By Christie Fernandez
Change is challenging – exciting for some, daunting for many…
I remember many decades ago when we moved from a big city to a small town, our neighbours were afraid that we were using a cooking gas cylinder and that it could burst. But today, cooking gas cylinders have become ubiquitous, and we have learnt to live with this danger, by proper use and maintenance. We have learnt to live with many dangers – cars, buses and trains that catch fire or even planes that crash.
A few years ago, Personal Mobility Devices (PMDs) or e-scooters were proliferating in Singapore, most of them imported from China. Unfortunately, some of them caught fire while charging inside apartments. The government immediately swung into action, banned bikes that do not conform to quality standards, and mandated sales of UL2272 quality certified PMDs. This action by the government, reduced considerably fires related to PMDs.
During my recent visits to India, I was happy to see a lot more electric vehicles plying on the roads. Maharashtra had many electric buses, Tamil Nadu had electric garbage pickup vehicles and Uttar Pradesh had a proliferation of electric rickshaws plying in the hot summer temperature of over 42 degrees Celsius / 107.6 degrees Fahrenheit.
Recently, many incidents of electric scooters catching fire have been blamed on the hot weather. This means that the EVs have not been engineered to handle the Indian weather, road conditions or usage. It’s wrong to blame the electric drivetrain technology, or the batteries or the weather.
Perhaps, in the mad rush to launch a vehicle in the market, compromises have been made, or not enough focus has gone into – EV design, architecture, engineering, safety etc., or wrong choices have been made with regard to battery chemistry, or suppliers.
Choosing the right battery chemistry for Indian conditions, is the first/best step in reducing the incidence of battery fires.
Battery chemistry
I have been a proponent of LFP (Lithium Iron Phosphate) battery chemistry for the Indian market. LFP batteries have a more stable chemical make-up, with a high thermal runaway temperature of 270°C (518°F), compared with Lithium Cobalt Oxide (LCO) or Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide (NMC) batteries which have a much lower thermal runaway temperature of 150°C (302°F). LFP batteries are safer, cheaper and last longer with 3000-plus cycles of charging, making it more ideal for Indian conditions.
When it comes to choosing batteries or battery chemistry, not many have insights and so tend to go with hearsay, not realising that battery production takes close to a decade to reach maturity and commercial viability with regard to price, quality, supply chains, capacity etc. LFP batteries have been in the market for long. Their proven supply chains are stable (no cobalt / nickel /manganese), and are cheaper than most other battery chemistries. LFP batteries have lower energy density/kg. However, battery packs and vehicle right-sizing can make this a non-issue for many use cases. Tesla, today uses LFP batteries in over 50% of its production, and customers couldn’t care less.
Quality standards
Adhering to strict quality standards in vehicle manufacturing, and designing battery packs with efficient cooling systems, safety features, and a top-notch BMS (Battery Management System), can reduce battery fires considerably. Focus should also be on using high quality wire harnesses, fuses and connectors. Charging / discharging of batteries needs to be monitored, and customers need to be educated on best practices.
Electric Vehicles can play a major role in India’s prosperity and its people’s wellbeing. Issues in the transition to electric vehicles and clean energy can be minimised by manufacturing and selling EVs with high safety standards.
India spends around USD 100 billion each year to import polluting fossil fuels. With electric vehicles, the energy required to power EVs can be produced locally, generating more local jobs, and curb the outflow of precious forex. Instead of oil exporting countries getting rich, India can get richer.
EVs do not pollute the air wherever they go, and can be powered from renewable energy sources, reducing air pollution drastically, thus enhancing the health of the people.
Lithium import
Now the question arises about imports of Lithium, is it going to be similar to fossil fuels? From being dependent on Arabia, will we now be dependent on China?
Unlike polluting fossil fuel imports which end up in smoke, a big advantage with Lithium batteries is that they can be recycled, and almost 95% of the battery materials can be recovered and reused to make batteries. This means imports and mining for battery materials will reduce over a period of time. Another important aspect most people are unaware of, is the fact that in a typical lithium battery, Lithium comprises less than 10% of the battery, and other battery materials such as Graphite, Iron, Manganese, Nickel, Aluminium etc. can be sourced locally.
It’s a myth that China controls most of the lithium mines in the world. Lithium is not scarce, brine-based lithium sources are in various stages of development in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, China, and the US, and mineral-based lithium sources are being developed in Africa, Australia, South America, Canada, and Europe, according to the US Geological Survey.
Focus on affordability
India shouldn’t be following the developed world in this transition to electric vehicles. The developed world is focused on speed, range and fast charging, whereas the Indian market is focused on affordability.
India should be right-sizing EVs to suit the specific applications in a developing country, and adopt multiple charging options, including swappable batteries and electrifying roads for wireless charging of EV’s on the move. By adopting a fixed+swappable battery architecture, as pioneered by Sooorya EV, and standardising batteries, the size of batteries can be reduced. This will improve efficiency and reduce the cost of EVs. Range anxiety also reduces tremendously with multiple charging options.
Alternatives to Lithium batteries will slowly emerge in the market, including hybrid lithium batteries, and metal air batteries. Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) has a JV with Phinergy to set up manufacturing facilities for Aluminium-Air Batteries, which can be used to recharge EV batteries, extending the range of the vehicle.
India is also investing a lot on renewable energy – the feedstock is free and available in abundance locally. Renewable energy can be utilised to charge EVs and recharge swappable batteries. This can usher in a new era of prosperity amongst rural communities too.
This is the time for the government, industry players and EV startups to seize the new opportunities the EV technology revolution offers, and to build an ecosystem that benefits India, and the developing world.
(Disclaimer: Christie Fernandez is the founder of Sooorya EV Pte Ltd. Views are personal.)
