GENERAL INSURANCE BLOG

As the world revolutionises and turns towards more eco-friendly options, the emergence of Electric Vehicles, or EVs, has also come to the limelight. They are not only cost-effective but a good eco-friendly riding option. They help in the reduction of harmful gases in the atmosphere. It keeps the balance of the environment intact. This, in turn, helps maintain the balance of global warming. The Indian Government has also prioritised shifting all vehicles plying on Indian roads to electric vehicles or EVs by 2030.

To make this possible, a lot of steps have been taken. The government wants to make EVs affordable, usable, and accessible to all. Are long charging hours stopping you from buying an EV? Batteries make up 40-50% of the cost of every EV right now. Additionally, battery charging can also take long hours. Hence, battery swapping was established as a plausible solution.

The battery-swapping policy was introduced in the 2022-23 budget. Let's find out more about it.

What is the new policy of the Indian Government?
The Indian Government has released a new policy focusing on two and three wheeler vehicles with electric-powered engines. The main purpose behind the policy introduced by NITI Ayog focuses on swapping the batteries instead of charging them. It is not only cost-effective but also ensures good time management.

How is swapping batteries better than charging?
There are a variety of merits that you can derive by swapping the batteries instead of charging them. These are

● Time management:
It is a known fact that charging batteries can be an extremely tedious process. It takes approximately an hour or more to charge a battery completely, which can be a waste of time if you are in a hurry. Instead, if you swap the battery, it will only take you a few minutes. It is because the batteries will already be charged.

● Space management:
The chargers that are present at the charging stations are furiously slow. Moreover, they can only charge one vehicle at a time. Instead, if you swap the batteries with a pre-charged one, you need not wait for your turn to charge. All the discharged batteries can also be charged once and used when ready.

● Cost-effective: Batteries can be costly, which limits the consumers to buy an EV. With the swapping of batteries, the batteries will be available on a subscription basis. This was done to make batteries and EVs affordable to all.

● Less anxiety:
One major issue with EVs is running out of charge before the destination. If the battery swapping stations are set up successfully, this will not be an issue anymore. You can easily swap the batteries in minutes and go to your destination without hassles.

These are some clear pointers on why battery swapping is a game-changer for EVs. The Government is trying its best to establish EVs as the future of India. We should also do our share in making the world free from pollution and carbon emissions. With methods like battery swapping, EVs can be more accessible and affordable. Make sure to buy car insurance policy online to keep your EV safe and sound. Contact your insurance provider to understand the terms and conditions better while covering an EV.

Click HERE to buy car insurance policy online for your EV.

Disclaimer: The information provided above is for illustrative purposes only. To get more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before purchasing a policy.

RT-PCR Means Real-Time Polymerase chain reaction. RT-PCR one of the type PCR which the RNA template is first converted into a complementary DNA (cDNA) using reverse transcriptase. The cDNA is then used as a template for exponential amplification using PCR. Enabled sample amplification and eliminated the need for abundant starting material required when using northern blot analysis.

RT-PCR has been used to measure viral load with HIV and may also be used with other RNA viruses such as measles and mumps.

Advantages of real-time PCR test-

1. Amplification and detection occur in a single tube, eliminate post PCR manipulation.

2. An increased dynamic range of detection.

3. Ability to precisely measure the amount of amplicon at each cycle which allows highly accurate quantification of the amount of starting material in samples.

4. Ability to monitor PCR reaction in real-time.

Real-time PCR steps-There are mainly 3 steps involved in real-time PCR Reaction. Reactions generally run for 40 cycles -

1. Denaturation-High temperature incubation is used to melt double standard DNA into single standard DNA and loosen secondary structure in single standard DNA. The highest temperature use for Denaturation is 95 degrees.

2. Annealing-Complementary sequences have an opportunity to hybridize.

3. Extension-At 70-72ºc the activity of the DNA polymerase is optimal, and primer extension occurs at the rates of up to 100 bases per second.

TWO STEP qRT-PCR-Reverse transcriptase PCR (qRT-PCR) starts with the reverse transcription of either RNA or poly (A)+RNA into CDNA.

ONE STEP QRT-PCR-First-strand cDNA synthesis reaction and real-time PCR reaction in the same tube, simplifying reaction setup and reducing the possibility of contamination.

WHAT IS RT-PCR FOR nCOVID-19

The Health Ministry has announced that the real-time reserve transcription-polymerase chain reaction or RT-PCR is the gold standard frontline test for COVID-19.

One is more accurate called RT-PCR which is extracting RNA from the nasal or mouth swab. Because of Genome sequencing technology, we have the sequence of SARS-COV-2 and RNA of the swab is checked whether virus and RNA share the same sequence. Because of proper research and Genome sequence projects going around the world, RT-PCR tests are considered more accurate and reliable.

DISADVANTAGES OF RT-PCR-

RT-PCR Technology is a relatively expensive method. It requires RNA extracting machines, a laboratory and trained technicians. Minimum of 30 samples is needed to make it economically viable.

Two-wheelers are the most convenient mode of transport in India. They are budget-friendly, easy to handle, and come with multiple features and various designs. This makes them a popular choice amongst Indians to travel on narrow, inadequately maintained roads with constant traffic due to poor driving etiquette.

While vehicles are no longer designed to fit the fancy of a specific gender, it is easier for women to choose the suitable model, manoeuvre it and ride on the road.

If you are a woman or even a beginner looking to buy a new two-wheeler, here are some features you should look for to find your perfect ride.

