First made in India lithium ion battery on it’s way, a step towards self reliance

[cirr]

India‘s hardly left the starting block。

India's got a long long long way to go。

First made in India lithium ion battery on it’s way, a step towards self reliance



31 May 2016 , 18:49

In a step towards self-reliance to meet defence requirements and to cut the dependence on imports, especially from China, India is all set to produce its first lithium ion (Li-ion) battery. The Central Electrochemical Research Institute (CECRI), Karaikudi in Tamil Nadu, has set up the first indigenous Li-ion fabrication facility that has applications in defence, solar powered devices, railways and other high end usages. The facility is to start industrial level production in two months.

“It’s the first time that we will have our own technology and potential to produce Li-ion batteries domestically. This would help in cutting costs as well as our dependence on the foreign market,” professor Vijayamohan K. Pillai, CECRI Director, told IANS. CECRI is part of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). “In two months we will attain capacity to produce at least 100 batteries in a day at our lab,” he added.

Over 33 billion Li-ion batteries are used globally. China, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and some Western countries are the major manufacturers of lithium ion batteries. India has one billion users of lithium ion batteries, mostly used in mobiles and laptops. CECRI has also invited investors for mass production(so mass production is still an issue).

According to experts, mass production of indigenous Li-ion batteries would reduce the cost manifold as compared to the imported batteries. “Imported batteries are very expensive. The domestic programme can bring the price down”. For now, 100 percent of Li-ion batteries or cells are imported. “Some investors have already shown interest. A Canada-based NRI is willing to install a plant in India. On June 3, we have (former DRDO chief) V.K. Saraswat visiting our fabrication facility. His visit gives hope for good investments,” Pillai said.

The CECRI technology includes solution for a 400 mAh (milliampere hour) battery to power solar lanterns. The other versions have different user-end capabilities, including heating power tools and those used in firing torpedoes, for which India procures batteries from France. “The application is also for railway lighting and signalling, for which Indian Railway majorly uses lead acid batteries which are polluting. Railways also use Li-ion batteries which are imported and expensive,” Pillai said.

However, domestic manufacture of Li-ion batteries for laptops and mobile phones still seems a distant dream. “For laptops and mobiles, we have a long way to go（but Li-ion batteries for laptops and mobiles are at the lowest end of Li-ion batteries. If you are years from making your own Li-ion batteres for mobile devices，you are decades from making Li-ion batteries for electric vehicles）. Although there’s a plan, we must understand that we for now don’t have that kind of expertise here and depend on China, Japan and Taiwan. They have several years’ head-start,” said Pillai.

He added that even if India produces its own Li-ion batteries for laptops and mobiles, “we will not be able to justify the cost”. Beside Li-ion, to cope with India’s ambitious clean energy programme, CECRI is also working on indigenous “zinc bromide redox flow battery”, with target capacity of 500 Watts. “This is for the grid level storage of energy harnessed from solar and wind energy. The target is 2022. However, we will have something to show by two years,” said Pillai.

http://tech.firstpost.com/news-anal...step-towards-self-reliance-317950.html:chilli:

 

[cirr]

This is still bascially a research endeavor.

Does the fab facility in question make battery cells, modules, and/or PACKs with its own BMS？

Or the facility simply makes batteries/PACKs using imported cells and BMS？

 

[proud_indian]

India‘s hardly left the starting block。

you are decades from making Li-ion batteries for electric vehicles）:

ISRO-ARAI’s lithium-ion battery technology to be ready in 2017
Published April 23, 2016
SOURCE: AUTOCAR

The drive to indigenously develop lithium ion battery technology for automotive applications in India is on track and will be ready as early as mid-2017, say ARAI officials. Local development of expensive lithium ion battery technology, specifically for automotive applications, got a boost when last year Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways, and his team of advisors initiated discussions with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

ISRO is known to have access to lithium ion technology for space applications, which, as experts say, are characterised by high-end specifications as compared to the ones suitable for automotive industry. ISRO and ARAI (Automotive Research Association of India) have been working on a joint project undertaken to develop lithium ion technology capability indigenously.

