GET THE BATTERY RIGHT, ELSE...

Swapnil Jain, is Co-founder and CTO of one of India's most successful tech-savvy electric vehicle start-ups - Ather Energy. The story he shares is about EV batteries and what goes inside making them, especially when it comes to designing a safer package that can endure extremely harsh Indian operating conditions.

The last year or so has been strong for India's electric vehicle business, more than 90 percent of which are two-wheelers, or scooters, to be more precise. The monthly retail numbers have been growing quite consistently. And while there have been teething issues like vehicle fires, FAME-II subsidy, etc., what is heartening to see is that the Indian consumer is not just spoilt for choice, but is more aware of what he or she wants from his/her electric two-wheeler. The cosumer's choice is not just determined by features, but also by the quality and durability of the hardware that underpins these EVs.

What is the deal with batteries? 

Unlike ICE scooters, EVs have far fewer components. By size and weight, the lithiumion battery pack is the largest and heaviest part of an EV scooter, and by value, it can range anywhere between a third to half of the total value of the vehicle, making it the single most expensive part too. Besides all this, the quality of the battery is vital both for the safety of the rider and the roadworthiness of the vehicle. The challenge is to engineer a battery pack that is robust, efficient, and safe, which is the outcome of seemingly endless lab hours, days, and even years. Cutting corners here is not a good idea. For instance, how much energy we pack into the battery is also an ‘ethical’ question as much as it is an engineering one. Packing extra energy to improve the range of the vehicle to get ahead in the market may be placing the rider at risk. Our own customer data collected over the last five years shows that 54 percent of customers ride less than 25 km a day and 92 percent do less than 50 km a day, making the risk unnecessary and, in fact, irresponsible too.