The Aluminium-Air Battery: The Holy Grail for India's EV Market?

In this article, Manish Vaid says aluminium-air (Al-air) batteries offer a promising alternative to lithium-ion batteries for the Indian electric vehicle ecosystem. As India makes strides towards adopting other sustainable mobility options such as green hydrogen as transportation fuel, compressed biogas, and ethanol blending, it has also begun its quest for alternative battery technologies such as sodium-ion and Al-air.

- Manish Vaid

As India focuses on achieving its net zero goals by 2070 to address the pressing need for climate change mitigation, it becomes imperative to rely on sustainable and renewable energy sources. To accomplish this, the transportation industry, a primary contributor to emissions, must be prioritized. Immediate electrification of vehicle fleets is critical to avoiding a significant surge in transport-related emissions by 2050. In this regard, Aluminium-air (Al-air) batteries offer a promising alternative to lithium-ion batteries for the Indian electric vehicle (EV) ecosystem.

Earlier, the Indian government has taken resolute actions to swiftly advance the acceptance of electric mobility within the country. To meet its objective of having 30 per cent electric vehicles on the roads by 2030, a blend of policies has been put in place, encompassing purchase discounts on various vehicle segments, lowered road taxes, as well as incentives for scrapping and retrofitting under its Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid & Electric Vehicles (FAME) scheme. India is also developing a policy for battery swapping. This scheme launched in 2015, promotes and accelerates the adoption of electric and hybrid vehicles in the country.

India’s recent policies promoting e-mobility reflect the country’s concerns over the growing burden of oil imports, increasing pollution levels, and its commitment to tackling climate change on a global scale. These policies are tailored to pave the way for India to become a leader in sustainable transportation, reduce its carbon footprint, and spur economic growth and innovation in the EV sector.