KPIT’s strategy to lead in hydrogen and sodium batteries is driven by a commitment to sustainability, a desire for national energy independence, and a "mile deep" focus on specialized research and development.
1. Leading in Sodium Batteries
KPIT began working on sodium battery technology approximately six years ago, anticipating that the world would eventually seek alternatives to lithium-ion batteries to avoid over-dependence on specific countries, notably China. Their plan includes:
- Technological Achievement: KPIT successfully built India's first sodium battery and developed the underlying technology in-house.
- Commercialisation through Licensing: Rather than manufacturing the batteries themselves, they have licensed the technology to a large Indian private company to bring these batteries to the market.
- Performance and Cost Targets: KPIT is targeting a performance level of 190 Wh/kg and a cost of less than $50 per kilowatt hour, which would make it a highly competitive alternative to current lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) chemistries.
2. Leading in Hydrogen Technology
KPIT views hydrogen as the primary solution for long-distance, heavy-duty vehicles, whereas batteries are better suited for short distances. Their leadership plan involves several layers:
- Fuel Cell Development: KPIT is the first company in India to develop fuel cells locally, focusing on high efficiency and the world's lowest cost.
- Biohydrogen Innovation: Recognizing that electrolysers (the global standard) are expensive, KPIT is focused on biohydrogen—producing hydrogen from biomass. They have even researched specific types of trees to grow to ensure the lowest cost biomass for production.
- Cost Advantage: Their goal is to produce green hydrogen at approximately 150 rupees per kg, which would make hydrogen-powered vehicles cheaper to drive than diesel vehicles.
- Value Chain Integration: KPIT plans to be active across the entire ecosystem, from hydrogen generation to consumption in mobility and other industrial areas like steel and fertiliser.
3. Foundational R&D Strategy
To support these goals, KPIT maintains a high level of investment in research, spending between 4% and 6% of its turnover on R&D, which is significantly higher than many of its Indian IT peers. Ravi Pandit believes that leadership in these new technologies requires the courage to "sow the seeds" 15 to 20 years in advance and a "healthy paranoia" to stay ahead of global competition.
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