DRDO, ISRO To Help Develop Alternatives Like Metal-Ion To Counter China Dominated Lithium Battery Industry

In an effort to decrease the dependence on lithium ion batteries, an industry dominated by China, the Modi government is focusing on encouraging research on new technologies such as metal-ion and metal-air batteries, reports The Times of India.

In this regard, the ministry of road transport plans to rope in agencies such as Defence Research Development Organization (DRDO), Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and IIT, Kanpur to carry out research.

It is reported that the Union road transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari has called a high level meeting to prepare a road map for other options of high quality batteries for vehicles other than lithium-ion technology.

Earlier in January, Minister Nitin Gadkari stressed the need to emerge as pioneers in developing leading battery and power-train technologies.

Noting that the challenge we presently face is the control on strategic reserves of Lithium, which is used to manufacture Lithium-ion rechargeable batteries for electric vehicles (EV), the Minister has called upon the EV sector to shift towards a completely indigenous battery technology in the coming years. This could be metal-air, metal-ion and other potential technologies in the research and development pipeline.

In November 2020, the Union Cabinet had approved the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for 10 “key sectors”, including telecom, electronics, solar PV and advanced chemistry cell (ACC) battery manufacturing.

The PLI scheme for the battery sector (ACC) is aimed at primarily incentivizing manufacturing of newer technology batteries, starting with Lithium ion. ACC batteries are rechargeable batteries that can be used in consumer electronics, electric vehicles and renewable energy.

The PLI scheme for the battery sector (ACC) received an impressive allocation of Rs 18,100 crores.