Multi conglomerate Reliance Industries led by Mukesh Ambani flaunted its swappable and multipurpose battery storage technology for Electric Vehicles in a big move towards adopting clean energy.
As per Reuters reports, the removable and swappable batteries for EVs can also be used to power household appliances through an inverter. Reliance flaunted this at the renewable energy exhibition.
The Idea of Re-usable Battery
Reliance officials shared the plan with Reuters that, a person can use one battery for mobility as well as for zapping appliances at home.
At Reliance battery swap station, the batteries can be swapped or re-charged by households using rooftop solar panels, which Reliance is planning to sell.
The development of battery storage solutions is a part of Reliance’s extensive $10 billion allegiance to environmentally friendly initiatives towards clean energy projects.
The company aims to be net zero carbon by cutting dependence on its mainstay oil-to-chemical business by 2035.
In the annual general meeting of Reliance Industries in 2021, Mukesh Ambani apprised his investors that the company will be investing Rs.75,000 crore over the next three years to build a new clean energy business.
In 2021 and 2022 Reliance acquired two battery companies UK-based Faradion which makes sodium-ion batteries and Lithium Werks, which produces lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries for about $200 million respectively.
Reliance Acquisition
Reliance stated in its regulatory filing that “The amalgamation of Lithium Werks with Reliance’s recently disclosed acquisition of Faradion Limited, an eminent player in sodium-ion cell chemistry globally, enhances Reliance’s technological portfolio. This amalgamation grants access to a premier collection of LFP patents worldwide, along with a substantial management team with extensive expertise in innovating cell chemistry, custom modules, packing, and building large-scale battery manufacturing facilities,”
At the event, Reliance gave a presentation that showed the company is working on customizable batteries for business and individual usage, intelligent swap stations, and integrated charging networks.
The presentation further communicated that the company doesn’t plan to get into manufacturing Electric Vehicles, but will partner with EV makers.
Giga Factory for Batteries
To boost local battery cell production Reliance has set up a 5 gigawatt-hours battery manufacturing facility under India’s $2.4 billion dollar programme.
By 2026 the factory will be established and will make batteries and containerised energy storage solutions.
The company is working to set up a giga factory for batteries by 2026, Mukesh Ambani said in the 46th Annual General Meeting 2023.
Giga battery will produce chemical cells and packs to create a fully integrated ecosystem
Conclusion
Due to a lack of infrastructure and Importing batteries, Electric Vehicles are currently a smattering of total sales in India.
The government is trying to encourage swappable batteries to bring down costs and promote wider adoption of EVs.