ISRO to share technology for manufacturing of Lithium-ion batteries for production of electric vehicles

The government has directed the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to share battery technology for mass production of Lithium-Ion batteries for electric vehicles. The Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre under ISRO has developed indigenous technology to manufacture high-power batteries for use in two- and three-wheelers and their feasibility tests conducted by the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) was found to be successful. This development is expected to push India’s electric vehicles (EV) industry.
It has been reported that many major automobile companies, battery manufacturers and public sector undertakings like Indian Oil, BHEL, Mahindra Renault, Hyundai, Nissan, Tata Motors, High Energy Batteries have approached ISRO for transfer of the battery technology so that it will enable them to produce indigenous Lithium-Ion batteries.
ISRO is soon expected to come up with a framework to make the transfer process smooth. A MoU for manufacturing batteries is expected to be soon reached between ISRO and BHEL. The cabinet secretariat has asked ISRO to develop an enabling framework to enable even interested private players to obtain the technology for mass production.

Need

Batteries are the key components for the production of electric vehicles. But, at present Lithium-ion batteries are imported from abroad which makes them very expensive. Lithium ion batteries have the advantage of being less weight, having high power, and less volume in comparison to conventional batteries. As per the government documents, bulk procurement and mass production of such batteries can reduce the cost by almost 80%. This will push the demand for such batteries and keep their prices within the reach of Indian customers.
The government strives to push for the production of more electric vehicles in order to reduce air pollution, which has become one of the biggest health concerns in recent times.

Month: Current Affairs - April, 2017