ARAI teams up with VSSC to develop cheaper, more efficient car batteries

Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) has joined hands with Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) to develop new battery technologies and more efficient battery sources to power passenger cars of the future.

ARAI hopes to support the cause and derive new technology for more efficient battery source by tweaking research and development done by VSSC for batteries used in space vehicles.

Pune-based ARAI will design and develop the car batteries with support from the Thiruvananthapuram-based VSSC and offer the technology to automobile firms for mass production.

Indigenous manufacture of batteries is expected to lower the cost of battery production to less than a tenth of imported batteries.

Rashmi Urdhwareshe, director, ARAI, said the association will develop and test batteries for use in electric and hybrid vehicles, before offering to transfer the technology to producers for mass production.

The final certified batteries will be commissioned for manufacturers for use in mass production to keep the cost low, the ARAI director said on Sunday.

VSSC has successfully conducted laboratory level testing to find that the technology used in making batteries for space applications is suitable for auto mobile sector applications, she said, adding that ARAI will work towards testing of the technology at vehicle level and will come out with a prototype in about one year's time.

"In addition to developing the battery, ARAI will also develop battery management system and thermal management system for the battery to make it safe for the vehicles and passengers," Urdhwareshe said.

K Sivan, director of VSSC, Thiruvananthapuram, said the intention here is to bring down the cost of the battery to less than a tenth of what an imported one costs.

VSSC is reported to have received the go-ahead after completion of the required tests for compatibility of batteries primarily made for space application. The electric vehicles retrofitted with the prototype batteries will soon undergo tests at the ARAI facility and possibly have the prototype ready in about a year's time.

''The concept for automobile batteries is the same as those used for space vehicles,'' says Sivan. ''Now with the ARAI collaboration, it will be tested for use in cars. The third stage will be to pass on the technology to a mass manufacturer, when complementary technology aspects and volumes will determine affordability.''

The central government offers incentives of up to Rs29,000 for electric and hybrid motorcycles and Rs138,000 for cars. It has also approved an initial outlay of Rs75 crore to promote electric and hybrid cars.