Energetica India Magazine March 2022

energetica INDIA- Mar_2022 27 ELECTRIC VEHICLES ligent’) chargers, smart chargers can communicate with each other, your car, and the grid to provide better costs and energy consumption. Smart charging also promotes better use of energy. Electric vehicles are designed to be charged over time and don’t always have to be charged in- stantly or rapidly because drivers don’t always need a full battery. Depending on how much energy the car needs, charges can be scheduled to go up to only 80% once a week, which also helps prolong the life of the battery. 5). Advancement in Technology With the rapid technological advance- ments, we’re seeing a development that has never been charted before. Compa- nies are now providing real-time data mapping, and automotive giants aim to include this feature in their vehicles themselves. From battery health to mapping nearby charging stations, engine self- checks- the new technology is unprec- edented and unique in a way that at- tracts consumers. We’ve already seen improvements in the range EVs can travel between battery charges, yet continued advancements in battery technology are critical to overcoming range anxiety. Make in India, which seemed like a far- fetched dream, is a reality today for the mobility industry in India. While India depends on imports from other nations, the country is slowly moving towards making in India. 6). Thermal Management in Cell-to- Pack Designs A critical trend that could impact ma- terial suppliers is the adoption of cell- to-pack technology. BYD has its Blade battery on the road, and we have now seen announcements from many au- tomakers, including Tesla, VW, and Stellantis, with plans to adopt cell-to- pack technology in the coming years. Cell-to-pack removes the modules and stacks all cells together into one large pack. This improves energy density, manufacturing complexity, and costs. However, it creates challenges around fire protection and transforms the ther- mal material requirements compared to a traditional modular battery pack. In a typical modular battery pack, the cells sit in a module with a thermal interface material (TIM), generally in the form of a dispensable gap filler. An- other TIM is then used to contact the module and the cooling plate. In cell- to-pack, the cells can be directly con- nected to the cold plate. This reduces the number of thermal interfaces, and hence a lower thermal conductiv- ity TIM can be used. However, there is now a need for increased adhesion strength. The transition from modular batteries to cell-to-pack is also from thermal gap fillers to thermally con- ductive adhesives. When it comes to fire protection, the modules can be insulated and protect- ed in a modular system. It becomes more challenging to limit thermal runaway propagation across the bat- tery with cell-to-pack. This presents more opportunities for propagation prevention materials between cells and greater protection levels for the pack enclosure, inside and out. With little enforced regulation specific to thermal runaway, there remains a variety of suitable solutions such as powder coat- ings, intumescent coatings, ceramic materials, and aerogels. Road ahead Looking at the road ahead, India as- pires to reach its vision of 100% Elec- tric Vehicles by 2030. However, there is still a long way to go. The entire EV ecosystem in India seems to have gained momentum and is ready to be a noteworthy contender in the global EV race. India’s progress on electric mobility has been commendable, but the tran- sition would undoubtedly occur at a steady pace. India is racing at warp- speed to be the hub of battery manu- facturing, and an all-EV environment is definitely on course. What is essen- tial is that the right path has been laid, and the shift has started to happen.