief that 'new is better,' often driven by a desire for social validation. Social media ads further amplify the novelty factor, influencing purchasing behavior.
Our economy has long focused on growth, emphasizing profit, scale, and ownership. To foster a more collaborative culture, there's a need to devalue ownership, considering access and shared use as more valuable. Communities play a vital role in this shift, as relationships become key drivers of value. In the words of John Thackara, 'Value arises from relationships, not from things.
Problem Statement
The e-rickshaw drivers need a system that helps them manage their finances so that they have enough money saved to fulfill their basic needs while also optimizing their daily work hours.
Safa-E
Firstly, the project is named Safa-E in homage to the first Indian electric vehicle, the Vikram Safa, which happened to be a 3-wheeler.
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With the central aim of promoting financial upliftment for E-rickshaw drivers, we designed an ecosystem for a service that not only improves finances but also streamlines riders' journeys and encourages a cashless economy within a sharing economy framework.
Design Brief
Safa-E is a service that aims to collaborate with the Delhi Metro & the E-Rickshaw sector to create a seamless eco-system with the inclusion of battery swapping to provide E-Rickshaw drivers with a better way to manage their finances & Increase Adoption of E-Rickshaws.
The Service
The metro system provides a well-established infrastructure and public usage, offering a stable source of electricity at subsidized rates. Many metro stations also generate their own electricity, contributing to the main grid and earning rebates. These qualities align with the needs of the E-rickshaw sector, fostering organization and sustainability.
Key Stakeholders:
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E-Rickshaw Drivers
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Metro System
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Battery Swapping system
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The Passengers
E-Rickshaw Drivers
Old Paradigm
Raj, an e-rickshaw driver, used to wake up early to pick up his rickshaw from the charging point where he left it overnight. He scouted for passengers in hotspots like markets, metro stations, and schools. With a maximum daily limit of 90kms, his earning potential was restricted. As the battery aged, its capacity reduced, compelling him to charge twice a day, cutting into his earnings.
Raj, an E-rickshaw driver
Existing journey of an E-rickshaw driver
New Safa-E Paradigm
Raj seamlessly joins the Safa-E service when he discovers the battery swapping booth at a metro station. In this system, he no longer retrieves his rickshaw from a charging point, making his mornings hassle-free. Raj continues scouting passengers but prioritizes areas near metro stations for easy access to battery swapping points. Now, he accepts payments through the e-metro card balance, facilitated by the metro app with the added "Safa-E" extension acting as his e-wallet. Most metro stations have battery swapping booths outside, allowing Raj to exchange batteries quickly. A simple QR scan deducts the amount, and he can continue his day with a new battery.
Intended journey of an E-rickshaw driver through Safa-E
The drivers will be provided with a QR code to setup on their E-rickshaws through which the passengers will be able to pay them after the rides. This would take care of a fair pricing for both the drivers and the passengers.
Safa-E extension on the metro app for drivers
Sign Up
Battery swap payment
The driver interface is designed for simplicity, acknowledging the drivers' limited technological exposure. Account creation ensures proper documentation in this unregulated sector. The battery swapping service operates through a straightforward scan-and-pay process, utilizing the metro card balance for transactions, fostering collaboration with the metro service.
Driver app walkthrough
Battery Swapping System
Battery swapping is integral to the Safa-E service, significantly improving drivers' finances and reducing charging time to almost zero. The service utilizes costlier lithium-ion batteries, offering enhanced durability and capacity, resulting in superior performance.
Safa-E hopes to establish a system where the DMRC(Delhi Metro Rail Corporation) provides space outside the metro stations to Safa so that we can setup battery swapping booths and provide low cost alternatives to conventional charging.
Almost all metro stations have solar panels installed in them which generate electricity.
The generated electricity is sent back to the grid for which the metro gets rebates.
This results in low electricity costs for the metro.
This enables Safa-E to offer a low-cost battery swapping service for E-rickshaws, leveraging reduced energy and land costs for sustainability and accessibility. In contrast, competitors like Oye Rickshaw and E-ChargeUp face operational challenges, resulting in losses. Safa-E's seamless integration is facilitated by strategically located battery swapping booths near metro stations, simplifying onboarding for E-rickshaw drivers. Safa-E executives assist drivers in joining the service effortlessly, requiring only social identity proof submission (e.g., Aadhar) and a small subscription fee. This streamlined process aims to boost E-rickshaw driver registrations, addressing the current gap where only 6000 out of an estimated 1 Lakh E-rickshaws in Delhi are registered.
The Passengers
Passengers using metro and E-rickshaws won't experience significant disruptions, but joining the Safa-E ecosystem enhances their interactions, eliminating the need for bargaining and introducing digital payments. To participate, passengers continue using the metro app with the Safa-E extension. They can seamlessly link their metro cards to their E-wallet on the metro app by scanning or entering the card number in the app.
Passenger Journey
1. Travel in the metro
4. On getting out of the station, launch the app
2. Open metro app and find the E-rickshaw section
6. App calculates cost based on distance
3. Register by scanning your metro card and connecting your wallet
5. Find an E-rickshaw and start your ride by scanning the Safa-E QR code
7. On reaching the destination, scan the QR code again and money automatically gets deducted from metro card balance
Passenger app walkthrough
Micro Interactions -
A passenger can travel with a negative balance of minimum ₹-50 in a metro, which has been replicated even through the online wallet in Safa-E
If a passenger has a balance below than what is required to start a ride, the ride won't start. This prevents future arguments. The app also offers services to recharge the wallet balance digitally anytime.
Metro Authorities
The metro system plays a pivotal role in the success of this service, leveraging its infrastructure extensively. To integrate the metro into the Safa-E ecosystem, we've identified mutual benefits, such as financial gains, carbon credits and completion of last mile E2E journey of a passenger.
Our goal is to establish an efficient and effective ecosystem by harmonizing the metro system and E-rickshaw drivers. A key strategy involves using metro cards for payments at various touchpoints within the service, including metro travel, E-rickshaw fares, and battery swapping.
The metro will distribute cards featuring the Safa-E QR code on the back, catering to both regular passengers and Safa-E service users. As card usage rises, the metro's card sales increase, fostering mutual benefits. During lockdown, card sales have grown by approximately 8%, averaging 12,000 cards sold per day. This surge in card usage enhances the cash flow for the Delhi Metro, contributing to financial sustainability.
Safa-E service Blueprint
Safa-E Business Plan
You can view all our submission during the different phases of this competition which include ground work, hero images, presentations, videos, service blueprint, business plan, etc. here
Stay tuned for more updates!
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The Safa-E service also fulfills 4 of the 17 sustainability goals by UN which are : 1) Affordability & Clean Energy, 2) Industry, Innovation & Infrastructure, 3) Sustainable Cities & Communities, 4) Climate Action
