A market that is expected to scale up to $50 billion in the next five years has to be one such that is not only high in demand but also visionary to bring regular updates. The Indian EV market one such, with a projected CAGR of 40.7% for the next half of the decade.
Advancement in the EV technology revolves largely around the battery technology, mobility and intelligent systems, charging infrastructure, and undoubtedly sustainability and recycling of the EV technology.
Battery Technology
Within the battery technology, R&D is underway to study the possibility of advancing battery chemistry, developing solid-state batteries, and improving their thermal management.
- Advanced Battery Chemistry: research is underway to develop promising alternatives like Sodium and Aluminium ion batteries to Lithium-Iron-Phosphate batteries. These alternatives are being studied as they can prove to be cost-effective due to their abundant availability, their lower inflammability can enhance safety, and they can also be shipped at zero voltage. Additionally, research reveals that they have the potential for comparatively faster charging and high-temperature resilience.
- Solid-state Batteries: OEMs are running piolet programs to test such batteries for their high energy density and enhanced safety from the elimination of flammable liquid electrolytes. Their higher energy density is projected to help increase the driving range and allow for faster charging. It is also believed that these batteries can have a longer lifespan which adds to them being a more sustainable option.
- Thermal Management: heat management in batteries is essential for both the safety and longevity of the battery. Various mechanisms are under study to not just enhance the existing thermal management capacity of batteries but also to effectively use and reuse waste energy for a more sustainable approach. Thermal Energy Storage system are under development to store and release heat for later use, which can be applicable for both heating and cooling the battery pack. Subsequently, there are Thermoelectric Generators that convert a temperature difference into electrical energy, using the Seeback effect. The harvested energy can then be used to power some low-power auxiliary systems like sensors or in some hybrid designs, even charge the main battery. Additionally, there are studies under progress to integrate Thermoelectric Coolers and Thermoelectric Generators to use the waste energy to power the coolers, hence enhancing efficiency.
Mobility and Intelligent Systems
Another emerging trend under progress is the integration of AI and related intelligent systems into the new age EVs.
- AI for BMS: integrating AI with battery management in EVs can help analyse data to improve state-of-charge (SoC) and state-of-health (SoH) estimations, enable predictive maintenance, and optimize charging/discharging. The integration is through machine learning models like Recurrent Neural Networks (RNNs) and Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs), used to process time-series data and model complex, non-linear relationships within the battery.
- Connected and Autonomous features: other smart features in EVs will be the OTA updates, V2X communication, and AI-driven autonomous features, customized for Indian roads and the local mixed-traffic.
- Localized ADAS: developing localized ADAS trained on Indian driving data will improve safety features like hazard and pothole detection, important for enhancing safety.
Charging and Energy Infra
Charging infrastructure is one of the core components to help scale EV adoption. Upgradation of technology in this sphere is essential to provide quick, safe, and easily-available recharging to outpace ICE vehicles.
- Battery Swapping: this is a nascent trend in the market, especially among two and three-wheeler EVs. Herein, the vehicle owner usually doesn’t own the batteries, instead a designated station owns a significant pool of batteries to exchange a depleted battery for a fully recharged one.
- Vehicle-to-Grid Technology: this technology is under research, and aims to facilitate a bidirectional flow of power from the vehicle to the grid and vice versus as per the demand and requirement.
- Mobile and micro hubs for EV Charging: portable charging is a necessity for EVs to refuel during power outages or at locations with sparse charging stations. Similarly, micro hubs can run on renewable energy sources like solar and wind in a local capacity. This is beneficial in reducing the load on the main grid.
Sustainability and Recycling
The very concept of EVs is about sustainability and comparatively more environmentally friendly, however, the critical minerals used in the battery technology is still a hazard if disposed without considering. This has paved the way for battery recycling and second-life batteries.
- Battery Recycling: newer recycling techniques like Bio-hydrometallurgy and Electrochemical methods are being researched to make the process as well as product more sustainable.
- Second-life Applications: this process delays the overall recycling procedure by utilising used batteries in secondary energy storage systems like, residential and commercial backup power, charging stations for EVs, and storage for renewable energy like solar and wind.
The involvement of major players like Tata, Mahindra, Ather, and Ola along with government initiative is bound to bring significant acceleration in the R&D for EVs in India. While the country presently contributes to merely 4-5% of the global EV market, its accelerated growth and adoption can improve the future prospects.
