"EV INDUSTRY'S In The Compounding Stage Of BATTERY CELL TECHNOLOGY"

As sodium-ion battery packs gain attention in India, does this spell a bleak future for lithium-ion batteries? Furthermore, where does hydrogen stand as a fuel cell and combustion fuel? Dr Yashodhan Pramod Gokhale, CTO of Battrix, weighs in

- DR YASHODHAN PRAMOD GOKHALE

How do you see the evolution of India’s commercial electric vehicle space?

The evolution so far has been positive. Various factors are at play, but all stakeholders are interconnected in some way.

How do you compare battery swapping to battery charging in the commercial electric vehicle industry?

Commercial two- and three-wheelers have emerged as prime candidates for battery swapping in both Indian and global markets. This trend has also reached individual users within these categories.

Recently, we have observed the emergence of battery swap ecosystems in China’s commercial trucking sector, a previously unforeseen use case. With the saturation of the two- and three-wheeler market in India, the next phase will likely focus on energy storage solutions.

Battery swapping in trucks! Does electric make sense for long-haul vehicles?

It is highly likely that what we have witnessed in the electric two-wheeler industry will be replicated in the LCV and long-haul commercial vehicle sector. Presently, the top-selling E3W OEMs offer models priced below `500,000. As technology gains traction in larger vehicle segments, prices are expected to align with those of internal combustion engine counterparts. Furthermore, government mandates, both at the national and state levels in India, will drive increased adoption of electric fuel in large haul vehicles. 

Would a lot of the players not incline towards hydrogen as a fuel in the near future for this category?