Vedanta Aluminium helps EV makers with lightweight solutions

Lightweight but strong vehicle construction is one of the tools that enable increased travel range to electric vehicles and Vedanta Aluminium, India's largest producer of aluminium, is among the companies which have been the growth drivers of zero-emission vehicles.

The company’s cutting-edge product portfolio already includes primary foundry alloys for wheels, engine blocks and cylinder-head applications, billets for battery casings, HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air-Conditioning) systems and EV frames. Together, they enable the automotive industry to access best-in-class value-added products backed by a lower carbon footprint and enhanced supply-chain reliability.

Aluminium’s unique properties, such as its high strength-to-weight ratio, superb corrosion resistance, exceptional design flexibility, anodising ability, thermal and electrical conductivity, and 100% recyclability have made it the go-to metal for automakers worldwide. Greater usage of aluminium in EVs extends their driving range by offsetting battery weight, thereby reducing the total cost of ownership even with the addition of extra safety features.

Research suggests that every kilogram of aluminium used in a car reduces its overall weight by 1kg, and consequently, 100kg saved on an EV’s weight translates into a potential 10-15% increase in its range. This attribute is of immense significance towards driving higher EV adoption amongst consumers, especially in a geographically vast nation like India. Aluminium is also a critical element in the development of an extensive EV charging infrastructure, given its proven applications in deploying electrical transmission and distribution networks.

Vedanta Aluminium states that is the first in India to offer low carbon, ‘green’ aluminium – branded Restora and Restora Ultra – for its global customer base, many of whom are focused on ensuring the sustainable provenance of their materials and decarbonising their entire value chain. Extensively utilising Restora in their own product range offers automotive manufacturers the potential to significantly lower the carbon footprint across their value chains.

Reiterating the commitment of Vedanta Aluminium to supporting the EV industry, Sunil Gupta, COO, Vedanta Ltd – Aluminium Business said, "EVs are poised to play a pivotal role in steering the planet towards a more environmentally sustainable future. Aluminium is key to advancing this endeavour, thanks to its remarkable versatility. We are a trusted partner to the automotive sector, focused on developing world-class products to meet their specific requirements and help them reduce their carbon footprint. Our products are also certified with several leading global certifications that underscore their excellent quality and sustainability standards."

Rajesh Kumar, CEO and whole-time director, BALCO said, “With our extensive portfolio of products developed using best-in-class technologies, Vedanta Aluminium is well positioned to cater to the rapidly evolving demands of the EV industry. We have established a Centre of Excellence (CoE) in aluminium to bring together deep R&D, innovation and global technical expertise to co-create the next big thing in aluminium.”

Vedanta Aluminium’s product range is Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS)-certified for demonstrating high quality. The company’s products have also been verified as environmentally sustainable by the globally recognized Environmental Product Declaration (EPD), after undergoing a rigorous Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), performing well on the parameters of energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, water usage, and waste generation. Additionally, the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI), has also certified the company’s plant located at Jharsuguda, Odisha for showcasing high sustainability performance, an indicator of sustainability worldwide.

In addition to catering to the raw material needs of the EV industry, Vedanta Aluminium is itself a leader in the adoption of EV technology. The company hosts India’s largest fleet of electric lithium-ion forklifts, with a total of 44 units now deployed across its operations in Odisha and Chhattisgarh. The company also aims to decarbonise 100% of its Light Motor Vehicle fleet by 2030, and 75% of its mining fleet by 2035.

ALSO READ: 
EV sales in India hit a million units for second year in a row