Context:
The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) BHU has been designated as one of seven key nodal centres under the Government of India’s Mission for Advancement of High Impact Areas in Electric Vehicles (MAHA-EV).
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- It was launched by the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF).
- IIT-BHU has been entrusted with leading a national facility under the project titled Te-MobiX (Tropical e-Mobility Excellence).
- This initiative will focus on battery degradation diagnostics and the development of safe, sustainable, and high-performance battery systems.
- To support this effort, the institute has been awarded a research grant of ₹55 crore for the establishment of the National Facility for Battery Research on its campus.
- The proposal was spearheaded by IIT-BHU Director, with collaborative involvement from faculty members of IIT-BHU, IIT Kharagpur, Banaras Hindu University (BHU), and ICT Mumbai.
- This facility will cover the entire spectrum of battery research from raw materials to next-generation solutions for land, water, and air mobility.
- The initiative is closely aligned with India’s National Mission on Transformative Mobility, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the EV30@2030 vision.
- Te-MobiX is designed to tackle challenges unique to India’s tropical climate, with a focus on enhancing battery safety, lifespan, and performance.
- The mission’s collaborative framework includes strong industry partnerships with leading companies such as Tata Motors, TVS Motors, Urjawatt Technologies, OPAL-RT, and ThoughtSpot India Pvt. Ltd., fostering synergy between cutting-edge research and real-world application.
- These industry partners will contribute 10% of the total project cost and play a crucial role in real-world testing and the commercialisation of research outcomes.
- The project team at IIT-BHU brings together a diverse group of experts from departments including electrical, chemical, mechanical, biochemical, and civil engineering, as well as chemistry and materials science.
- This multidisciplinary approach is further strengthened by key collaborations with IIT Kharagpur, Banaras Hindu University (BHU), and ICT Mumbai, who are playing significant roles in the initiative.
- As part of the ANRF MAHA-EV Mission, seven specialized e-nodes have been identified across the country to drive innovation in high-impact areas of electric mobility:
- TV-I (Tropical Battery and Cell Technologies): IIT-BHU and ARCI Hyderabad
- TV-II (Power Electronics and Drives): IIT Bombay, NIT Surathkal, and CSIR-CEERI Pilani.
- TV-III (Charging Infrastructure): IIT Kanpur and IIT Kharagpur
- Each of these e-nodes will operate under a consortium model, integrating academic institutions, research laboratories, and industry partners.
- This collaborative structure is designed to accelerate research, foster innovation, and establish a comprehensive and resilient ecosystem to support the growth of electric mobility in India.