Talking exclusively to Autocar Professional in this context on the sidelines of the ongoing Automotive Testing Expo 2016 in Chennai, Mrs Rashmi Urdhwareshe, director, ARAI, said, “This is a joint project with ISRO. They already have access to lithium ion battery technology, which they use for space applications. For automotive, we would like to lower down the specifications as well as have it more suitable for the relevant duty cycles. This is our job. ISRO, on the other hand, has the right chemistry and technology that can translate into compact lithium ion battery systems.”

ISRO is learnt to have delivered a cell-level (lithium-ion) prototype to ARAI, which was being tested for the automotive duty cycles at the latter’s facility in Pune.

The automotive research authority has compiled a report with its inputs on suitable specifications required for automotive applications. These inputs are now shared with ISRO.

Disclosing the latest updates on this, Mrs Urdhwareshe added, “The next step would be to reduce the specifications, use indigenously developed materials and also to make it cost effective, which is our primary objective. This is what is being done now. It is a very promising project. About components that are used in the lithium ion batteries such as chemistry, packaging and other specifications related to energy density, we are working upon jointly. This was a complete one-year project of which 50-60 percent or 6 months are already over. We will be sending the final report to ISRO on which they will work upon and then they will submit us (the technology with) revised specifications.”

Prototype testing and validation by end-2016

ARAI expects to have the lithium ion cells (put together to form battery packs) with proper improvised automotive specifications from ISRO to run final prototype testing and validation processes by end-2016. These final stages may take a few months before the authority makes formal announcements.

“Yes, we will by then have the cells with relevant device specifications. We will then package these cells into battery packs using our own battery management system (BMS). We are developing our own BMS. We also have a target electric vehicle on which we will try the first actual locally developed (lithium ion) battery prototype. After these tests, we will be more confident in announcing the final product development and battery technology. It could be another year or so before it could even enter commercial production here,” stated the senior ARAI official.

The road ahead

This development clearly signals the readiness of the first ever indigenously developed lithium ion battery technology put together for automotive industry applications as early as the Q2 CY2017. ARAI will then scout for technology partners from the industry for proper technology sharing that will involve setting up a manufacturing facility and commercial production of automotive batteries for electric and hybrid vehicles.

Commenting on commercial production of lithium ion batteries in India, Mrs Urdhwareshe said: “Once the design is proven, we will look for a technology partner who can do the commercialisation because neither ISRO nor ARAI are organisations that can commercialise the production of products. So this would be done through incubation or other ways.”

Existing battery manufacturing companies such as Exide Industries, Amara Raja Batteries, HBL Power Systems, Base Corporation and others could be the potential players reviewing the prospects of venturing into Li-ion battery project for the automotive industry.

Industry experts, however, point out that while the local production will certainly bring down the costs associated with the lithium ion batteries, the demand forecast and the drive to create suitable infrastructure of charging stations across regions will solely dictate the willingness of private companies to make investments in this area.

The basic lithium ion cell prototypes being developed are suitable for small passenger cars. However, according to ARAI, these cells are capable of being integrated into larger battery packs for bigger or smaller vehicle types.

 

[Sky Scraper]

Slowly India is finding its destination

 

[proud_indian]

Lithium ion battery capability developing in India

by Shobha Mathur Dec 24, 2015
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Prime minister Narendra Modi flags off the smart electric bus, at Parliament House, in New Delhi on December 21. Photo: PIB

Lithium ion battery capability is finally being developed in India to bring costs down and make such batteries cost effective for mass production of electric vehicles (EVs). This was revealed today by Nitin Gadkari, Union minister for Road Transport and Highways at the inauguration of the first Electric Vehicle Expo 2015 at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi.

Gadkari recounted how, on a visit to London, he had travelled in an Ashok Leyland-owned Optare electric bus around the city and on enquiring was told that the lithium ion battery powering the bus cost Rs 55 lakh. On returning to India, he asked ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation), which is developing lithium ion batteries for rockets and satellites, to develop one for four-wheelers, e-rickshaws and buses.

Six months later, the lithium ion battery was patented after being tested by the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI). The development cost is estimated at Rs 5-6 lakh. Three electric buses have been fitted with these batteries.
The first of the batteries was fitted in the electric bus flagged off by the Prime Minister at the Parliament for transporting members on December 21 (pictured above). Two more electric buses have been developed, one for the Supreme Court and the other for the Road Transport and Highways department.

