China is the world’s largest provider of the cells that make up the battery packs that go into electric vehicles (EV), as is the case with many other hardware components and goods. More crucially, India imports these cells because it has no commercial capability.
The Bengaluru-based Log9 Materials is an Indian nanotechnology business that specialises in filtration and renewable energy. Log9 Materials has created aluminum-air batteries and aluminium fuel cells for both mobile and fixed energy applications, and it holds 16 patents related to graphene.
The company, which has its headquarters in Bengaluru, produces its own battery pack components, including the cells that go into them.
However, there was no skill pool for Log9 to draw from for inventing a lithium-ion cell, setting up the requisite R&D, and then building a factory to create them, even though India has millions working in the IT services sector.
Over the past three years, Log9’s cell team, which has gradually grown organically to include more than 40 members, is working to change this under the leadership of Akshay Singhal, Kartik Hajela, and Pankaj Sharma. Although the work is enormous, it is the key to India’s independence in crucial EV sector areas.
In addition to producing cells domestically, beginning with a 50MW factory in Bengaluru, Log9 is tackling two significant technical issues that are present in all of the current cells and batteries on the market. One is that attempting to charge them faster actually shortens their life and hastens their deterioration. The second is that every consumer purchase of an EV has a certain amount of “range anxiety” if they can’t be charged quickly enough.
Additionally, the government’s EV subsidy will end sooner rather than later. As a result, batteries will probably get smaller, but they still need to offer enough power. These are some of the difficulties that Log9 encounters when designing its cells.
The introduction of battery cells made in-country is a major boost for the market for electric vehicles. The indigenous battery cells should significantly reduce cost levels since batteries account for a major portion of an EV’s asking price. The commercial manufacture of the battery cells created by Log9 is still some ways off, and it will take a few more months for testing to be finished before they can be put to use. By collaborating with producers of electric vehicles, motors, and controllers, the company is creating its own ecosystem.
One significant advancement made by Log9 is a solution to the problematic issue of lithium plating, which in the worst scenario can result in what engineers refer to as “thermal runaway” and cause the battery to overheat, melt, or even burn. They’ve discovered a technique to limit the issue while enabling rapid charges using a combination of materials, cell chemistry, battery, and cell control.
The founders of Log9 contend that their cells—one rated at 3.2V 50Ah and the other at 2.3V 50Ah—are superior to those currently on the market. They function well in Indian circumstances and deliver greater energy per unit quantity of the contents of the cell.
The business was the first startup to be incubated at IIT-Roorkee in 2015. In 2015, Akshay Singhal and Kartik Hajela created Log9, which has now amassed 16 patents in the fields of graphene production and graphene-based goods. In 2017, Gems Partners, a micro venture capital fund, led Log9’s first round of funding for the establishment of its own research and development facility in Bangalore. Log9 also partnered with the Indian Institute of Science to develop products together leveraging the latter’s analytical and research capabilities.
Rather than using the typical lithium-ion batteries seen in EVs, the researchers initially concentrated on aluminium air fuel cells (Al-AFCs). Aluminium serves as the fuel in this process, which uses an electrolyte and air to create electricity. In 2018, Log9 created India’s first Al-AFC after a year of study. Long-distance cars use Al-AFC technology.
2019 saw the creation of Log9’s first EV battery (test pack). The RapidX battery for intra-city use was introduced the following year.
For its RapidX batteries, aluminium air fuel cells, supercapacitors, cell technology, and graphene, Log9 has been granted patents. It has so far requested more than 70 patents.
Customers include a variety of commercial vehicle manufacturers. Log9 was valued at $250 million when it raised $40 million in finance in January, with Amara Raja Batteries and Petronas Ventures acting as the lead investors.
Log9 employs more than 300 people. By the end of 2024, the business hopes to transform its 250MWh battery production plant into a 2GWh factory. The production line for 50MWh cells will soon be completely operational and have a higher capacity.
The Department of Science and Technology (India), Government of India, presented Log9 with the title of “Most Innovative Technology Company of 2018”.
