Mr. Hardeep Singh Puri, Union Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas and Housing & Urban Affairs, inaugurated the pavilion of IOC Phinergy Private Limited (IOP) at Auto-Expo 2023. The Auto Expo, being held at the India Expo Mart, Greater Noida is India’s largest automobile exhibition wherein India’s leading automobile manufacturers participate to showcase the latest in products (Cars, MUVs/SUVs, 2-Wheelers, 3-Wheelers Commercial Vehicles), technologies, concepts, and trends and includes participation from various institutions, media & auto publications.
Mr. Puri was accompanied in this coveted event by Mr. Naor Gilon, Ambassador of Israel to India, Mr. SM Vaidya, Chairman, IndianOil, and Mr. Aviv Tzidon, Co-founder and Chairman, Phinergy, Israel. Mr. Sanjeev Gupta, Chairman, IOP, and the leadership team of IOP were also present on the occasion.
IOC Phinergy Private Limited (IOP) is a 50:50 Joint Venture of IndianOil with Phinergy, Israel to commercialize Aluminium-Air battery technology in India. The pavilion showcased IOP’s ground-breaking Aluminium-Air technology solution and presented India’s first-ever electric car and electric rickshaw powered by an Aluminium-Air system.
IOP is striving to contribute towards “AatmaNirbhar Bharat” by creating the first-ever full eco-system of Aluminum-Air energy in India including R&D, manufacturing, deployment of Aluminium-air energy system, and associated refueling infrastructure. Aluminium, as a low-cost energy carrier that is abundantly available in India, provides significant cost savings and an extended lifetime for Electric Vehicles. Moreover, it is less sensitive to high temperatures which makes it safer and better suited for Indian climatic conditions. This solution has the potential to contribute towards reducing import dependence in wake of increasing electric vehicle penetration in India catalyzed by the Government’s thrust through schemes like FAME, ACC PLI, Auto & Auto components PLI, etc.
Aluminum, as a metal, has had an existing production, transportation, and recycling value chain for over a century. With the availability of indigenous aluminum in abundance supported by a well-established aluminum industry, Aluminum’s use as an energy carrier has the potential to disrupt the e-mobility landscape in India.
IOP is partnering with leading OEMs in India for piloting the technology by integrating its Aluminum-Air batteries in electric vehicles. IOP has demonstrated >500 km range in a continuous drive of Al-Air integrated EVs in India. IOP has also successfully demonstrated the Al-Air technology for energy backup applications at the sites of a leading telecom tower company in India. Phinergy and IOP have partnered exclusively with Hindalco in India, on R&D and pilot production of Aluminium plates for Aluminium-Air batteries, and recycling of Aluminium, after usage in these batteries.
