Touch New Technologies

01/10/2026

⚡ From Electric Vehicle to Energy Asset: Understanding V2G

By Thabo Mboweni | Digital Transformation Leader — Digital Communication & Technologies

The electric vehicle conversation is often framed around mobility.

But there is another dimension worth examining:

What happens when an EV battery becomes part of the energy system?

That is the promise of Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) — a model in which a compatible electric vehicle can not only receive electricity from the grid, but, through bidirectional charging equipment, send electricity back when conditions and grid arrangements allow.

The International Energy Agency’s 2026 analysis identifies smart and bidirectional charging as an emerging mechanism for shifting electricity demand, supporting grid services and potentially reducing pressure on future grid infrastructure.

🔋 From charging point to two-way energy system

Traditional EV charging follows a relatively simple path:

GRID → CHARGER → EV BATTERY

V2G introduces another direction:

GRID ↔ BIDIRECTIONAL CHARGER ↔ EV BATTERY

This changes the role of the vehicle.

An EV can become a mobile energy-storage resource when it is connected, technically capable and appropriately controlled.

The U.S. Department of Energy describes bidirectional EVs as mobile storage that can support buildings, microgrids and, through V2G, grid services.

⚙️ How the system works

A V2G ecosystem typically involves several layers:

1. EV Battery
Stores electrical energy that can be used for mobility or, under suitable conditions, external power services.

2. Bidirectional Charger
Manages AC/DC conversion and allows electricity to flow in both directions.

3. Energy Management & Control
Determines when the vehicle should charge, remain available or discharge according to operational requirements.

4. Grid Interface
Connects the system to the electricity network while maintaining appropriate protection, communications and interconnection requirements.

5. Digital Intelligence
Coordinates vehicle availability, charging requirements, energy demand, tariffs and grid signals.

The important point is that V2G is not simply a bigger charger.

It is an integration problem spanning automotive engineering, power electronics, software, communications, cybersecurity, energy markets and grid operations.

🌐 Why this matters

The value proposition goes beyond sending electricity back to the grid.

Bidirectional EVs can potentially support:

⚡ Peak-demand management

🔋 Distributed energy storage

🏢 Building resilience

☀️ Integration of renewable generation

📊 Demand-response services

🔄 Load shifting

🏠 Vehicle-to-home applications

🚍 Fleet energy management

The U.S. Department of Energy notes that managed and bidirectional charging can help reduce charging costs, manage peak demand and integrate distributed energy resources.

🚍 Fleets could become particularly interesting

Consider an electric bus fleet.

During operating hours, the buses are primarily mobility assets.

When they return to a depot and remain connected for several hours, their batteries potentially become an aggregated energy resource.

That creates an interesting convergence:

TRANSPORT + ENERGY + DATA + AI

A fleet-management platform could coordinate:

Route → Arrival → State of Charge → Charging Requirement → Grid Conditions → Energy Dispatch → Departure Readiness

The objective should never be to discharge vehicles simply because energy is available.

The system must first protect the vehicle's primary purpose:

> The vehicle must be ready when it needs to move.

Grid participation becomes an additional capability around that operational requirement.

🇿🇦 What could this mean for South Africa?

For South Africa, the opportunity deserves to be considered within the broader transition toward smart mobility, distributed energy resources and digitally managed infrastructure.

V2G could eventually connect several ecosystems that are usually planned separately:

Electric Mobility
↓
Charging Infrastructure
↓
Distributed Energy
↓
Digital Energy Management
↓
Smart Grid

This creates opportunities for research and innovation across automotive manufacturing, fleet operations, energy management, software engineering and telecommunications.

But there are also important questions.

The hard part isn't the concept. It's the ecosystem.

Successful V2G deployment requires consideration of:

Vehicle and charger compatibility

Grid interconnection requirements

Standards and interoperability

Battery degradation and warranty considerations

Cybersecurity

Communications infrastructure

Tariff and market structures

Fleet availability

Energy-management algorithms

Consumer and fleet-owner incentives

The IEA notes that significant benefits are possible, but barriers remain as V2G deployment develops.

🧠 The 4IR opportunity

This is where I see the deeper digital-transformation opportunity.

V2G + IoT + AI + Cloud + Digital Twins + Energy Analytics

can create an intelligent mobility-energy ecosystem.

