Heartening response to ISRO’s lithium ion cell tech

Over 130 companies have shown interest

Chennai: Over 130 companies have shown interest in the Indian space agency's lithium ion cell technology and the pre-application conference will be held on Tuesday, said a senior official.

"The response to our announcement to transfer the lithium ion cell technology is overwhelming. More than 130 companies have purchased the RFQ document. The pre-application conference will be held on Tuesday," S. Somanath, Director, Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), told IANS.

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in June announced its decision to transfer its lithium ion cell technology to the Indian industry on a non-exclusive basis for usage in automobiles for Rs 1 crore. 

The space agency had said the initiative will accelerate the development of the indigenous electric vehicle industry. 

The VSSC, located in Kerala, will transfer the lithium ion cell technology to the successful Indian industries/start-ups on a non-exclusive basis to establish production facilities in the country that can produce cells of varying size, capacity, energy density and power density catering to the entire spectrum of power storage requirements, ISRO had said.

According to Somanath, the transfer of technology will start from transfer to documentation. "Successful companies can come to VSSC and familiarise themselves about the battery technology. 

We do not have the manpower to depute to the technology buyer's place," Somanath said.  According to him, the lithium ion cell battery technology buyers can innovate further so address the market needs.

"Batch manufacturing of lithium ion cells is sufficient for ISRO's needs. Whereas in the case of mass production it is only the industry that can do it," he added.

Somanath said the ISRO makes lithium ion cell batteries of various sizes and power (1.5 ampere to 100 ampere) to power its rockets and satellites.  "ISRO will not get any royalty from the buyers of its lithium ion cell technology.