Why in News?

• A team of researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology-Guwahati (IIT-G) has developed a technique of boosting the performance of rechargeable lithium-ion batteries used in electric vehicles (EVs).

Why is this technique pathbreaking?

• The technique can precisely estimate one of the most important battery internal states known as SOC, short for state of charge. 
• SOC reflects the remaining capacity of the battery, that is how much more charge can be withdrawn from the battery before it gets fully discharged. 
• The knowledge of remaining capacity helps to optimize battery’s capacity utilization, prevent overcharging and undercharging of the battery, increases its lifespan, reduces cost, and ensures safety of the battery and its surroundings

What is a Lithium Ion Battery?

• A lithium-ion battery or Li-ion battery is a type of rechargeable battery. Lithium-ion batteries are commonly used for portable electronics and electric vehicles and are growing in popularity for military and aerospace applications. 
• Lithium-ion batteries are preferred in cellphones and laptops for their low carbon emission, high energy density, low self-discharge rate, and low maintenance cost. They are also being widely used in EVs, integrated smart grids and microgrids of renewable energy sources.
• The lithium ions move from the negative electrode to the positive electrode during discharge and back when charging.

Advantages of Li-ion battery

• • Less Maintenance: Unlike flooded lead-acid batteries with water levels that need to be monitored, lithium-ion batteries do not need to be watered. This reduces the maintenance needed to keep the batteries operational.  

• • Long life span

• • Easy & Fast Charging: Using fast-charging lithium-ion batteries means less downtime for a machine while it’s tethered to a charging station.
  • Safer Facilities: Improved indoor air quality and reduces the risk of accidents by eliminating exposure to flammable fuels and battery acid with lithium-ion technology.
  • Environmental Impact: Lithium-ion batteries provide significant environmental benefits over other fossil fuel alternatives.

What is an electric vehicle?

• An electric vehicle (EV) is one that operates on an electric motor, instead of an internal-combustion engine that generates power by burning a mix of fuel and gases.
• There are two basic types of EVs: all-electric vehicles (AEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs).
  • AEVs (all-electric vehicles) are powered by one or more electric motors. They receive electricity by plugging into the grid and store it in batteries. They consume no petroleum-based fuel and produce no tailpipe emissions.
  • PHEVs (plug-in hybrid electric vehicles) use batteries to power an electric motor, plug into the electric grid to charge, and use a petroleum-based or alternative fuel to power the internal combustion engine.

India and its EV plan

• FAME: Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid &) Electric Vehicles scheme encourage, and in some segments mandates the adoption of electric vehicles (EV), with a goal of reaching 30% EV penetration by 2030. The scheme has 4 focus areas i.e. Technology Development, Demand Creation, Pilot Projects and Charging Infrastructure.
• National Mission on Transformative Mobility and Battery Storage– To promote clean, connected, shared, sustainable and holistic mobility initiatives.
• National Electric Mobility Mission Plan (NEMMP) – launched in 2013 with an aim to achieve national fuel security by promoting hybrid and electric vehicles in the country.

Challenges associated

• • Shortage of Lithium– India’s EV production relies on imports from China for lithium chemicals that are  used to make cathodes and battery cells.

• • Lack of Charging Infrastructure

• • Grid Capacity– NITI Aayog report says that India needs a minimum of 10 GWh of cells by 2022, which would need to be expanded to about 50 GWh by 2025 to run its EV market.

 Reference:

1. https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/rechargeable-batteries-for-electric-vehicles-get-iit-guwahati-boost/article34264039.ece