India’s First EV Li-ion Cell Manufacturing Plant Is A Go!

Log 9 Materials, a Bengaluru-based nanotechnology company has just inaugurated their first indigenous Lithium-ion battery cell production facility in Jakkur. This facility will produce cells for electric vehicles (EVs) as well as for static applications such as UPS and back-up power systems. The company claims that their cells will have improved energy densities, reduced efficiency losses, shorter processing times and the cells themselves will be 52 percent smaller than other comparable cells, improving packaging efficiencies as well.

At the inauguration event, Log 9 showed off their cell portfolio consisting of two types of TiB (Tropicalised-ion Battery) cells with different chemistries - LTO (Lithium Titanate Oxide) and LFP (Lithium Ferro Phosphate). Log 9 claims that their 2.3V 50Ah TiB-LTO cells are 33 percent more energy dense compared to other equivalent cells and can pack in 100Wh per kilogramme. The 3.2V 50Ah TiB-LFP cells have 14 percent more energy density and can store a whopping 160Wh per kilogramme.

Along with these improved cells, Log 9 claims that their more efficient manufacturing processes cut down the overall process time for cell production by 40 percent, requiring 35 percent less equipment and bring the cost per KWh by about 6 percent. Log 9 has also completely indigenised their entier supply chain for cell production as well.

To top it off, Log 9 also showcased their “Charvik” single board Battery Management System (BMS), which integrates the voltage controller, telematics, a slave BMS and the vehicle control unit into a single motherboard. Not only will this make packaging easy, Log 9 claims that this BMS can help rapid charge their cells in an astonishing 5 minutes! (for a 2.0kWh battery pack, using a 60kW charger). Fast charging times will be from 45 to 60 minutes (for the same type of battery pack with a 15kW charger), while slow charging will take a little over 90 minutes.

The upshot of all this will be lower cell costs for EV makers in India, but the fact that Log 9 will be able to provide an integrated battery and BMS solution mean that even more budget EV maker won’t have to rely on China to source cells and spend an exorbitant amount of money on developing their own BMS. Overall, this should help bring down the prices of EVs in India in the near future. Currently, Log 9 is in talks with 15 EV OEMs across the country anywhere from sign on for their battery cells and powertrain technology. To showcase this, Log 9 also displayed a Hero Electric Nyx e-scooter which was powered by their cells, making it the first e-scooter in India to use a fully indigenously made battery. Eventually, Log 9 plans to provide end-to-end electric powertrain solutions, from cell, battery, BMS, motor and motor controller to EV makers.