Riding into the Future: A Close Look at Lithium-Ion Battery Technology for Two-Wheelers in India

The symphony and purity of nature, is drowned out by the cacophony and toxicity of human progress. Let's turn down the volume as well as the harmful emissions; and listen to the melodies of the earth in pristine environs. This profound thought, that sensitizes us to the cries of the earth, sets the tone for our blog, as we optimistically ride into the future.

Vehicles powered by fossil-fuels have long enough deafened our ears and polluted our lungs, besides abusing nature too. We’ve all experienced the jarring sounds of two-wheelers shattering the peace of our localities and spewing toxic fumes. Hopefully, this will soon become history, thanks to the advent of electric two-wheelers (E2Ws). So, let’s explore this trending technology of lithium-ion batteries which are at the heart of electric mobility.

Here's a sample of the latest data from the Government of India Vahan portal, taken from The Economic Times of 2nd April 2024. The statistics are indeed compelling. While 2023-24 witnessed a sale of 910,930 units of electric two-wheelers, 2022-23 sales stood much lower at 682,937 units. This confirms a thumping 33.3% Year-on-Year (YoY) increase in electric two-wheeler sales for 2023-24!

There are various factors that have spurred this positive transition to E2Ws. These include technological advancements, environmental concerns, government incentives, efforts for cost-reduction, and well-informed users. There are also challenges, which we can’t wish away. To name a few, there is the high initial costs of E2Ws, range concerns, and dearth of charging infrastructure. However, with the Government of India’s concerted drive towards electromobility, and technology fast progressing, the ride into the future seems to be a healthier one.

Why E2W Lithium-Ion Battery Technology is the Winner

Lithium-ion battery technology is indeed revolutionizing the landscape of two-wheelers in India, and is becoming the preferred choice, dethroning the hitherto lead-acid batteries that powered EVs. The reason for this transition is owed to the many benefits that lithium-ion battery technology brings in its wake, as presented below.

1. Technological Advancements

The recent developments in lithium-ion battery technology, have successfully focused on enhancing energy density, cost reduction, and safety features like Battery Management Systems (BMS) that focuses on protection of the riders as well as E2Ws. BMS promotes cell monitoring and balancing, and also monitors and controls the temperature of the battery pack. It can activate cooling systems or heaters to maintain the battery within its optimal temperature range, preventing overheating, overcharging, over-discharging, short circuits, and excessive temperatures. CAN Communication Technology, is an added feature that enables display, detection and storage of valuable information like drive cycle current, voltage, temperature, fault diagnostics, etc. These valuable benefits that lithium-ion battery technology offers, is an important factor that promotes transition to electric two-wheelers in India.

2. Performance-oriented Technology

Lithium-ion battery technology has given E2Ws, batteries with higher energy density, higher discharge rate, and better efficiency, all of which translate into enhanced acceleration and better vehicle performance. Longer lifespan, maintenance-free operations, and faster charging capabilities, are other factors that positively influence performance, and consequently boost transition to electric two-wheelers.

3. Technology Focussed on Cost Reduction

High battery cost hitherto being a deterrent for electric mobility, lithium-ion battery technology has been focussing on ways to reduce cost, even while increasing efficiency. The efforts of researchers have paid off, and one report states that there has been an over 90% reduction in cost of lithium-ion batteries from 2010 to 2023. This cost reduction, coupled with long-term cost savings – thanks to a long lifespan, and low maintenance costs, makes lithium-ion batteries a winner for electric two-wheelers.

4. Technology that Favours Health and Environment

Lithium-ion technology has been born out of concerted efforts to reduce air and noise pollution, and reclaim the pristine, melodious nature of our planet. They offer two-wheeler owners a greener cleaner option to power their vehicles, along-with the promise of being gentler on their ears, as they ride along. With a strong focus on zero emission, lithium-ion battery technology has cut down on greenhouse gases and brought down air pollution. It has also focussed on silent rides, thus bringing down noise pollution too. This translates into better health of our planet and all its inhabitants including us human beings. By improving resource efficiency, and reducing waste generation, lithium-ion batteries further contribute to the health and safety of our planet.

5. Technology Encouraged by Government Policies

The Government of India’s thrust towards e-mobility has been a long-standing one, and has been instrumental in the adoption of lithium-ion batteries for two-wheelers. It’s initial schemes such as Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric Vehicles (FAME), provided subsidies and incentives to manufacturers and buyers of EVs, making them more accessible and affordable. While these subsidies have since been reduced, what has rekindled the sparks of hope for E2Ws, is the new Electric Mobility Promotion Scheme 2024 (EMPS 2024) which has an allocation of Rs. 500 crores for the period April to July 2024. EMPS puts the thrust on E2Ws and E3Ws, with targeted incentives for about 3.33 lakh e-two-wheeler, and 0.38 lakh e-three-wheelers. Government nod towards any technology is always a welcome step, and will yield positive results.

6. Future of Lithium-ion Technology for E2Ws

With the EMPS 2024 scheme placing the spotlight on E2Ws, lithium-ion batteries cannot be left behind, as they are the preferred powering option. Furthermore, concerns related to limited charging infrastructure, are sought to be addressed through various technologies including newer lithium-ion battery charging strategies, and BMS. Lithium-ion battery technology is also expected to make strides w.r.t. range concerns. On the manufacturing front, we see increased investment domestically and internationally, towards research and development of lithium-ion battery technology, geared to further reduce costs and boost performance. We can therefore safety conclude, that lithium-ion technology will continue its progressive ride, over a very long horizon.

In conclusion, we can surmise, that the ride into the future, is poised to be a good one for electric two-wheeler lithium-ion battery technology. Two-wheeler manufacturers have started taking this progressing market seriously, as can be seen from the rising E2W market share, which was 13% as of mid-2023. Industry launch pipelines reveal that out of the 20 proposed new two-wheelers in 2024, 75% or 15 models will be electric. Users too are increasingly realizing the long-term benefits of opting for electric two-wheelers. Better energy storage capabilities, and the thrust on country-wide fast-charging infrastructure networks, paint a bright future for electric two-wheelers powered by lithium-ion batteries. With the active nod of the central and state governments, and environmentalists, sustainable and efficient lithium-ion batteries are slated to have a good run into the future.

Battrixx lithium-ion batteries are the ones you can count on for your smooth, tension-free rides, long into the future, because of their excellent performance, longevity, and efficiency. With Battrixx, you are assured of the highest global standard requirements in designing, constructing, and testing battery packs, as confirmed by the ARAI Certification under AIS 156 Amendment III Phase 2, awarded to us for our battery packs.

Our lithium-ion battery packs power not just two-wheelers, but every kind of EV, whether Bicycles, Two-Wheelers, Three-Wheelers, Cars, Passenger Vehicles, Light Commercial Vehicles, Tractors, and even niche vehicles like Golf Carts, Forklifts, and Marine Transportation. Battrixx lithium-ion batteries are also at your service, for powering Portable Devices, UPS, Telecommunication and more…

Visit our website www.battrixx.com to explore our range of green clean energy systems. Take a look at the many benefits that our smart, scalable, safe powering solutions offer, including advanced technology like Battery Management Systems (BMS), and CAN Communication Technology, that enables display, detection and storage of valuable information like drive cycle current, voltage, temperature, fault diagnostics, etc., to ensure your safety and that of your vehicle too.

Battrixx – Lithium-ion Technology that is consistently ahead of the safety curve.