The minister said he has requested the prime minister to allow these lithium ion batteries to be manufactured by the small scale sector in the country.

Gadkari also spoke about briefing vehicle manufacturers about developing flex fuel technology cars, similar to those being used in Brazil, to reduce pollution and to enable a more cost-effective transportation system in the country.

He has also asked Chinese companies participating in the EV Expo 2015 (December 25-27 in Delhi) to ink joint ventures with Indian firms to develop e-rickshaws and e-carts as well as other EVs while adhering to standards and quality.
Smart electric bus uses KPIT tech

The smart electric bus, which was flagged off by prime minister Narendra Modi on December 21, employs indigenous technology developed by the India-headquartered global technology company, KPIT.

Central Institute of Road Transport (CIRT) has partnered for this project to validate and ensure that the electric bus technology is safe, reliable, and well suited for Indian road conditions. KPIT says the smart electric bus enables clean mobility and is aligned with the Indian government’s initiatives of Make in India, Smart Cities and Swachh Bharat.
This full electric system for buses can be deployed to create new intelligent electric buses, as well as convert existing conventional fuel buses. It is a versatile system and a variety of existing bus types can be converted to electric buses. KPIT has over 20 global patents for this technology.

http://www.autocarpro.in/news-national/lithium-ion-battery-capability-developing-india-9979

Government looks at retrofitted electric buses to curb pollution

by Autocar Pro News Desk Dec 22, 2015
PM attends demonstration of first prototype of retrofitted electric bus
​

​

Prime minister Narendra Modi at a function showcasing a retrofitted electric bus at Parliament House, in New Delhi on December 21. Photo courtesy: Press Information Bureau

A lot has been said about the rising menace of pollution in Indian cities of late and it goes without saying that the problem has amplified with growing levels of industrialisation, vehicle population and relentless construction work over the past decade.

The recent intervention by the Supreme Court to ban diesel vehicles with engines above 2,000cc in the Delhi-NCR region points out to the urgent need of addressing the issue and the government, led by prime minister Narendra Modi, has now called for finding alternate solutions to the dependence of vehicles on fossil fuels in the country.

In line with this, PM Modi attended the demonstration of the first prototype of a diesel bus converted into a battery operated electric bus at a function in the Parliament on Monday. Speaking on the occasion, he said that pollution has become a matter of grave concern in our everyday lives and finding a solution to this problem is a major challenge today.

Referring to the recently concluded COP 21 meet in Paris, the prime minister lauded two of its major initiatives aimed at promoting green energy – one on innovation and the other on the Global Solar Alliance of 120 countries. He said the cost- effective, environmentally clean, electric buses are a significant step in the direction of combating pollution. He called the retrofitted electric buses a new gift from ‘Make in India’ and called upon the youth to come forward to make cost-efficient, long-lasting batteries to promote the making of more such electric buses which can be incorporated in our public transport system.

The prime minister presented the keys of the first retrofitted bus to the Speaker Sumitra Mahajan who was also present on the occasion. The bus is proposed to be used by members of Parliament.

Smart electric bus uses KPIT tech

The smart electric bus, which was flagged off by prime minister Narendra Modi on December 21, employs indigenous technology developed by the India-headquartered global technology company, KPIT.

Central Institute of Road Transport (CIRT) has partnered for this project to validate and ensure that the electric bus technology is safe, reliable, and well suited for Indian road conditions. KPIT says the smart electric bus enables clean mobility and is aligned with the Indian government’s initiatives of Make in India, Smart Cities and Swachh Bharat.
This full electric system for buses can be deployed to create new intelligent electric buses, as well as convert existing conventional fuel buses. It is a versatile system and a variety of existing bus types can be converted to electric buses. KPIT has over 20 global patents for this technology.

