Power Plant Engineering

2.22.5 BATTERY OPERATED VEHICLES
The Ministry of Non-Conventional Energy Sources (MNES) of the Government of India is im-
plementing a programme on Alternative Fuel for Surface Transportation, which focuses on develop-
ment and deployment of battery operated vehicles (BOVs). BOVs are environmentally benign, noise-
free and consume no oil.
The Central Electrochemical Research Institute (CECRI), Karaikudi is developing high-energy
lithium polymer batteries of 1 ah capacity with a life cycle of 350 for vehicular traction. CECRI has
already synthesized and characterized LiCoO cathode active material and completed the optimisation of
polymer electrolyte films and basic cell studies. The charge-discharge studies indicated cell efficiencies
of more than 60%.
The project sanctioned at the Center for Materials for Electronics Technology (C-MET), Pune,
envisages the development of novel route synthesis, characterisation and electrochemical studies on
high quality cathode materials for rechargeable lithium batteries for electric vehicle use. Lithium man-
ganese oxide is one of the cathode materials for lithium batteries. C-MET has developed cathode mate-
rials and characterised by using different characterization techniques. Work is in progress for the devel-
opment of prototype lithium cells and for optimisation of various parameters for the cathode materials
developed so far under this project.
Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore, has assembled and characterised laboratory scale
lithium ion secondary cells in non-aqueous electrolyte with aluminum as a negative electrode and lithium
manganese oxide as the positive electrode. Several carbon samples are used for separation of negative
electrodes and electrochemical characterisation. Commercial lithium cobalt oxide is used for prepara-
tion of positive electrodes and electrochemical characterisation. Discharge capacity of 60–80 mAh/g
has been achieved during a long cycle life.
NCL, Pune has synthesized carbonaceous materials based on coconut shell carbon for super
capacitor electrode using various activation methods. The laboratory has prepared activated carbon
using different processing procedures with KOH, ZnCl LiOH and CsOH etc. The BET surface area after
gas phase activation is in the range of 800–1000 m/g. The research group has also prepared carbon
composite electrodes using Ru and Ir metal oxides.
IISc, Bangalore, is implementing a project entitled ‘Development of solid electrolyte materials
for electrochemical double layer super capacitors.’ The Institute has developed solid polymer electro-
lytes of silicate-salt composites based on sol-gel process for ultra capacitor applications. Capacitance of
300–400 Farad per gram of the material developed has been achieved. Polyacrilonitrile-based solid
electrolytes have been developed and capacitances of the order of a few hundreds of Farads achieved. A
number of solid electrolyte systems would be investigated for super capacitor applications. The CECRI
at Karaikudi is implementing a project to develop conducting polymer based super capacitors. The
Institute has fabricated and characterized n-type and p-type conducting polymer composite electrodes
for super capacitor use. It is in the process of assembling and analyzing a model super capacitor to
achieve higher performance.
The Nimbkar Agricultural Research Institute (NARI) at Phaltan, under another project, devel-
oped and demonstrated the operation of 20 battery-assisted cycle rickshaws in Maharasthra. Encour-
aged with the performance, NARI plans to develop and deploy more such passenger rickshaws. The
Ministry sanctioned a pilot project to M/s Scooters India Limited (SIL), Lucknow and M/s Mahindra

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NON-CONVENTIONAL ENERGY RESOURCES AND UTILISATION
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Eco Mobiles Limited, Mumbai, for demonstration of 300 numbers of battery operated three wheelers
(BOTWs ) in Agra and other cities. 250 BOTWs are already operating in Agra, Allahabad, Ahmedabad,
Delhi, Kolkata, Lucknow and Pune for demonstration, awareness, promotion and generating perform-
ance data of the vehicles in field conditions.
The Ministry broadened the scope for the demonstration programme on BOVs in the year 2002–
2003 to cover battery operated passenger three wheelers and battery operated passenger cars, besides
the battery operated buses/minibuses. This programme provided subsidy on the purchase of these types
of indigenously manufactured vehicles through the Nodal Agencies and Departments in the States and
Union Territories. MNES propose to initiate Technology Mission on Battery Operated Electric Vehicles
during the Tenth Plan.