KPIT Introduces India’s First Sodium-Ion Battery Technology As An Alternate To Li-Ion Batteries

Pune-based KPIT Technologies, a software integration firm focused on the automotive and mobility ecosystem, has rolled out its sodium-ion battery technology, which aims to reduce import dependency on core battery materials.

This new technology is set to lower the cost of electric vehicle batteries, with an anticipated reduction of 25-30% compared to existing lithium-ion batteries, said Ravi Pandit, cofounder and chairman of KPIT. 

Li-ion cells drive the global shift to electric vehicles, and so countries, including India, are vying for advantages by localising the supply chain. Presently, 70% of India’s cell imports come from neighbouring countries, posing risks amid geopolitical tensions. 

The Indian Li-ion battery market is expected to surge from 4 GWh in 2022 to 120 GWh by 2030, necessitating rapid innovation and scaling by cell manufacturers to meet a 53% CAGR in demand. 

KPIT claims that it would reduce India’s import dependency on core battery materials.

KPIT  firm joins a small group of sustainability-focused organisations worldwide that have developed sodium-ion batteries. This battery technology has several use cases for automotive and mobility, especially for electric two and three-wheelers and commercial vehicles. It has applications in stationary deployments, such as UPS backups and grid storage, as well as in the marine and defence sectors.

According to KPIT, sodium-ion battery technology provides a prolonged lifespan with 80% capacity retention over 3000-6000 cycles and quicker charging capabilities in comparison to lithium-ion batteries.

Even as KPIT continues further development work on the sodium-ion battery, it is looking to partner with battery manufacturers to make the battery using its proprietary technology. 

“As the electric mobility ecosystem matured, we were cognizant of having alternate battery technologies and localising the storage value chain. Our sodium-ion battery technology, completely reliant on earth’s abundant raw materials, is another testament to KPIT’s commitment towards the sustainable mobility ecosystem,” Pandit said.

“Globally, the availability of lithium is a concern. What’s the case of oil where the availability is concentrated only in a few countries can be very much the case with lithium—with supplies being concentrated in China, Bolivia, etc. The concern was that EV shouldn’t face the same situation,” he added.

Lithium-ion batteries have dominated vehicle electrification in the past decade, but the recent surge in electric vehicle demand has strained the battery supply chain. So, diversifying into newer battery technologies, like sodium-ion, is crucial. 

As per an EY report, India aims to electrify 30% of its vehicle fleet by 2030, with the domestic EV market projected to grow at a 49% compound annual growth rate between 2022 and 2030, reaching annual sales of 10 million by 2030. Achieving this goal requires addressing challenges such as high EV battery costs, import dependence on key battery raw materials, and the absence of India-made cell technology.