ARAI collaborates with space centre to develop hybrid auto batteries

Mumbai: An indigenous technology that is used to make batteries for space vehicles is being tested for use in passenger cars in an attempt to bring more electric and hybrid vehicles on Indian roads.

Pune-based Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI), the industrial research association that brings together the auto industry and the ministry of industries, is working on this project with the Vikram Sarabhai Sapce Centre (VSSC) that makes space vehicles for India’s satellite programme. The aim is to bring out a prototype within a year.

If successful, it would be a boost for the government’s National Electric Mobility Mission that aims to put seven million electric and hybrid vehicles on Indian roads by 2020.

ARAI will first develop and test batteries for use in electric vehicles and then transfer the technology to car makers for mass production in an effort to bring down the cost of these batteries, said ARAI in a statement on Monday.

The project aims to leverage the strengths of both ARAI and VSSC, said Rashmi Urdhwareshe, director, ARAI. This will also promote import substitution and the government’s Make in India mission, she added.

VSSC has already successfully conducted lab-level tests to find out if the technology used for making batteries for space applications is suitable for automobile sector applications, she added. “Thereafter the industry should come forward to manufacture these batteries for supply to automobile manufacturers keeping in mind the affordability aspect,” she said.

ARAI will also develop a battery management system and thermal management system to make the battery safe for passengers.

The concept of using batteries that are used for space vehicles in automobiles has now been proven and, with the collaboration with ARAI, it will be tested for actual use in vehicles, said K. Sivan, director of VSSC.

After the tests, it will be passed on to a mass manufacturer where complementary technology aspects and volumes will determine the cost of the battery, said Sivan, adding that the aim is to bring down the cost to less than a tenth of an imported battery.