KPIT unveils India’s first sodium-ion battery technology

KPIT Technologies has unveiled India’s first sodium-ion battery technology, which is a cheaper alternative to lithium-ion (Li-Ion) battery used in electric vehicles and for energy storage.

This, the Pune-based company said, will help make available EV and storage batteries at prices 30 per cent lower than comparable Li-Ion batteries.

The company is currently in talks with existing clients in the auto industry and others interested in various applications of energy storage to assess the market potential of the product.

KPIT has been pioneering sustainable and efficient energy storage system simulation, design, development and integration for over nine years. The in-house development by the company’s research team comes after continued efforts over the past eight years.

KPIT is the first company in India and the fourth in the world to possess a proven technology solution for sodium-ion battery storage. 

According to Ravi Pandit, the co-founder and chairman of KPIT Technologies, the technology is expected to generate revenues after a year once it successfully completes testing and is ready for commercial use.

Key highlights of KPIT’s sodium-ion battery technology include:

• Extended lifespan with 80 per cent capacity retention for 3000 – 6000 cycles;
• Multiple variants having distinct performance characteristics and energy density ranging from 100-170 Wh/Kg;
• Faster charging than common lithium batteries;
• Superior sub-zero temperature tolerance; and
• Excellent high-temperature tolerance with minimal thermal management.

According to KPIT, the sodium-ion battery technology will help substantially reduce the cost of ownership and increase the vehicle uptime, thereby saving on revenues.

KPIT plans to continue research to enhance battery technology. The company is inviting partners to manufacture and commercialise this technology.

However, Pandit emphasised that KPIT's primary revenue source will continue to be its core business of providing software-based solutions to the automotive industry.