: IIT-M Researchers Develop Made-in-India EV Batteries 3 Times Cheaper Than Li-ion Cells #IndiaNEWS #Electric Vehicles In a significant development for the electric mobility and the larger stationary

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IIT-M Researchers Develop Made-in-India EV Batteries 3 Times Cheaper Than Li-ion Cells #IndiaNEWS #Electric Vehicles
In a significant development for the electric mobility and the larger stationary battery storage ecosystem in India, researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, are developing mechanically-rechargeable zinc-air batteries as an alternative to lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries.
(Image above of Dr. Aravind Kumar Chandiran (Centre), Assistant Professor, Department of Chemical Engineering, IIT Madras, and the research team with zinc air)
After filing for patents, these researchers under Dr Aravind Kumar Chandiran, assistant professor at the Department of Chemical Engineering, IIT-Madras, are collaborating with major industries to develop these zinc-air batteries. Compared to existing Li-ion batteries, the researchers at IIT-Madras claim that their zinc air counterparts have a long shelf life, are cheaper, safer and can be used in both two and three-wheeler electric vehicles (EVs).
“In our laboratory at IIT-Madras, we have invented low-cost and safe metal-air battery systems and that metal is based on zinc. These metal-air batteries are nearly three times cheaper even at the scale at which we have developed them. Also, the technology has been developed in-house. We have abundant amounts of zinc within the country, which makes it unique. India will own the technology and have the safest technology for its next-generation energy storage systems. These batteries can potentially be used in EVs for low powered applications like two-wheelers and three-wheelers and also stationary energy storage systems,� says Dr Chandiran.
“Speaking of stationary energy storage, solar energy is available during the daytime, and that energy peaks around midday and weans off towards the end of the day. To store that excess energy which is available at mid-day, we use batteries. So far we have options based on lead-acid or lithium-ion battery technologies. But India doesnt own any of these technologies, so we will have to move to our in-house technologies with resources available domestically. Zinc is found abundantly in India and we are also one of its largest producers,� he adds.
Coming back to EVs, Li-ion batteries are currently the most popular choice. However, countries like China are dominating the global Li-ion battery manufacturing sector. Many OEMs in India import their Li-ion battery cells either from China, South Korea or Western Europe because battery-grade lithium isn’t widely available in India. Further, the diverse requirements of the Indian market cannot be fully met by lithium-ion batteries alone.
“Our research group is developing a futuristic model for zinc-air batteries for EVs. Through this research, we are also identifying shortcomings in existing technology and finding ways to address them.

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