Commenting on the occasion, Ravi Pandit, co-founder, chairman and Group CEO of KPIT, said: “KPIT is focused on enabling green and intelligent public transportation in India. Our indigenously built Intelligent Transport Solution (ITS) is implemented in 4000+ buses and running in 19 states in India. The Smart Electric Bus showcased today is a robust, pollution-free and affordable public transportation system that can be deployed at a very large scale across India. Through such technologies we are very happy to contribute in the government’s vision for Smart Cities and Make in India.”

​

Prime minister Narendra Modi speaking on the new retrofitted electric buses R&D project by CIRT and KPIT, supported by the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways. Also seen are Speaker of Lok Sabha Sumitra Mahajan; minister of parlimentary affairs & urban development, Venkaiah Naidu; minister of road transport & highways, Nitin Gadkari; minister of state, Prakash Javadekar; and Ravi Pandit, co-founder, chairman and Group CEO, KPIT.

Nitin Gadkari, minister of Road Transport & Highways, said that the cost effective, pollution-free and import substituting retrofitted electric buses demonstrate the government’s commitment towards ‘Make in India’ and its resolve for fighting vehicular pollution.

Gadkari also shared the government’s plan of developing lithium-ion batteries, with ISRO, which will cost only Rs 500,000 as against the current price of Rs 50 lakh for imported batteries. He called upon parliamentarians to make maximum use of the retrofitted buses and make them popular.

In order to fight the growing pollution that results from emissions from diesel buses, the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways has taken up an initiative of converting existing diesel buses into non-polluting electric buses. Procurement of new electric buses is on the agenda of various State Transport undertakings. In this context the converted buses would be very useful as they would cost about one-fourth of the cost of a new electric bus.

The converted buses are part of a pilot project of Central Institute of Road Transport (CIRT). The prototype has been developed by KPIT, Pune with consultations from CIRT. The technology has been wholly developed in India. Ten more buses are proposed to be retrofitted for use by State Transport Undertakings by March 2016. Large scale conversions of diesel buses to electric will be taken up after evaluating the success of the pilot project.

http://www.autocarpro.in/news-national/government-looks-retrofitted-electric-buses-curb-pollution-9963

 

[Manindra]

BS Title.
BHEL developed Lithiom - Ion batteries for satalites for ISRO which are alredy operational. @gslv mk3

 

[cirr]

China makes some 97% of all the electric buses in the world。

China rules。

Buses and batteries: a rising sector

31 May 2016

Lindsay Dodgson

The electric bus market has been singled out as a potential game changer for battery development, due to growing e-bus demand and the need for sizeable batteries to power them. A new report by Victoria Adesanya-Aworinde at IDTechEx Research highlights the future and prospects of this industry, as well as the significant role being played by China.

Battery technology has traditionally lagged behind the innovative ideas that surround it. However, the electric bus market could be changing this, as the demand for more effective and efficient batteries increases.

Lithium-ion batteries are often used in consumer electronics, such as smartphones, but there has been a big jump in the demand for higher capacity batteries thanks to the electric vehicle industry. IDTechEx technology analyst Victoria Adesanya-Aworinde says that the market has "grown remarkably well".

"In our forecasts we predict that by 2020, the lithium-ion battery market for electric buses is going to overtake consumer electronics," she says. "[This] is a large accessible market for lithium-ion batteries at the moment."

New niches power interest

Adesanya-Aworinde says that 2015 was a very good year for lithium-ion batteries, because new niche-driven markets are appearing, such as the electric buses and the hybridisation of marine vessels.

These vehicles require massive battery capacities compared to electronics. The energy needs vary a lot between buses, from smaller 50kWh to over 300kWh depending whether they are fast charging or slow charging, Adesanya-Aworinde says. Marine vessels even reach 1,000kWh per instalment.

"Because of this huge project, although they're not produced in mass volume, as one will compare to consumer electronics, the large capacity makes them a large accessible market for lithium-ion batteries," she says. "So at the moment it's doing extremely great. Now the question is, is it going to remain that way?"

"The battery market is doing great, but is it going to remain that way?"

Worldwide sales of e-buses have been growing at a rate of 20% a year. This mounting interest means that sizable batteries are needed to power them, to keep up with the electricity demand. This has created an emerging market for large sized batteries, and according to IDTechEx Research report, the market could grow to be worth $30bn by 2026.

