India faces severe air pollution, much of it driven by the transportation sector. This week, we spoke with Dr. Rashi Gupta about how lithium-ion batteries can power the shift toward cleaner energy and a healthier future. For a transcript of this episode, please visit https://climatebreak.org/lithium-ion-batteries-for-indias-clean-energy-future/.
Historically, India has faced challenges with persistent air pollution as a result of industrial development. One key approach to combat this has been to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. For example, Indian policymakers have been pushing for the commercialization of electric vehicles which has unlocked various incentives for companies like Vision Mechatronics to develop electric vehicles run by lithium-ion batteries.
India “seeks to attain a 30% share of electric vehicles, in the total vehicles sold, by 2030” and accelerating the market for it by “moving from incentives to mandates” like a Zero Emission Vehicle policy (NITI Aayog). Taking advantage of this political support, Vision Mechatronics “aims to develop a complete domestic ecosystem around EVs” which have “zero tailpipe emissions” (Vision Mechatronics).
Many electric vehicles are driven by lithium ion batteries which “can contain hundreds of individual cylindrical battery cells that are the same shape as common AA and AAA batteries” (Edmunds). They are extremely energy efficient and can store a multitude of energy; on full battery, electric cars powered by lithium-ion batteries can drive over 200 miles–although it may depend on the specific car model. Compared to their precursor, lead-acid batteries, lithium-ion batteries have higher energy density which increases the mileage of a car. They are also extremely lightweight and this ensures that EVs aren’t too heavy. Moreover, the electricity used to refuel the EVs come from renewable energy sources like solar power.
There are various concerns that lithium-ion battery powered cars take a long time to charge. Although this may be true for some models, recent developments have led to an increase in charging efficiency and overall energy storage. For instance, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 can be charged “from 10% to 80% in just 18 minutes” (Edmunds).
Moreover, the environmental impact that the creation of lithium-ion batteries has is detrimental as “the mining process for lithium and other materials used in these batteries can… lead to water pollution and habitat destruction” (Tara Electronics). Although this is the undeniable truth, it is promising to know that due to advancements in technology it has been shown that electric car batteries can “last 12 to 15 years in moderate climates”, meaning that they don’t have short lifespans (Edmunds). Moreover, “instead of ending up in a scrapyard like most internal combustion engines do, electric vehicle batteries can be repurposed, refurbished, or recycled when they fail” (Edmunds).
Rashi Gupta, an advocate for clean energy, is the Founder & Managing Director of Vision Mechatronics Private Limited which is a battery company in India.
For a transcript of this episode, please visit https://climatebreak.org/lithium-ion-batteries-for-indias-clean-energy-future/.
Ethan: I’m Ethan Elkind, and you’re listening to Climate Break. Climate solutions in a hurry. Today’s proposal: expanding local lithium-ion battery production in India for electric vehicles and clean energy storage. Rashi Gupta, Founder & Managing Director of Vision Mechatronics Private Limited—a battery company in India— explains how her country is moving quickly to clean its electricity grid through batteries.
Dr. Gupta: India’s a very growing market today. We have more than 30 gigawatts of tenders already out, which shows the commitment of the government towards having clean source of electricity and clean storage.
Ethan: Gupta believes in local battery production in India to meet this need and create good-paying jobs.
Dr. Gupta: We are also putting up factories across the countries to get the manufacturing up and running. I’ve been manufacturing in India for 15 years. Though I understand certain challenges in terms of supply chains, geopolitical stresses that we all are going through at the moment, but we are looking at indigenizing a lot of equipments, a lot of cell manufacturing, electronics, manufacturing, and I’ve been indigenously, designing, developing, and manufacturing.
Ethan: One stumbling block? Gupta says she can’t find enough skilled workers to staff her factories.
Dr. Gupta: We have a lot of manpower, but we do not have enough skilled manpower, which is really required. I also say there has to be an alignment between the universities and the academy and the industry, where the gap is quite large, and I see that you would need to attract the next generation, the Gen Z, to this power sector.
Ethan: To learn more about battery production in India, visit ClimateBreak.org.