Govt directive asks ISRO to share Lithium-ion batteries manufacturing technology with private players

Key takeaways

The Indian Government has directed ISRO to share Lithium-ion battery manufacturing technology with private automobile manufacturers.

ISRO's Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre has developed Lithium-ion batteries that have passed multiple tests and are already in use for space missions.

Major automotive companies have expressed interest in utilising ISRO's battery technology to enhance electric vehicle production.

The shift to indigenous battery production aims to reduce costs associated with importing batteries for electric vehicles.

The initiative is expected to boost competition and increase the availability of affordable electric vehicles in the market.

In a recent directive by the Indian Government, it has asked Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) to share the technology for mass production of Lithium-ion batteries with local automobile manufacturers manufacturing electric vehicles. Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) under ISRO has successfully developed lithium-ion batteries for use in electric vehicles and government has requested the esteemed organization to make the information accessible even to private players so as to boost the production further. The indigenously developed batteries have already cleared multiple rounds of test and are being used to power satellites and other space missions. Major automobile giants, battery manufacturers and public undertakings such as Mahindra Renault, Hyundai, Nissan, Tata Motors, High Energy Batteries, BHEL have approached ISRO, who are keen on utilizing the lithium-ion batteries. The current practice includes these automobile manufacturers having to import lithium-ion batteries making the final product expensive. The availability of indigenous development of technology would ensure a major cost cutting hence rolling out cheaper and effective electric vehicles. The end result of this directive is intended at mass production of batteries, hence increasing competition and bringing down the prices further. The experts believe that bulk production of these batteries can lower the prices by up to 80 percent, making it affordable to larger base. The government is also keen on boosting the sale of electric vehicles to combat the problem of air pollution. It is quite disappointing that most of the Indian cities are the most polluted cities worldwide and the government is hoping that adoption of eco-friendly options like lithium battery can address pollution in a larger way. While addressing the meeting, Nitin Gadkari, Union road transport minister said that the cabinet secretary has asked ISRO to create a framework allowing interested private players to avail the technology for mass production at the earliest.

Govt directive asks ISRO to share Lithium-ion batteries manufacturing technology with private players

Key takeaways

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