China was about to become the king of the EV industry
But India just changed the game!
2 days ago we found one of the largest Lithium reserves in the world in Jammu & Kashmir
Here's how that's going to make India an electric superpower:
But India just changed the game!
2 days ago we found one of the largest Lithium reserves in the world in Jammu & Kashmir
Here's how that's going to make India an electric superpower:
In 2008, Tesla launched its first car and changed the world forever. How do you say?
They realized that there is so much more potential in already existing 18650 lithium-ion batteries, that they can run an entire car on them.
They realized that there is so much more potential in already existing 18650 lithium-ion batteries, that they can run an entire car on them.
This revelation altered our lives eternally.
To understand the relevance of these newly found lithium reserves, we first need to have a basic understanding of how EVs work.
To understand the relevance of these newly found lithium reserves, we first need to have a basic understanding of how EVs work.
Electric cars don't have engines. They work on motors powered by battery packs. And the lithium ions help these batteries to create an electric current.
In short, they’re the key components of EVs.
Not just that, the device you’re reading this on also runs on Li-ion batteries.
In short, they’re the key components of EVs.
Not just that, the device you’re reading this on also runs on Li-ion batteries.
li-ion batteries are highly efficient because they have a
- higher energy density,
- lower self-discharge rates,
- compact size and
- a much longer lifespan as compared to other battery cells.
- higher energy density,
- lower self-discharge rates,
- compact size and
- a much longer lifespan as compared to other battery cells.
Now several nations around the globe have been investing heavily in the production of EVs.
And China is leading the world when it comes to lithium!!
- It is already controlling almost 60% of the world's capacity to process raw lithium products into battery-grade chemicals.
And China is leading the world when it comes to lithium!!
- It is already controlling almost 60% of the world's capacity to process raw lithium products into battery-grade chemicals.
- It has been investing in lithium mining and li-ion battery production, forever.
Whereas India hardly produces them and we're entirely dependent on other countries for imports.
Whereas India hardly produces them and we're entirely dependent on other countries for imports.
But with the govt's push for the adoption & production of EVs, we've become the 2nd largest importer of Li-ion batteries in the world.
And we're importing more than 72% of Li-ion products from China & Hong Kong.
And we're importing more than 72% of Li-ion products from China & Hong Kong.
Now there are 2 major reasons why we were unable to manufacture these batteries:
1. Low availability of raw materials- First India does not have any lithium or cobalt reserves, which are the key components of cathodes and electrolytes.
1. Low availability of raw materials- First India does not have any lithium or cobalt reserves, which are the key components of cathodes and electrolytes.
So importing raw materials, and building batteries in India would've been way costlier than importing batteries from other countries.
2. Inadequate infrastructure- Li-ion battery manufacturers in India like basically import most of the components and assemble them in India
2. Inadequate infrastructure- Li-ion battery manufacturers in India like basically import most of the components and assemble them in India
- because we lack domestic manufacturing capacity.
But now since we’ve got 5.9 million tonne reserves of lithium in J&K, our problem of lack of raw materials would be solved up to some extent.
But now since we’ve got 5.9 million tonne reserves of lithium in J&K, our problem of lack of raw materials would be solved up to some extent.
To realize the goal of being Atma Nirbhar in terms of li-ion batteries Govt of India is taking some major steps to expand its production.
1. To promote EVs and li-ion batteries, govt had introduced the Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric vehicle (FAME) scheme in 2019 with an outlay of Rs.10,000 crore.
- Under this scheme, govt incentivized the purchase of EVs.
- Moreover, FAME subsidies were only provided to li-ion batteries, and not lead batteries.
- Moreover, FAME subsidies were only provided to li-ion batteries, and not lead batteries.
2. In an attempt to scale domestic battery manufacturing, the Indian govt. has launched Rs.18000 Cr PLI scheme in May 2021 to install a 50GWh facility of Advanced Chemistry Cells (ACC).
These are li-ion cells.
These are li-ion cells.
Now with the increased availability of lithium, the process might get fast-tracked.
We can expect more govt schemes to escalate the production of li-ion batteries in the upcoming years.
We can expect more govt schemes to escalate the production of li-ion batteries in the upcoming years.
The story doesn’t end here. Lithium has one more use case that goes beyond everything we’ve discussed till now.
Solar co.s have been preferring lithium over everything else to store solar energy captured by solar cells because
- they can hold more energy than other batteries and
- they’re pretty low-maintenance.
- they can hold more energy than other batteries and
- they’re pretty low-maintenance.
So it means that the gains from lithium reserves go beyond transportation.
Lithium extraction will revolutionize our solar sector as well and take us closer to our dream of becoming a solar superpower.
(A thread on that coming real soon đź‘€)
Lithium extraction will revolutionize our solar sector as well and take us closer to our dream of becoming a solar superpower.
(A thread on that coming real soon đź‘€)
There’s still a long way to go from here and a lot of challenges are yet to be overcome regarding the extraction & transportation of lithium to the manufacturing units
but despite all the hurdles, India is on its way to ruling the “Sustainable Energy Era”.
but despite all the hurdles, India is on its way to ruling the “Sustainable Energy Era”.
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