Hindalco to make aluminium plates for new EV battery technology

Aluminium major Hindalco Industries has signed an exclusive partnership with Israeli cleantech company Phinergy for R&D and pilot production of aluminium plates in aluminium-air batteries for India.

With the aluminium-air battery, developed by Phinergy, energy is released when aluminium reacts with oxygen in ambient air to produce aluminium hydroxide. This significantly increases the driving range of electric vehicles (EV) because of its light weight and high energy density, according to a press statement from Hindalco Industries.

The EV industry, which will be the primary market for aluminium-air batteries, is projected to achieve cumulative sales of 80 million units by 2030, according to a joint report by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety, and NITI Aayog.

In a stock-exchange filing on Monday, Hindalco announced its memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Phinergy, and IOC Phinergy (IOP), a joint-venture between the Israeli company and Indian Oil Corporation.

“Climate action is integral to our business, and our partnership with Phinergy and IOP is a significant step towards decarbonising mobility," said Satish Pai, Managing Director of Hindalco Industries.

"India has an abundance of aluminium resources, and this technology can help enhance the nation’s energy and resource security," he added.

Further, aluminium hydroxide in the battery can be recycled to recover aluminium. Leading automobile manufacturers in India are currently testing the technology, the statement added. In the MoU, Hindalco Industries has also undertaken to recycle the aluminium in used batteries.

"We are confident this collaboration will significantly enhance the development of an ecosystem enabling to supply 'aluminium as energy' made in India," said David Mayer, CEO of Phinergy. The applications of Phinergy’s technology include energy backup for critical sites, range extension for electric vehicles, and use as renewable energy storage.

Aluminium-air batteries offer a viable alternative to other battery chemistries, and will boost domestic manufacturing of batteries to meet India’s growing demand for energy storage, the stock-exchange filing stated.

IOP, the third company in the MoU, was set up in March 2021 to manufacture and commercialise aluminium-air energy systems in India. Companies like Suzuki India, Ashok Leyland, and Mahindra Electric are part of the technology-validation process under IOP, according to a previous statement from the public sector giant.

"This partnership with Hindalco is a big step towards catalysing our efforts to develop a favourable ecosystem for faster dissemination of the aluminium-air battery technology," said Sanjeev Gupta, Chairman of IOP. "The collaboration will propel India's aspirational journey towards sustainable, affordable and safe energy options for stationary and e-mobility."