Start-ups make big strides in battery technology in India

Source:https://www.energybite.co.in/blog-post/start-ups-make-big-strides-in-battery-technology-in-india/

Though EVs are gradually gaining sales momentum, they are still to win the trust of an average Indian consumer. Reasons for that are aplenty, the primary one being range anxiety. Thankfully enough, many start-ups are working successfully in the field of battery technology and development of an advanced battery pack with better range and faster charging system.

With drastic fall in the prices of electric vehicles in the country, the market, of late, has seen signs of pick-up. However, these green vehicles still remain beyond the reach of the middle-class Indian whose primary choice for commute is a fuel-based vehicle. The automobile industry, in that sense, has still a long way to go before winning the trust of an average Indian consumer.

Range anxiety is one of the main reasons for the lack of trust in an electric vehicle. Earlier, most EVs used to give a maximum range of 100 km on full charge; and even though it has gone up to 200 km now with advanced battery packs, it’s not comfortable enough for a consumer. Low range limits the use of EVs within the city and the vehicle is just not preferred for long trips or drive across cities. A much more developed EV charging infrastructure along with an advanced battery management system (BMS) is the need of the hour.

A developed EV charging infrastructure along with an advanced battery management system (BMS) is the need of the hour.

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• Ion Energy, one of the start-ups, has a software-first approach to improve the battery life and performance of an EV battery.
• Chennai-based Grinntech works on li-Ion cell technology and supplies li-Ion battery packs to multiple EV manufacturers in the country.
• Gegadyne Energy in Mumbai has a patented technology that offers high-energy density and longer lifecycles than lithium-Ion batteries.

Battery technology is the centrepiece of the EV ecosystem and a lot needs to be done in that arena. The Government has been pushing the sale of EVs with various incentives and tax benefits. As a result, a number of start-ups have emerged with the sole purpose of carrying out R&D in the field of EV battery technology and development of an advanced battery pack with better range and faster charging system.

Ion Energy, one of the start-ups, focuses on battery design, battery data analytics and development of BMS. It has a software-first approach to improve the battery life and performance of an EV battery. Log9 Materials is another leading start-up in the field of nanotechnology and the largest manufacturer of graphene. Chennai-based Grinntech works on li-Ion cell technology and supplies li-Ion battery packs to multiple EV manufacturers in the country.

Yet another start-up, Lohum Cleantech based in Delhi, provides battery lifecycle solutions such as first-life battery packs, second-life battery packs and end-of-life material extraction. Gegadyne Energy in Mumbai has a patented technology that offers high-energy density and longer lifecycles than lithium-Ion batteries and recharges an EV battery from 0 to 100 per cent in just 15 minutes.

Besides these, there are many other start-ups which are focussed on indigenous battery design and manufacturing, repurposing of used batteries for second life applications and development of supporting software and firmware for BMS. All these start-ups and emerging technologies are sure to prove a boon for the electric-future dream of the Government of India.