Exide to Set up Multi-GW Li-Ion Cell Manufacturing Facility in India in Collaboration with Chinese Battery Maker SVOLT

Indian lead-acid battery major Exide Industries has entered into a long-year technical collaboration agreement with Chinese lithium-ion (Li-Ion) battery maker SVOLT Energy Technology Co. Ltd (SVOLT) to set up a GW scale li-ion cell manufacturing facility.

In this regard, the seven decades older battery maker said that it is in the process of forming a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) by way of a wholly-owned subsidiary, and is in a fairly advanced stage of discussions for finalising the land parcel for this facility.

The move is in line with the company’s participation in the Government’s Production-Linked Incentives (PLI) Scheme for the National Programme on Advanced Chemistry Cell (ACC) Battery Storage.
 
Under the agreement, the Chinese battery maker will grant Exide an irrevocable right and license to use, exploit and commercialise necessary technology and know-how owned by them for li-ion cell manufacturing in India.

Additionally, SVOLT will also provide the support required for setting up a state-of-the-art greenfield manufacturing plant on a turnkey basis.
 
SVOLT has been engaged in the business of production and development of li-ion batteries and battery systems for electric vehicles (EV) as well as for energy storage.
 
Commenting on the partnership, Subir Chakraborty, MD & CEO, Exide, said, “Exide is excited to partner with SVOLT as this collaboration is a major step forward in Exide’s aspiration of becoming a leading player in the rapidly emerging new-age electric mobility and stationary application businesses in India. With SVOLT’s strong technical expertise, R&D capabilities and rich experience in manufacturing lithium-ion batteries, Exide plans to set-up a multi-gigawatt lithium-ion cell manufacturing facility. Spread out across two popular cell chemistries and three cell formats, this unit shall be uniquely placed to cater to the diverse requirements of customers in India. This strategic partnership is in line with Exide’s commitment to provide best-in-class batteries and energy storage solutions for automotive and industrial applications.”
 
Exide designs, manufactures, markets, and sells the widest range of lead-acid storage batteries across the globe from 2.5Ah to 20,200 Ah capacity, to cover the broadest spectrum of applications. The batteries are manufactured for the automotive, power, telecom, infrastructure projects, computer industries, as well as the railways, mining, and defense sectors. The company’s export span 60 countries across six continents.
 
A few years back, Exide also forayed into Li-ion battery systems and energy solutions through its subsidiary ‘Exide Leclanche Energy Private Limited’ (under the brand Nexcharge), together with the JV partner Leclanché SA, Switzerland. With its state-of-the-art R&D centre, Nexcharge aims to build li-ion modules/ packs and provide energy storage systems (ESS) for India’s EV market and grid-based applications.