BHEL, Libcoin, in talks to build India’s first Gigafactory for battery cell production

Highlights of this project include a holistic view of the supply chain along with cutting edge digital technologies to replace high capital expenditure and high operational expenditure processes

New Delhi: State-owned Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) and Libcoin are in the process of forming an association to initially build a 1 gigawatt-hour (GWh) factory for the mass production of lithium-ion battery cells. The joint venture has also made plans to scale up its planned annual production capacity to 30GWh in due course. The highlights of this project include a holistic view of the supply chain along with cutting edge digital technologies to replace high capital expenditure and high operational expenditure processes.

"Various Indian cities including Delhi have been struggling to cut down their pollution level for the last several years and electric transportation has been considered as one of the viable approaches to cut down emission."

"BHEL will be sending a team of senior officers for the study of the facilities, R&D infrastructure, and other techno-commercial issues soon. Based on the evaluation and recommendations of the team, the further process towards the formation of a joint venture will be carried forward," the Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises said in a release.

Need of the hour to combat rising pollution

The consortium believes electric cars can make a difference in combating rising air pollution in Indian cities, especially the national capital, which has seen alarmingly high levels of pollution in the past few years.

"Various Indian cities including Delhi have been struggling to cut down their pollution level for the last several years and electric transportation has been considered as one of the viable approaches to cut down emission."

This project is aimed at giving energy independence by replacing oil imports with abundant renewable resources, according to the release.