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Lithium-ion giga units
Why is it in news?
- To push the adoption of electric mobility in the country, government think-tank NITI Aayog has proposed the establishment of giga factories in India for the manufacture of lithium-ion batteries in the next couple of years.
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- Background: The recommendation is part of the Aayog’s much debated proposal that only electric (lithium-ion or other advanced battery chemistry only) three-wheelers would be sold in the country after March 31, 2023, and all new sales of two-wheelers below 150cc would be electric post March 31, 2025.
- Sunrise industry:(1) Manufacturing of lithium-ion batteries is a sunrise industry and India needed to start building capabilities to become a globally competitive player in this area.(2) The lack of domestic capability will result in massive imports as is the case in electronics.(3) Sunrise industry is a colloquial term for a burgeoning sector or business that is just in its infancy but shows promise of a rapid boom.(4) A sunrise industry is typically characterized by high growth rates, numerous start-ups and an abundance of venture capital funding.
- Replacement to lithium-ion: India was also working towards finding lithium-ion and with the advancement of technology; it was likely that it may be replaced with other advanced batteries.
- Industry opposition:(1) The two-wheeler industry had strongly opposed the Aayog’s proposal to stop selling ICE (internal combustion engine) 150cc two-wheelers, cautioning that the move would disrupt the industry that was already reeling under stress.(2) Terming the proposal impractical, the industry had also pointed out that batteries, which were a crucial part of electric vehicles, were expensive and not made in India.
Source
The Hindu