"My general feeling is in the coming years there's going to be a shortage and that's just because they are new addressable markets," says Adesanya-Aworinde. "There's going to be a huge demand for lithium-ion batteries over the coming ten years."

China's electric vehicle rule

Currently, China dominates the electric bus and battery market, with 97% of e-buses and 75% of their batteries produced there. They manufacture the most common batteries, lithium-iron phosphate (LFP), while nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) batteries are largely made elsewhere.

BYD, the $38bn Chinese conglomerate, owns a factory that manufactures e-buses which can travel 155 miles on one charge, and cost $800,000. They're powered by a 324kWh lithium-iron phosphate battery (LFP), which can also be used to store renewable energy from solar panels or wind turbines.

There's also a smaller battery pack version which powers an electronic SUV, giving it a range of 186 miles on a charge. In comparison, most electric cars currently get on the market get about 75 miles.

China is on course to be a massive game changer in the market, and currently has the biggest electric vehicle market in the world.

"To put this in context, in 2015 around 97% of all the electric buses were produced domestically in China," says Adesanya-Aworinde. "That is huge."

The success stems from China's desperate need to deal with its pollution. Last December there was a red alert in Beijing - the highest-level air pollution warning - because there was particulate matter everywhere.

"They had to shut down schools, factories and everything," says Adesanya-Aworinde. "They are one of the most polluted countries and they're taking measures."

China is keen to bring the entire electric bus value chain inside the country to stay on top of the sector. One of the most popular lithium-ion batteries, lithium-iron phosphate (LFP), is produced locally in China.

The report states that, if recent Chinese Government policy intervention in favour of LFPs is strictly applied, market dynamics will largely lean towards this technology. Either way, China will remain a major contender in the industry.

"Over the coming ten years the Chinese market is still going to dominate this new energy vehicle market" she says. "Places like Europe are just playing catch-up."

LFP vs NMC

LFP batteries are generally safer than NMC lithium-ion technologies, which is vital, especially for the large ones in electric buses. Bigger batteries cause bigger accidents and hefty ones inside e-buses could result in massive amounts of toxic, flammable leakage. Adesanya-Aworinde says that LFPs also tend to be cheaper, as NMCs contain expensive cobalt.

About 80% of electric car batteries are comprised of LFP, but if the safety of MNC technology improves, these batteries could account for almost half of the whole battery market. Adesanya-Aworinde estimates that this will probably happen by 2025, which could very much open up the market to the whole world and reduce China's hold.

"It's a wait-and-see situation in terms of where the technology goes in the next few years."

She says that NMCs are a good competitor to LFP batteries because of their better charging rates and higher energy density, but it's a wait-and-see situation in terms of where the technology goes in the next few years.

It's the big players who will benefit from the industry growth, companies such as BYD, LG Chem and Toshiba. Batteries are the reason electric cars are so pricy, attributing to 50% of the vehicles' cost. So if the industry giants are able to mass produce them in a much cheaper way, then they will play a huge role in the future of the market.

"The key players, the ones that have the production capacity, or the economic scale to actually reduce the size of these batteries, they are going to play a huge role," says Adesanya-Aworinde. "Because with the volume comes the reduction in price, and that would make it more accessible for customers to buy."

Charging the future

Going forward, manufacturers and engineers will be working on reducing the cost and improving the energy density and power density of batteries. One exciting innovation is a product that uses nano-materials in its batteries from developer A123 who have just been acquired by Wanxiang Group in China.

"We're also seeing a shift of companies researching poly-electrolytes, and that's important in terms of safety," Adesanya-Aworinde adds. "If you're using larger batteries like you do in electric buses, you have to put in place battery management systems at cell, modal and system levels.

"So using solid electrolytes or polymer which is a gel electrolyte also helps in terms of safety, flammability and also leakage. These are some of the innovations that are being done by companies."

http://www.power-technology.com/features/featurebuses-and-batteries-a-rising-sector-4904956/

 

[guest11]

China indeed rules yet some of its citizens act like petty & juvenile morons and run away from a thread after getting humiliated, repeatedly I might add.

