INDIA MUST RETHINK ITS BATTERY STRATEGY

NEWS: India must rethink its battery strategy and not rely only on lithium-ion batteries (LIBs).

Batteries: Matter

Batteries are central to:

• Electric Vehicles (EVs)
• Renewable energy storage (solar & wind)
• Consumer electronics
• Energy security & climate transition

Problem with lithium-ion battery dominance

• Lithium-ion batteries depend heavily on: Lithium, cobalt, nickel–>These are scarce in India=creates import dependence and supply insecurity
• Lithium processing & refining is highly concentrated: Disruptions can raise costs, delay EV adoption
• Risk of price volatility remains high. Hence, diversification is essential

sodium-ion batteries are a strong alternative

• Sodium is derived from: Sea salt, Soda ash–>It is abundant, cheap
• Existing lithium-ion production lines can be adapted to sodium-ion with minor modifications. This reduces capital costs, lowers entry barriers
• Sodium-ion batteries are less prone to thermal runaway, can be transported at zero voltage, fire and explosion risks are lower than LIBs. Critical for grid storage, public transport, large-scale deployment

Industrial & economic significance for India

• Supply-chain resilience: Reduced exposure to import shocks, global price fluctuations
• EV makers can use sodium-ion alongside lithium-ion, switch rapidly during supply disruptions
• Cost & logistics advantages: Aluminium current collectors (cheaper than copper), lower material cost

Policy recommendations

• Procurement policies encouraging sodium-ion adoption
• Regulatory nudges for pilot deployment
• Updated safety & certification standards
• Public funding for R&D, demonstration projects, grid storage pilots, align battery manufacturing with PLI schemes
• Focus on two-wheelers, three-wheelers, stationary storage
• Build confidence before mass adoption