The Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) is set to unveil a lithium-ion battery for the automotive industry this week.
ARAI, along with the Indian Space Research Organisation’s Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, developed the prototype for two-wheelers.
If successful the packs will be developed for other electric mobility applications.
The battery is due to be revealed on the opening day of the four-day Symposium on International Automotive Technology, starting on January 18, reports the Times of India.
Testing of the prototype will involve it being used as a replacement for a lead-acid battery in an existing electric vehicle.
It is understood the raw material and lithium-ion cells were imported.
“ISRO has been developing the technology for space research and we are now attempting to adopt it for automotive sector,” Rashmi Urdhwareshe, director, ARAI, told the Times.
“The basic purpose is to demonstrate the battery technology, which can be picked up by manufacturers. The recharging time will go down substantially and the space needed for this will be less.”
India currently imports its all of its lithium-ion batteries electric vehicles.
But this latest move is a step toward India becoming self-reliant when it comes to lithium-ion battery production, and having to rely less on other countries.
Last June, the Central Electrochemical Research Institute (CECRI), Karaikudi in Tamil Nadu, set up the country’s first lithium-ion making facility.
In the past, both Pansonic and Delta have announced plans to manufacture lithium-ion batteries in India.