1. Budget:
It is only possible to purchase after deciding the budgeted expenditure. Keep in mind the expected utility, life of the vehicle, and additional expenses of fuel, maintenance, and insurance while fixing a budget. With the plethora of options available, it should not be difficult to find a 2-wheeler within your budget, which can range upwards from ₹50,000. However, fixed expenses like 2 wheeler insurance online and servicing are additional costs that are often overlooked.

2. Build and size:
Of the multiple brands in the market, it is challenging to differentiate between models since they are built similarly. Riding comfort is highly dependent on the size of the two-wheeler. Make sure to sit on a stationary model and check if your feet touch the ground, which is a must in situations where sudden brakes are to be applied.

3. Vehicle weight:
Choosing a two-wheeler heavier than you can handle is the worst mistake a rider can make. A test ride and a general inspection will make you aware of its weight and your capability to handle it. By ensuring you can control its weight, you can prevent accidents, put the vehicle on and take it off the centre kickstand easily.

4. Mileage:
Two-wheelers usually provide a mileage of upwards of 35 kmpl. The higher the mileage, the greater the value derived. The advertised mileage is to be considered only when driving on highways. For congested cities, most two-wheelers provide a 35-50 kmpl mileage.

5. Engine capacity:
The power of the engine or engine capacity determines the fuel efficiency and smooth running of the vehicle. Scooters with an engine capacity of 110cc to 150cc are popular for city rides or short-distance travel for women to work and visit the supermarket.

6. Storage capacity:
Unlike a car, a two-wheeler is relatively compact, providing less storage space underneath the seat. Usually, the under-seat storage accommodates a helmet and a few other things. Presently, the largest under-seat storage available is 32 litres. While no additional designated storage space exists, you may have a top storage box fitted at your back seat.

7. Auto start:
Just like automatic transmissions are preferred over manual transmissions in cars, a two-wheeler can have a kick-start or an auto-start. Auto-start is a convenient way to start the two-wheeler by engaging the brakes, accelerating, and using the auto-start button. Kick-start requires physical effort to run the vehicle and is generally not preferred. However, purchasing a two-wheeler that provides both options is best in case one of the mechanisms fails.

Considering the ease of riding a two-wheeler, it is accessible to women of all ages in different economic strata. By following traffic rules diligently and purchasing the best-suited two-wheeler along with 2 wheeler insurance online, you can ensure safe driving and fewer accidents and allied financial burdens.

Click HERE to buy 2 wheeler insurance online.

Disclaimer: The information provided above is for illustrative purposes only. To get more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before purchasing a policy.

As per the Motor Vehicles Act, every vehicle owner in India is legally required to purchase insurance. It is a compulsory prerequisite that serves as a preventive mechanism to protect the owner from losses from accidents and damage to the bike. Despite the mandate, many two-wheeler owners shy away from purchasing a policy due to the lengthy process and inspection.

While it may seem like an additional step in the process, inspection is an essential part of the conventional insurance procedure that makes the insurer fully aware of the bike’s condition before accepting to insure it. However, two wheeler insurance online India has become a popular and convenient alternative that facilitates comparison between different policies and allows one to skip the inspection altogether.

Why is an inspection necessary?

Buying an insurance policy is a prudent move on the owner’s behalf. It protects them from any financial losses due to accidents or damages. However, insurance companies also require comprehensive information about the insured vehicle. A physical inspection helps identify the present state of the two-wheeler and whether it complies with Government issued legal guidelines.

The process scrutinises the physical condition of your bike and its documents like PUC certificate, service records, etc., to prevent insurance fraud. This helps the insurer gauge its value and expected life, which helps determine whether they should insure your vehicle and the premium amount.

The inspection may also discover unnoticed issues with your vehicle that you can resolve before it leads to an accident.

Is inspection before insurance mandatory?

Although important, inspection is not a mandatory process. If you buy two wheeler insurance online India, you can skip the inspection by providing basic details of your twowheeler on your preferred insurance company’s website. Usually, it takes a little while postapplication for them to send your bike insurance policy.

Requisites for an inspection-less insurance.

When applying for two wheeler insurance online India, you may notice that different insurance providers have different procedures. While some may use factors like brand, period of use, model, etc., others may only ask for registration details. Typically, the process involves declaring details such as:

● Period of use

● Place of registration

● Record of previous claims

● PUC certificate

● Vehicle registration number

● Maintenance records

● Previous policy details

Circumstances when an inspection is unavoidable.

While two wheeler insurance online India is convenient, requires minimal effort, and eliminates the need for inspection, in some situations, it is inevitable to go through a check, such as

● When your previous policy lapses:
2-wheeler owners need to renew their insurance before the policy lapses or the 30- day grace period expires. During this time, when the vehicle is not insured, accidents or damages may have gone unrecognised, due to which insurers compulsorily inspect the vehicle before approving its insurance.

● When modifications are made:
Ideally, the vehicle should be left untouched without any aftermarket modification to its factory-fitted components. When modified, it becomes necessary to inspect the 2-wheeler to ensure that the additions do not adversely affect the basic functionality of the bike, which can lead to mishaps in the long run.

● When the 2-wheeler is second-hand:
Second-hand vehicles, while being cheap, are essentially weathered vehicles. They possess greater risk than new bikes and therefore need to be inspected after the ownership is transferred before altering the existing policy or purchasing new insurance.

● When the 2-wheeler has been in a recent accident:
For vehicles that have recently been in an accident, it becomes necessary to survey the extent of damage to determine its cost of repairs, current value, and insurable value.

Two wheeler insurance online India is a hassle-free way of protecting your 2-wheeler without having to go through an inspection. By following the general guidelines for safe driving and renewing your policy in time, you can easily avoid the inspection procedure

Click HERE to purchase two wheeler insurance online India.

Disclaimer: The information provided above is for illustrative purposes only. To get more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before purchasing a policy.