DST’s ARCI, Voltasun Ink MoU To Commercialise Sodium-Ion Battery Technology

New Delhi, Dec 18 (KNN) The International Advanced Research Centre for Powder Metallurgy and New Materials (ARCI), an autonomous research and development institution under the Department of Science and Technology (DST), has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Voltasun Technologies Pvt. Ltd. to undertake industrial performance validation of sodium-ion pouch cells developed using Sodium Vanadium Phosphate (NVP) cathode material.

Focus on Commercialisation of Sodium-Ion Batteries

The collaboration aims to support the commercialisation of sodium-ion battery technology, which is being explored as a potentially safer and lower-cost alternative to lithium-ion batteries widely used in portable electronics, electric vehicles and renewable energy storage systems. 

Successful validation at the industrial level could help advance the deployment of sodium-ion batteries, particularly for stationary energy storage applications.

Technology Development and Validation

ARCI has developed the NVP cathode powder material and demonstrated its performance through the fabrication of NVP-based sodium-ion pouch cells under the ANRF-supported MAHA EV project. 

The cells have already undergone validation at the standard laboratory scale, while testing and performance assessment under field conditions are currently underway.

Phased Implementation

The collaboration will be implemented in two phases. Under Phase I, ARCI will supply 80 sodium-ion pouch cells of 5 Ah capacity to Voltasun for performance validation and feedback. 

Phase II will involve the supply of two additional sets of 80 pouch cells each, to be governed by a separate amendment agreement.

(KNN Bureau)