Long gone are the days when electric vehicles were a distant idea, and their mass consumption was a dream. Electric cars are a reality today and as time goes by, more and more people will own them. It is unique when a goal is both noble and economically beneficial. Obviously, sooner or later Georgia will join the electric car revolution, but as time passes, this industry is moving forward without us.

Fortunately, Georgia will take its first steps in one of the most popular industries today. Soon, a factory will be opened, which will start producing electric vehicle battery components. This project is the brainchild of George Gegechkori, the former executive director of RAKIA Georgia and RAKEEN  Development. George was also the former First Deputy General Director of the State Military Scientific-Technical Center  Delta and the former General Director of Delta International, a successful and experienced manager who moved to the electric car industry in recent years. Together with his partner, he initiated the project, that involves processing of the waste from mining minerals and using them as cathodes (the negatively charged electrodes by which electrons enter an electrical device) for electric car batteries.

One could say that this project is a kind of back yard for electric cars, which will ultimately create the success of the product and brand - electric car... and Georgians will do all this in Georgia with a highly qualified team of Georgian employees and using the latest technology.

- Which business sector does your project represent?

G. G. - The product that we are going to produce has been used in agriculture for decades. It was both a fertilizer and a natural, healthy, pure pesticide. However, in addition, the residues left over from the extraction of mining minerals were used both in the medical industry and in animal feed. In recent years, waste has been actively processed to be used as cathodes for electric vehicle batteries. Therefore, we are already dealing with the electric vehicle industry. That's why this product is so important. This industry is growing at a rapid pace every year and is very favorable for all countries, that have joined the electric car revolution. Our product is one of the most important links in the electric vehicle industry chain, which has been confirmed by extensive research. It is part of the overall product, without which the electric car cannot exist.

- What is the state of the electric vehicle industry in Georgia and the rest of the world?

G. G. - On international market, there has been serious progress. As part of our project, we have reviewed several studies and scientific papers to understand every detail. This product is a joint venture of chemistry, physics and other scientific fields. I don't want to exaggerate, but the changes that began in the global auto industry and continued irreversibly are comparable to tectonic plate shifts. Previously, the giants of the auto industry hardly considered any electric cars in their lineup, but today all of them offer or intend to offer customers a fully electrified vehicle. EU and non-EU countries have set a goal to completely stop the consumption of internal combustion engine vehicles, which automatically means increased demand for electric vehicles. I'm not talking about China, where this matter has reached a completely different scale.

In addition, there are hybrid vehicles that also require batteries. This is an upward trend worldwide, which is supported by many in Georgia as well. If we look at the automobile market, we will see that fully electrified cars and free electric charging devices have become more common in the capital of Georgia. This, of course, makes having electric cars convenient. I own a plug-in hybrid myself and need almost no fuel when I travel medium distances.

In Georgia, there is a willingness and an opportunity for people to grow accustomed to and offer them, at least, plug-in hybrid vehicles. This is dually beneficial for the country, because along with the emission reduction, our electric resources will see significant development

- Do you think that in a certain period electric cars will be available to everyone and be as common as traditional vehicles? In your opinion, what will this process be like in Georgia and what will the role of your company be in that process?

G. G. - It is difficult to foresee when the internal combustion engine cars will be replaced, although both demand and supply are developing dynamically. This gives a rough picture of where most countries in the world may find themselves in the short, medium or long term. As for Georgia, based on the interests of our country, it is possible to set a goal like European countries. At this stage, it will be a serious challenge for the market. However, what people are doing on their own free will - reducing fuel consumption and using an electric or hybrid engine, is, a continuation of the global trend. Our project is one of the necessary components of this. With increasing demand, our product will also increase in consumption. In general, there will be a great need for the kind of innovative technologies that underpin the improvement of the electric car market. First and foremost, I don't mean the price, but the technical issue - for example, the current fast chargers, which damage the car battery and reduce its life expectancy. I am sure that chemists and physicists will solve this issue soon.

- What processes will your production contribute to Georgia, in terms of industry development?

G. G. - When we talk about the waste created because of the extraction of mining minerals, it means, first, the creation of jobs. It won't just be a simple workplace for a worker. It is about the possibility of development and cooperation, receiving a professional education in an otherwise challenging field and indistry.

Any developed product, as part of a chain, needs developed links. We, within the framework of this project, will supply international trading companies and wholesale brokers. Therefore, our standards must match their high standards. Both the production process and the product itself, as well as each of our employees, must meet high standards. This, in turn, determines the intellectual development of people working on this product.

- George, it is a common belief that the production of electric cars, specifically car components, causes a lot of damage to the environment. To what extent is this true, a myth or reality?

G. G. - Our production process is carbon-neutral. It has no emissions and no waste, so it is a 100% environmentally green growth product and production process. Moreover, we process the waste left by other productions and neutralize the danger of the waste left by the mining industry.

True, there is a grain of truth in this opinion, but only if we are dealing with the wrong disposal of the car batteries.

In many countries, there are strict guidelines regarding sorting trash to facilitate recycling, and violations of those rules result in people facing fines. Each item of trash has its own disposal location. This is exactly the case with the electric car batteries. If we throw the batteries in the trash like regular household waste, there will be environmental damage, but if it is done correctly - according to the manufacturer's instructions - there is no harm to the environment, unlike with an internal combustion engine, because the exhaust cannot be preserved.

Any automaker working on transitioning to electric vehicle manufacturing wants a healthier environment, and their product serves this purpose. Therefore, the direct production process does not contain any danger and as I mentioned, it is completely harmless to the environment. I'm sure, in our country too, the conversation about how to dispose electric car battery components will begin soon.

- And finally, in your opinion, in the light of all these advantages, why do people still choose internal combustion engine cars?

G. G. - Because in a few minutes you can fill the tank with fuel, start on your journey and cover hundreds of kilometers with the energy obtained in a few minutes. The electric motor cannot do this yet. This is the most important factor, not the absence or lack of infrastructure. Earlier, there were no gas stations either, but the demand increased, they appeared. Progress is inevitable. With this progress, each country, and its representatives, including me and my partner, need to find our own niche and take part in doing important and valuable work.

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