In a significant boost to India's electric mobility and energy storage sector, the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee has transferred two advanced lithium-ion battery technologies to Cathion Energy Private Limited for commercial use. The agreements were signed for technologies developed by Professor Anjan Sil, aimed at improving battery charging speed, power density, and overall electrochemical performance in rechargeable Li-ion batteries used in electric vehicles, portable electronics, and renewable energy storage systems.
Technologies Transferred
Institute officials said the transferred technologies include a novel electrode composite for high-power and high-energy rechargeable lithium-ion batteries and another high-performance composite electrode material for Li-ion batteries. These innovations address key limitations of current battery technology.
Performance Improvements
Professor Sil explained that batteries currently available in the Indian market are mainly evaluated based on two major performance factors: higher energy density and lower power density. Addressing these two areas, the institute developed two novel electrodes using a special kind of oxide-based material. These electrodes retain high energy density while significantly improving power density, thereby enabling fast charging of batteries.
"Suppose a battery earlier used to recharge in one hour; after adoption of this technology, the charging time could come down to less than 10 minutes," Sil told TOI.
Industry Collaboration
Dr. Hari Raj stated that the collaboration would help improve battery efficiency and support the growing electric mobility ecosystem. The partnership between IIT Roorkee and Cathion Energy is expected to accelerate the adoption of advanced battery technologies in India.
Institute Director Professor K.K. Pant emphasized that the institute is continuously developing indigenous and industry-oriented technologies with strong commercialization potential. This transfer marks a step forward in India's efforts to achieve self-reliance in energy storage and electric vehicle components.