Imagine a digital twin representing an electric fleet in real time:

Vehicle State
→ Battery State of Charge
→ Route Requirements
→ Charging Availability
→ Energy Prices
→ Grid Demand
→ Renewable Generation
→ Operational Constraints
→ Optimised Energy Decision

The intelligence layer can then coordinate thousands of distributed assets rather than treating every vehicle and charger as an isolated device.

That is a fundamentally different way of thinking about mobility infrastructure.

🔭 From vehicles to distributed infrastructure

The future of electric mobility may therefore be about more than replacing an internal-combustion engine with an electric drivetrain.

It could involve transforming vehicles into connected, software-defined energy assets.

The strategic question becomes:

How do we design transportation systems that can intelligently interact with the energy systems around them?

For South Africa, that question sits at the intersection of automotive manufacturing, energy security, digital transformation, local innovation and the emerging intelligent mobility economy.

The vehicle of the future may not simply consume energy.

It may also participate in managing it.

My perspective

As a Digital Transformation Leader working across digital communication and technologies, I see V2G as an example of why 4IR cannot be approached through individual technologies in isolation.

The opportunity is created at the intersection:

🚗 Mobility + ⚡ Energy + 🧠 Intelligence + 📡 Connectivity + 🔐 Digital Trust

The real transformation happens when these systems begin working together.

Innovation | Intelligence | Impact

30/09/2026

🚌⚡ Ever wondered what's actually under the floor of an electric tourist coach? Let's pop the hood (well, the floor panel) and take a look!

Electric buses and coaches are rolling out across our cities, but most of us never see the incredible engineering that makes them move. So here's a simple breakdown of the core systems:

🔋 THE POWER SOURCE
Electricity flows in through the charging port and into a massive Battery Pack tucked under the floor. Think of it as the fuel tank—but instead of diesel, it's high-voltage energy. The Battery Management System (BMS) is the brains behind it, constantly monitoring cell health and keeping everything safe.

🧠 THE BRAINS
The Vehicle Control Unit (VCU) is the captain of the ship—coordinating every system so they work in perfect harmony.

⚙️ THE CONVERTER
Here's where it gets clever. The battery stores DC power, but the motor needs AC power. Enter the Silicon-Carbide Inverter—a high-tech device that converts DC into 3-phase AC. Silicon-Carbide is the secret sauce here: it's more efficient, runs cooler, and extends range compared to traditional inverters. 🔥

🛞 THE MUSCLE
The Traction Motor sits on the rear axle. It spins at high speed and sends torque through a single-speed Reduction Gear to turn the wheels. No gearbox, no clutch—just smooth, instant power. 🚀

🌡️ THE SUPPORT CREW

· Thermal Management System → keeps everything at optimal temperature
· HVAC System → keeps passengers comfortable
· Energy Monitoring Display → shows real-time battery status to the driver

🔄 HOW THE ENERGY FLOWS
1️⃣ Charging or regenerative braking fills the battery
2️⃣ BMS monitors and routes power through the inverter
3️⃣ Inverter drives the motor → motor turns the gear → wheels move!

The best part? Regenerative braking means every time the coach slows down, it puts energy BACK into the battery. Free range! 🔋♻️

The future of transport isn't just electric—it's intelligent. 🇿🇦

💬 Want me to go deeper on the Silicon-Carbide Inverter or the Thermal Management System? Drop a comment below! 👇

30/09/2026

🛑🚨 EMERGENCY STOP (E-STOP): The Button Designed to Stop Dangerous Motion Quickly! ⚙️🏭

Imagine a machine suddenly becomes dangerous:

⚙️ Rotating equipment jams
👷 A person enters a hazardous area
🔥 A machine begins behaving abnormally
💥 Mechanical failure occurs

The operator needs a way to immediately initiate the emergency stopping function.

👉 That is the purpose of an Emergency Stop (E-Stop).

🔹 What is an Emergency Stop?

An Emergency Stop is a manually operated emergency control used to initiate a function intended to stop hazardous motion or a dangerous process condition as quickly as necessary to reduce risk.

It is commonly implemented using a red actuator with a yellow background, although exact requirements depend on the applicable machinery standard and design.

🛑 E-Stop = Human-initiated emergency action to reduce an immediate hazard

⚙️ How Does an E-Stop Work?

