The International Advanced Research Centre for Powder Metallurgy and New Materials (ARCI), an autonomous R&D institution under the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Voltasun Technologies Pvt. Ltd. to undertake industrial performance validation and potential commercialisation of sodium-ion battery technology.
Under the agreement, ARCI will develop and supply 80 units of 5Ah sodium-ion pouch cells manufactured using Sodium Vanadium Phosphate (NVP) cathode powder material. The collaboration aims to validate the performance of the technology under industrial and field conditions, paving the way for large-scale commercial adoption of sodium-ion batteries as a safer and more cost-effective alternative to lithium-ion batteries.
ARCI has developed the NVP cathode material and demonstrated its performance through the fabrication of sodium-ion pouch cells under the ANRF–MAHA EV project. While the cells have already been validated at the laboratory level, field testing and application-based validation are currently underway.
Voltasun Technologies Pvt. Ltd., a materials-to-cells startup engaged in battery active materials, cell manufacturing, scale-up, consultancy, and R&D services, will evaluate the supplied pouch cells and provide performance feedback. Leveraging its industrial customer network, Voltasun will also assess the technology’s suitability for broader applications, particularly in stationary energy storage systems.
The collaboration will be implemented in two phases. Phase I involves the supply and validation of the initial batch of 80 pouch cells. Phase II will include the supply of two additional batches of 80 pouch cells each through a subsequent amendment to the agreement.
The partnership underscores ARCI’s commitment to translating indigenous research into industry-ready solutions and supports India’s broader objective of achieving self-reliance in advanced and sustainable energy storage technologies.
