By Areeb Khan
JSW Group chairman Sajjan Jindal says India must develop its own battery-cell technology as EVs replace petrol and diesel, with JSW targeting indigenous cell technology alongside local battery-pack assembly.
Battery cells ki baat karein so JSW Group chairman Sajjan Jindal ne kaha hai that these cells will become the "new oil" as transportation gradually shifts from internal combustion engines to electric vehicles. India currently depends heavily on imported crude oil to power its transportation sector, and with the shift towards electrification, this dependence can certainly be reduced. However, at the same time, a new challenge is coming as India could become dependent on imported battery cells and critical raw materials. That's the reason domestic battery cell technology ka development India ke liye kaafi important ho jaata hai, not just for the growth of electric vehicles but also for the country's overall energy security. India ke liye it's very essential because the cell is going to be the new oil, Jindal ne reporters se baat karte hue kaha. Unke according, India ke liye locally cells ko produce karna bahut important hai and this is something that can be done. That's why humein apne cells khud produce karne honge, because future mein battery cells automotive industry ke liye important resource banne wale hai. JSW Group is developing battery-cell technology locally Unke yeh comments tab aaye jab JSW Greentech ne Ampstar ko launch kiya, which is its new electric commercial vehicle brand, and company ne saath hi ek 55-tone electric tractor-trailer or ek electric bus ko bhi showcase kiya. Vehicles ki baat karein so these have been developed on an architecture that JSW Greentech says it controls, although their battery cells initially imported kiye jayenge. Company battery packs ko locally assemble karegi at its new manufacturing facility in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Maharashtra. Yahan par battery pack assembly ka process kiya jayega, while the battery cells will continue to be sourced from outside in the initial phase. Jindal ne bataya ki JSW Group ka ek or arm battery-cell technology ko develop karne par work kar raha hai, although ek completely indigenous alternative ko develop karne mein thoda time lagega. Unke according, "We are already working on developing that cell technology," or agar sab kuch sahi raha so is technology ko develop karne mein around on year lag sakta hai, while two years ka time almost sure hai. Battery technology ki baat karein so group different types of battery chemistries ko examine kar raha hai, including lithium-ion sodium-ion. Jindal ne acknowledge kiya hai that China has already built a significant technology and manufacturing lead in this area, while access to cell know-how abhi bhi kaafi limited hai. Unhone kaha ki, "The technology is very closely guarded secret of China." China ki technology ko lekar unhone bataya ki they are ready to supply the cells, but woh humein iska know-how provide nahi kar rahe hai. However, unka kehna hai ki it is okay and they are confident that they will eventually find a solution. Energy security is crucial Jindal ke argument ki baat karein so unka believe hai that India ka transition towards electric mobility sirf EVs ko adopt karne tak limited nahi hona chahiye, but iske saath un technologies ki domestic production bhi honi chahiye which account for a large part of an electric vehicle's overall cost and strategic value. India mein EV adoption jaise-jaise increase ho raha hai, waise hi battery, power electronics or other key technologies ki local manufacturing bhi important hoti jaa rahi hai. Agar hum apne mobility ke way ko change nahi karte hai, so fuel oil ke liye humein all over the world se import karte rehna padega, unhone kaha. Jaise-jaise country more progressive banti jaayegi, transportation bhi increase hoga and goods ki movement bhi or zyada hogi. That means fuel ki requirement bhi continuously increase hoti rahegi. Developing technological control JSW Greentech ki baat karein so company plans to retain control over the vehicle architecture, software, battery-pack design and vehicle-control unit, while individual systems and components ke liye suppliers ke saath work kiya jayega. That means core technologies or vehicle ke important systems par control company ke paas hi rahega, whereas individual components ke liye suppliers ko involve kiya jayega. Company initially China se cells source karegi and then India mein hi in cells ka cell-to-pack assembly undertake kiya jayega. Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar plant ki baat karein so yahan battery-pack operations ko electric trucks or buses ki manufacturing ke saath house kiya jayega. That means ki ek hi facility mein battery packs ke operations ke saath electric commercial vehicles ki manufacturing bhi dekhi jaa sakti hai. JSW Greentech ke first 100 employees ki baat karein so most interesting part is that out of these 100 employees, 88 were hired specifically for research and development. Company ke according it has developed its vehicle-control unit and source code in India, while its core vehicle architecture ke liye it does not pay any royalty or technology-transfer fees. That means company ne vehicle technology ke key areas mein in house development par kaafi strong focus rakha hai. Unhone kaha ki unless hum R&D karein or automobile industry ke liye apni khud ki technologies develop karein, tab tak hum ek follower hi bane rahenge and leader nahi ban payenge. Unhone yeh bhi acknowledge kiya ki JSW ko initially China mein already developed technologies se learn karna pad sakta hai, instead of immediately coming up with a breakthrough technology of its own. Means starting mein Chinese technology se learning lena ho sakta hai important ho, but long term mein focus apni khud ki technology or R&D capabilities develop karne par hi rahega. Jindal kehte hai ki. "I am being very practical." Unke according, first humein yeh establish karna hoga ki China mein exactly kya ho raha hai, because China electric mobility ke field mein ek leader hai. First technology front par unke saath catch up karna hoga and once we are able to do that, uske baad hum ek leap forward le sakte hai. JSW ki baat karein so abhi ke liye domestic battery-pack assembly par focus kiya jaa raha hai, which is going to be the immediate step for the company. However, battery cell ko khud develop karna kitna important hoga, that will ultimately determine how much of the electric mobility value chain JSW India mein localise kar payega. In simple words, battery pack assembly se localisation ka ek important step complete hoga, but actual cell development par capability build karna yeh decide karega ki electric mobility ecosystem ka kitna bada portion eventually India mein hi develop and manufacture kiya jaa sakta hai. News Source: Autocar India