A typical machine arrangement may be:

E-Stop Pushbutton
⬇️
🔌 Safety Relay / Safety PLC
⬇️
⚡ Contactor / Drive Safe-Torque-Off / Actuator
⬇️
🛑 Machine stops

When the E-Stop is pressed:

🔴 Button actuated
⬇️
🧠 Safety circuit detects the request
⬇️
🛑 Hazardous motion is stopped using the defined stopping method

🏭 Example: Motor-Driven Pump

Suppose an operator sees a dangerous mechanical condition.

They press:

🛑 E-STOP

The safety system may:

➡️ Remove the motor run command
➡️ Activate the required stopping function
➡️ Isolate energy where required
➡️ Indicate the emergency-stop status

The exact shutdown sequence depends on the machine/process risk assessment.

🔌 E-Stop in Industrial Automation

E-Stops may interact with:

⚙️ PLC
🛡️ Safety PLC
🔐 Safety relay
⚡ Motor contactor
🎛️ VFD
🔄 Servo drive
🚨 ESD system

For a VFD-driven motor, for example, the emergency-stop function may use a safety-rated stop function such as Safe Torque Off (STO) where appropriate.

⚠️ E-Stop vs Normal Stop

These are not the same.

🟢 Normal Stop

Used during routine operation:

Stop command → Controlled shutdown → Equipment stops

🔴 Emergency Stop

Used when an emergency situation requires rapid action:

E-Stop → Safety function → Hazardous motion/process is stopped according to the designed emergency-stop strategy

An E-Stop should not be treated as the normal operating method for stopping equipment.

🆚 E-Stop vs ESD

E-Stop:
🛑 Usually a manually initiated emergency stop associated particularly with machinery or equipment.

ESD:
🚨 A broader emergency shutdown function used in process facilities to bring equipment/process sections to a defined safe state.

An E-Stop signal may initiate an ESD action in some process facilities, but they are not automatically synonymous.

🔄 Does Pressing E-Stop Automatically Restart the Machine?

Normally, no.

After the emergency condition is cleared:

🛑 E-Stop remains actuated/latched
⬇️
🔓 E-Stop is reset
⬇️
🔍 Safety conditions verified
⬇️
▶️ A separate restart command is required

This prevents an unexpected automatic restart.

⚠️ Important Safety Principle

An E-Stop is not a substitute for risk assessment or other protective measures.

The required emergency-stop function depends on:

🔹 Hazard identification
🔹 Risk assessment
🔹 Stopping time
🔹 Stored energy
🔹 Machine/process design
🔹 Applicable standards
🔹 Required safety performance

🎯 Interview Question

What is an Emergency Stop (E-Stop)?

👉 An E-Stop is a manually initiated emergency control function designed to stop hazardous motion or a dangerous process condition as quickly as necessary to reduce risk.

💡 Remember:

🟢 Normal Stop → Routine operation

🛑 E-Stop → Emergency intervention

🚨 ESD → Emergency process shutdown

An E-Stop doesn't simply mean “turn the power off.” The stopping method must be selected according to the hazard and safety design.

🛑⚙️🏭

24/09/2026

Balwin Properties, led by South African businessman Steve Brookes, has officially left the Johannesburg Stock Exchange after 11 years as a listed company, following a R2.26 billion ($138 million) take-private deal.

The South African residential developer’s shareholders approved the transaction with 98.48% of votes, paving the way for Balwin to return to private ownership.

Investors received R4.35 ($0.26) in cash for each share on Sept. 21, while founder and CEO Stephen Brookes, Managing Director Rodney Gray and the wider management team reinvested alongside the Public Investment Corporation.

The deal comes as Balwin looks to expand a residential pipeline covering 26,334 build-to-sell apartments across Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape, while assessing another 7,700 apartments for potential build-to-rent projects.

During its years on the JSE, Balwin handed over about 26,000 apartments, generated R28.3 billion ($1.73 billion) in cumulative sales revenue and returned nearly R1 billion ($61 million) to shareholders through dividends.

📌Tap the comment below to read the full story.

24/09/2026

24/09/2026

22/09/2026

🏭 SCADA Architecture – From Field Level to Application Layer

SCADA systems provide a structured way to monitor, control, collect, and visualize process data across industrial plants.

