An agency of the state government of the southern Indian state of Kerala has successfully led a consortium to indigenously developing and manufacturing a prototype of the state’s own Lithium Titanate Oxide (LTO) battery – a step that is part of an effort by the state government to establish an e-vehicle ecosystem in Kerala.
The consortium led by the Kerala Development and Innovation Strategic Council (K-DISC) also includes the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) and Travancore Titanium Products Limited (TTPL).
The LTO prototype, with a capacity of 20 Ah, was recently unveiled by Kerala Industries Minister P. Rajeev.
With this development, Kerala has taken a major step forward in low-cost, high-capacity and safe batteries suitable for electric vehicles, which has potential to contribute to the growth of the electric vehicle industry in the state as well as achieving its goal of sustainable transportation. The development of indigenous batteries will also reduce the state’s dependence on imported batteries, which could make electric vehicles more affordable in Kerala going forward. With the growing demand for electric vehicles worldwide, the successful development of the LTO battery prototype also puts Kerala on the map as a potential hub for electric vehicle manufacturing.
A senior official associated with the project has been quoted as saying that the LTO battery was designed to address two crucial challenges in the way of more widespread adoption of electric vehicles – range and long charging times. While the K-DISC led consortium has said that at the core of the LTO battery is exceptional longevity and rapid charging capabilities, no figures for charging times were immediately available. However, LTO batteries are known to provide longer life cycles than traditional lithium-ion batteries, making them more reliable and cost-effective in the long run.
Boost for EV manufacturing
“This crucial development of the LTO battery will revolutionise EV manufacturing as it offers extended driving ranges without the fear of running out of power. Compared to standard EV batteries, it will also eliminate the inconvenience associated with lengthy charging sessions,” said the official.
Apart from application in the EV transportation sector, the LTO battery could also redefine the storage of renewable energy, playing a major role in grid stabilisation associated with renewable energy generation.
“After continuous testing of the prototype analysing different parameters, it will be rigorously evaluated for various functional properties. A decision for mass production and commercialisation will be taken only after evaluating the outcome of the results,” the official was quoted as saying.