New Delhi: With the growing demand for EVs, shortage of lithium, stress on the provision chains, and the -term prosperity of the trade, potential options to the traditional lithium-ion and lead-acid battery applied sciences are quick rising. Technologies like sodium-ion battery chemistries are being labored upon and consultants recommend that the trade may even see it in manufacturing earlier than anticipated.Pune-based KPIT Technologies on Tuesday showcased its sodium-ion battery technology. Developed during the last eight years, it’s within the remaining stage of improvement now.

The expertise has been examined internally in a smaller group. In its subsequent section (6-9 months), it will likely be examined on choose automobiles externally, after which it will likely be totally commercialized.

“Typically, a technology company takes the technology to Level-7 of testing and validation stage, which involves extensive testing in a small environment. We have done that. The next stage is testing in the external environment in large volumes, which will now happen with a manufacturing partner,” Ravi Pandit, co-founder and chairman, KPIT Technologies, stated.

Depending on the automobile section, about 40% to 60% of the price of an EV is its battery. From a expertise perspective, the principle metrics in a battery contain its cycle life and affordability.

Pandit famous that the general price of a sodium-ion battery could be “up to 30% cheaper than a lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery”.

Sodium-ion chemistry additionally permits the battery to cost quicker, to “almost 100% in 20 minutes, and still get a long life”, a bonus that would probably make the expertise very aggressive and value efficient.

Another benefit is that the sodium-ion battery EVs have much less probabilities of hearth hazards throughout transportation as they haven’t any over-discharge traits. This means they are often allowed to discharge to zero volts. But, full discharge in lithium-ion batteries can degrade them.

“We were thinking that we must do something which will give us leadership over a period of time,” Pandit stated.

Set to be licensed throughout the subsequent 12-18 months, the sodium-ion expertise is anticipated to generate income for KPIT solely after a yr, although part of the income might come from the preliminary testing section.

KPIT can also be in talks with the present auto trade gamers and people concerned in different use instances of vitality storage, he stated.

In September, the Union Cabinet authorised the scheme for viability hole funding (VGF) for the creation of a sturdy storage system for the surplus wind and solar energy produced. A complete of 4,000 megawatt hours (MWh) of Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) tasks will likely be developed by FY31 underneath the scheme, which makes a possible case for sodium-ion batteries to seize this market.

According to Pandit, KPIT is the primary firm in India to launch the expertise, and solely fourth on this planet to own a confirmed expertise answer for sodium-ion battery storage.

Globally, battery giants together with world’s largest lithium-ion battery producer, China’s Contemporary Amperex Technology (CATL) are investing and figuring out sodium-ion battery applied sciences. CATL earlier introduced that its first mass-produced sodium-ion batteries would debut in EVs from Chery Auto

BYD is transferring ahead with its plans to start producing sodium-ion batteries in China. It lately showcased a automobile working on sodium ion battery that’s anticipated to enter manufacturing from this calendar yr.

Swedish agency Northvolt has additionally developed a sodium-ion battery. UK-based Faradion, now acquired by Reliance Industries, claims to have put in its first sodium-ion battery in Australia in December 2022.

Chinese EV maker JAC showcased an EV powered by a less expensive sodium-ion battery which might assist cut back the price of future EVs by 10%.

Most different firms are within the expertise readiness stage. As the manufacturing reaches scale, one might anticipate the sodium-ion battery expertise to solely enhance.