There is a need to reduce dependence on the import of lithium ion batteries for electric vehicles, one of the key components in electric mobility vehicles, road transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari said on Thursday.

 “In electric mobility technology, the most important thing is that we should not depend on imports for the materials used to make these vehicles. Our priority is to manufacture all these materials, particularly lithium ion batteries, in India,” Gadkari said at the e-mobility conclave.

 “We have granted mining rights for lithium ion to two private companies. We expect to secure raw material as early as possible. At the same time, we are developing technology and conducting research on sodium ion battery technology,” he added. Sodium ion battery vehicles represent a promising alternative in this research effort.

 Lithium cells are the building blocks of rechargeable battery technology for EVs, laptops, and mobile phones. Currently, India is heavily reliant on imports of these cells, as the battery metal is not widely available domestically. This is also one of the reasons why battery manufacturing has not picked up significantly in India, even as the finance ministry announced a customs duty exemption on lithium-ion cells last year to lower costs. Globally, lithium-ion cell manufacturing is dominated by China, followed by the US, Thailand, Germany, Sweden, and South Korea.

 According to the minister, there is a pressing need to produce more e-mobility vehicles, as higher volumes will ultimately reduce costs. “Electric vehicles are economically viable compared to petrol and diesel vehicles,” he stated. “In due course, I expect more people to adopt this technology.”