This reference shows the four major layers of a typical SCADA architecture:

🔹 Field Layer: Transmitters, control valves, motors & other field devices
🔹 Control Layer: PLCs and RTUs for process control
🔹 Supervisory Layer: SCADA servers, redundant servers, historian & firewalls
🔹 Application Layer: HMI/operator stations, engineering stations, data visualization & reporting

Communication between these layers may involve technologies and protocols such as 4–20 mA, HART, Modbus, Profibus, Profinet, and Ethernet/TCP-IP.

📌 Save this post as a quick reference for SCADA, PLC, DCS, Instrumentation & Industrial Automation and share it with fellow engineers and technicians.

22/09/2026

What is a PLC❓

A PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) is an industrial digital control system designed to monitor input signals, execute programmed logic, and control output devices. PLCs are widely used to automate machines, production lines and industrial processes.

🔹 1. What does a PLC do?

Uses: A PLC continuously receives signals from field devices such as sensors and switches, processes those signals according to the programmed logic, and sends commands to actuators and other output devices.

The basic sequence is:

Read inputs → Execute program → Update outputs

🔹 2. Main PLC hardware

Uses: Different hardware modules perform specific functions within the control system.

Power supply: Provides the required electrical power to the PLC system.

CPU: Executes the user program and manages PLC operations.

Digital inputs (DI): Receive ON/OFF signals from switches, proximity sensors and similar devices.

Digital outputs (DO): Control discrete devices such as contactors, relays and solenoid valves.

Analog inputs (AI): Receive continuously varying signals such as 4–20 mA or voltage signals.

Analog outputs (AO): Provide variable control signals to field devices such as control valves and variable-speed drives.

🔹 3. How a PLC works

Uses: The PLC operates through a repeating scan cycle.

🔄 Input scan: The PLC reads the current states of connected input devices.

⚙️ Program ex*****on: The CPU executes the programmed control logic.

📤 Output update: The PLC updates its outputs according to the program result.

This cycle repeats continuously, allowing the PLC to respond to changing process conditions.

🔹 4. PLC input devices

Uses: Input devices provide information about the condition of the machine or process.

Examples include:

• Pressure transmitters
• Proximity sensors
• Push buttons
• Temperature transmitters
• Level switches
• Flow transmitters

🔹 5. PLC output devices

Uses: Output devices receive commands from the PLC and perform the required physical action.

Examples include:

• Contactors
• Solenoid valves
• Motors
• Control valves
• Relays
• Actuators

🔹 6. Common PLC applications

🏭 Conveyor control: Starting, stopping and sequencing conveyor systems.

💧 Pump control: Automatic pump starting, stopping and interlocking.

⚙️ Process automation: Monitoring and controlling industrial process equipment.

🤖 Machine automation: Coordinating motors, sensors, actuators and safety logic.

📌 Important engineering points

🔸 PLCs can handle both digital and analog signals.

🔸 Modular PLC systems can be expanded by adding suitable I/O and communication modules.

🔸 PLC programming allows control logic to be modified without completely rewiring the control system.

🔸 Industrial PLCs are designed for continuous operation in demanding environments.

🔸 Communication networks allow PLCs to exchange data with HMIs, SCADA systems, drives, remote I/O and other control equipment.

🎯 Engineering takeaway

A PLC acts as the control brain of an automated industrial system:

Sensors → PLC inputs → CPU/program logic → PLC outputs → Actuators → Process

Understanding this signal flow is fundamental to industrial automation, instrumentation and process control.

💬 Which PLC topic should we cover next — PLC scan cycle, PLC vs DCS, PLC ladder logic, or PLC input/output wiring?

21/09/2026

What is scada❓

SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) is a computer-based industrial automation system used to monitor, collect, visualize, record and supervise process data from field equipment, often from a central control location.

🔹 1. field devices

Field instruments and equipment measure process conditions and provide signals to the control system.

Common devices include:

🌡️ Temperature transmitters
💧 Flow meters
📏 Level transmitters
pressure transmitters
⚙️ Control valves
🔌 Sensors and actuators

These devices continuously provide information such as pressure, temperature, flow, level and equipment status.

🔹 2. PLC / RTU

PLCs (Programmable Logic Controllers) and RTUs (Remote Terminal Units) interface with field devices.

Their typical functions include:

⚙️ Receiving signals from field instruments
🔄 Converting and processing signals
🧠 Executing programmed control logic
📡 Communicating process data to the SCADA system
🚨 Initiating configured control actions and alarms

🔹 3. communication network

The communication network transfers information between field/control devices and SCADA servers or workstations.

