A lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery is an advanced battery technology that uses lithium ions as a key component of its electrochemistry. Li-Ion batteries provide portable electricity, powering electronic gadgets such as mobile phones, laptops and tablets. Li-Ion batteries are also used to supply energy to medical equipment, electric vehicles and power tools.
Compared with traditional battery technology, lithium-ion batteries charge faster, last longer and have a higher power density for more battery life in a lighter package.
Lithium batteries have no limit on the number of times they can be recharged. Regular manufacturers can charge and discharge batteries at least 500 times, and the capacity is maintained at more than 80% of the initial capacity. If charged and discharged once a day, batteries can be used for two years.
They can withstand extreme low temperatures. Lithium can operate without failing in a very cold climate, so it’s ideal for outdoor applications. Lithium batteries are lighter than alkaline batteries, so they offer an advantage when used with portable devices, especially cordless power tools.
The LiFePO4 battery has the edge over lithium ion, both in terms of cycle life (it lasts 4-5x longer), and safety. This is a key advantage because lithium ion batteries can overheat and even catch fire, while LiFePO4 does not.
A lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery is a type of lithium-ion battery that is capable of charging and discharging at high speeds compared to other types of batteries. It is a rechargeable battery consisting of LiFePO4 as its cathode material; hence the name.
For those looking to buy Lithium Ion batteries, here is the list of best lithium ion battery manufacturers in India:
Amara Raja Batteries is India’s second-largest automotive batteries manufacturer.The company has recently set up India’s maiden technology hub to develop lithium-ion cells, at its Tirupati facility in Andhra Pradesh. Amara Raja has invested Rs 200 m into the hub.
Exide Industries is primarily engaged in the manufacturing of storage batteries and allied products in India. The company is the leading storage batteries manufacturer in India with a leader in almost all categories such as automotive, industrial, and submarine.
Tata Power is an Indian electric utility company and is part of the Tata Group. The core business of the company is to generate, transmit and distribute electricity. The company is building an ecosystem for EVs with the support of group companies – Tata Chemicals and Tata Motors. Tata Power will bring in the know-how while Tata Chemicals will provide battery technology. Tata Chemicals has also signed an MoU with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) for the transfer of ISRO’s lithium-ion cell technology. It will soon start building a manufacturing facility for lithium-ion cells in Gujarat.
Luminous Power Technologies Pvt Ltd. is based in New Delhi. The company is a subsidiary of French engineering company Schneider Electric. As of January 2021, Luminous operated seven plants and had a total installed capacity of 30 lakh batteries. This excludes over 50 lakh inverters and fans. Recently in 2022, Luminous Power Technologies has announced the launch of a new product series, “Li-ON”, which integrates inverters with lithium-ion batteries. This also addressed the pressing needs for minimizing the carbon footprint with reduced CO2 emissions, as the firm noted.
EON ELECTRIC ltd (formerly Indo Asian Fusegear Limited) is a medium scale company which manufactures lighting equipment. EON electric has started production of Lithium-Ion Batteries at its state-of-the-art plant at SIDCUL, Haridwar.
HBL Powe systems Limited is a leading battery and power systems company based in Hyderabad, India. HBL power systems anticipate to grow business in Railways, Solar, E-Mobility and defense products company. The company has also initiated a plant to manufacture prismatic Lithium Ion cells and batteries.