 

[cirr]

While China is the 2nd richest country in spodumene，it controls the richest in Australia through majority share ownership of the likes of Talison and Mt Marion。

China is also the 2nd richest country in lithium-containing brine，after the so-called lithium-triangular，an area bordering Chile、Argentina and Bolivia。

It would be extremely hard for India to lay its hands on the raw material。

India has come to the party late。Very late。

India needs to get a move on。

Galaxy Resources to Acquire General Mining

Galaxy Resources announced on Monday that it intends to acquire General Mining in a deal worth approximately A$216 million.

Teresa Matich

May 30, 2016

Galaxy Resources (ASX:GXY) announced on Monday that it intends to acquire General Mining (ASX:GMM) in a deal worth approximately A$216 million. Galaxy and General Mining are currently partnered on the Mt Cattlin lithium project in Western Australia, which recentlyrecommenced mining operations.

Under the terms of Galaxy’s offer, General Mining shareholders would receive 1.65 Galaxy shares for every General Mining share held. Directors of both companies are recommending to accept the deal, which they say would create a diversified lithium miner with an A$700 million market capitalization.

Shares of Galaxy were up 11.39 percent to $0.44 on the news on Monday, with trading volumes coming in at over three times the daily average for the company. Meanwhile, General Mining was up 15.45 percent to $0.71 per share on roughly ten times its average trading volume.

“We are extremely pleased that the joint venture arrangement we entered into with General Mining in 2015 has resulted in a merger proposal that makes sound strategic sense and, importantly, gives the shareholders of both Galaxy and General Mining the opportunity to participate in the upside of a merged lithium company of global significance,” said Galaxy Chairman Martin Rowley in a statement.

The Mt Cattlin mine is currently owned via a joint venture between Galaxy Resources and General Mining, who is operator of the project. General Mining provided the capital for the restart and ramp up of operations at Mt Cattlin.

Galaxy also holds the Sal de Vida lithium brine project in Argentina and the James Bay spodumene exploration project in Quebec.

For his part, Joe Lowry of Global Lithium sees big things on the horizon for Galaxy should the company meet its goals. “I think Galaxy is becoming the premier lithium investment outside of China,” he stated in an email. “If they execute well on Mt Cattlin and Sal de Vida, Galaxy will leave the ranks of juniors and take their place as a top three global lithium player within five years.”

Indeed, with lithium demand rising and few new projects set to come online, successful new producers will be key for the market. “Galaxy at Mt Cattlin and Neometals’s (ASX:NMT) Mt Marion (in partnership with and majority owned by China's Ganfeng) are two critical assets that we help keep lithium supply nearly balanced with demand growth in the near term,” Lowry added. “Hopefully Pilbara will execute longer term and keep China’s demand for hard rock feedstock sated into the next decade.”

Pilbara Minerals (ASX:PLS) is currently advancing its Pilgangoora lithium-tantalum project in Western Australia. Pilbara, Galaxy and Neometals have all either secured offtake agreements for their projects with China based partners, or are in talks regarding final agreements (see here, here and here). Certainly, while lithium brine projects have gotten plenty of attention as of late, it’s important to note that hard rock projects also play a big part in global supply, and are thus worth a look for lithium investors.

“It is clear that future lithium demand growth will require a balance of hard rock and brine assets to come online over the next decade,” Lowry stated.

PS Galaxy sold its then loss-making lithium carbonate factory to China's Tianqi in 2015.

 

[cirr]

It will be years if not decades before India is able to make equipments that make integrated circuits

eVictor A830 AL-PAD PVD by China's NMC Co., Ltd. being shipped to its new home

 

[proud_indian]

It will be years if not decades before India is able to make equipments that make integrated circuits

eVictor A830 AL-PAD PVD by China's NMC Co., Ltd. being shipped to its new home

what actually are you trying to do here? you are just trolling your own thread.

 

[nang2]

And I believe manufacturing of these lower end Li-ion batteries won't happen because economically speaking Indian workers cannot match the level of efficiency of cheap Chinese slaves. As long as the Americans continue to pour in dollars into Chinese economy, your labour law would ensure that the slaves are utilized fully.

One of the largest "slave drivers" Foxconn recently moved onto India. I guess Chinese "slaves" may no longer be cheap anymore.