(This story originally appeared in on Jul 18, 2017)

NEW DELHI: Giving thrust to the Centre's ambitious green vehicle project, Indian Space Research Organisation ( Isro ) has approved commercial use of its indigenously developed lithium-ion battery .The space agency has agreed to transfer the technology , originally meant for space applications, at a cost to industries for mass production of e-vehicles. Use of Isro's indigenous battery technology is bound to reduce the cost of e-vehicles, whose manufacture is currently dependent on costly , imported parts.The highly efficient battery , developed by Isro's Thiruvananthapuram-based Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), is currently used in satellites and launch vehicles like GSLV and PSLV VSSC director Dr K Sivan said, “It's a high-energy battery that has a long cycle of charging and recharging. Because of its high-energy density characteristics, these lithium batteries are used in satellites as a source of power for 10-15 years. The batteries provide power to a satellite in space through multiple recharges (1,500 cycles of recharging). In rockets, the battery is used to power the electrical system till a vehicle launches a satellite in orbit.““VSSC has developed four types of cells --1.5Ah, 5Ah, 50Ah and 100Ah. Of these, Isro has allowed Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI-a governmentapproved vehicle testing body) to use 50Ah and 100Ah cells for developing prototypes of an e-scooter and an ecar, respectively ,“ he added.The first of these lithiumbattery prototypes was installed on an electric two wheeler and unveiled at ARAI in Pune early this year.Commercial use of these batteries will cut the cost of production of e-vehicles and help reduce air pollution.“The government is currently working on modalities, including pricing, for transferring Isro's battery technology to industries to facilitate mass production of the green vehicle project,“ Sivan said.Isro will also soon sign an MoU with Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd BHEL ) for technology transfer so that the public sector undertaking can start mass production of these batteries for space applications.Gsat-19, launched by Isro's `Baahubali' GSLV Mk-III on June 5 this year, is uses “this indigenously developed lithium battery ,“ Sivan said.