The desi lithium-ion battery can bring down the cost of various cell-powered systems, including electric vehic... Read More

CHENNAI: Production of indigenously developed lithium-ion battery that can bring down the cost of various cell-powered systems, including electric vehicles, was launched here on Tuesday.

Tamil Nadu governor Banwarilal Purohit inaugurated the lithium-ion cells production, at a function held at CSIR Madras Complex in Taramani here.

The technology, developed by scientists at CSIR-Central Electro Chemical Research Institute in Karaikudi , was taken up for commercial production by Bengaluru-based Raasi Solar Private Limited.

“Lead acid batteries that cost around Rs 7,000 lasts only six months, but a lithium ion battery that costs Rs 30,000 can last eight years,” said Raasi chairman C Narasimhan.

The company, which has already been in the renewable energy sector, is planning to produce rechargeable batteries for storage of solar energy and to power electric vehicles.

The company is planning to set up a 1 GW solar energy plant, a cell manufacturing plant and a lithium ion battery recycling plant near Hosur .

B C Datta, vice-president, corporate affairs, Hyundai Motors India, said indigenous production of batteries would bring down the production cost of electric vehicles. At present, batteries take up 30% of the cost of an electric vehicle.

So far, India has been importing lithium-ion batteries from countries like Korea, the US and Germany.