Common communication technologies include:

🌐 Ethernet
📻 Radio
📶 Wi-Fi
📱 Cellular communication
🔵 Fiber-optic communication

The actual communication protocol depends on the system architecture and equipment.

🔹 4. SCADA system

The central SCADA layer provides operators with a graphical view of the process.

It can provide:

🖥️ Real-time process visualization through HMI
📊 Trends and historical data
🚨 Alarm and event management
💾 Data logging and historian functions
🎛️ Supervisory control commands
📄 Reports and operational information

⚙️ key functions of SCADA

🖥️ Real-time monitoring — Displays current process conditions.

🎛️ Supervisory control — Allows authorized operators to issue control commands.

🚨 Alarm management — Alerts operators when configured process conditions or equipment states require attention.

📊 Data logging & historization — Records process information for later analysis.

📄 Reporting — Generates operational and production reports.

🌐 Communication — Connects geographically distributed equipment and control systems.

🏭 typical applications

🛢️ Oil & gas production and pipelines

🧪 Chemical and petrochemical plants

⚡ Power generation and distribution

💧 Water and wastewater treatment

🏗️ Tank farms and terminals

🏭 Manufacturing facilities

⛏️ Mining and mineral processing

✅ important benefits

🔹 Centralized process visibility

🔹 Faster identification of abnormal conditions

🔹 Historical data for troubleshooting and analysis

🔹 Remote monitoring of distributed assets

🔹 Improved operational coordination

🔹 Better maintenance and performance analysis

🔹 Support for process reporting and regulatory requirements

🔄 basic SCADA data flow

Field instruments → PLC/RTU → Communication network → SCADA server → HMI/operator

The reverse direction is also possible for authorized supervisory commands:

Operator/HMI → SCADA → PLC/RTU → Control equipment

💡 engineering takeaway:

SCADA acts as a supervisory layer connecting plant-floor data with operators and higher-level information systems. It does not necessarily replace the local control functions performed by PLCs, RTUs or dedicated controllers; instead, it provides centralized monitoring, data acquisition, alarms, visualization and supervisory control.

💬 Where is SCADA most important in your work—oil & gas, chemical processing, power plants, water treatment, or manufacturing? Share your experience in the comments.

28/04/2026

South Africa’s 2026 Economic Pivot: Restoring Credibility and Regaining Footing 🇿🇦

As we move through 2026, the South African economy is at an "important turning point."

For the first time in 17 years, public debt is expected to stabilize as a share of GDP (at 78.9%), signaling a systemic shift from stagnation toward structural recovery.
Here are the four key pillars defining the 2026 outlook:

1. Growth Driven by Reform The National Treasury projects economic growth of 1.6% for 2026, an upward revision supported by a lower inflation target of 3% and improved fiscal credibility that has already secured South Africa’s first credit-rating upgrade in 16 years.

2. The R1-Trillion Infrastructure Push The government has committed to spending more than R1 trillion on public-sector infrastructure over the medium term.

A significant portion is targeting the "TNT" framework of reconfiguration:
Transnet’s logistics overhaul (Port of Durban Pier 2 and rail open access).

NTCSA’s energy market liberalization to end monopolies.
Track-and-Trace (T&T) technological offensive by SARS to reclaim R20B–R30B lost annually to illicit trade.

3. An SME-Friendly Fiscal Environment To support small businesses, the VAT registration threshold has more than doubled to R2.3 million, effectively removing thousands of SMEs from the compliance net.

Additionally, R20 billion in proposed tax hikes were scrapped, providing critical breathing room for industrial operators facing margin compression.

4. Tourism as a Countercyclical Engine Tourism has emerged as a powerhouse, with international arrivals exceeding pre-pandemic levels (10.5 million in 2025).

The sector now contributes 4.9% to 9% of GDP and supports nearly one million direct jobs, stepping in where traditional industries have faced headwinds.

What this means for Industrial 4IR: At Touch New Technologies, we see 2026 as the year to deploy "4IR infrastructure with 5IR intent." [Conversation History] With the stabilization of the national grid and the release of high-value spectrum for 5G, the foundation is ready for Agentic Manufacturing.

The window to achieve our SAAM 2035 targets is narrow, but with debt stabilizing and infrastructure investment flowing, the "implementation test" of 2026 will determine South Africa’s competitiveness for the next decade.

How is your organization navigating this economic pivot? 👇