Exclusive: JSW Energy’s Yashodhan Gokhale to Join Amara Raja

Dr Yashodhan Gokhale, Vice President, Battery Technology at JSW Energy, is set to join Amara Raja as Head of Engineering, Autocar Professional has learnt.

In his new role, Gokhale will oversee engineering around battery packs and battery energy storage systems (BESS), giving him a key technology mandate as Amara Raja expands its new-energy business.

The appointment comes as Amara Raja steps up investments in both areas. The company is setting up a 5 GWh BESS manufacturing facility with a capex of around Rs 280 crore, with start of production targeted for Q4 FY2027. Phase 1 of its battery-pack facility in Telangana, meanwhile, has 1.5 GWh of capacity, with commercial supplies of packs for two- and three-wheelers already underway.

Gokhale brings more than two decades of experience spanning battery technology, materials, electric mobility and energy storage. He joined JSW Energy in 2024 and has been involved in the company’s battery technology programmes. Before JSW, he served as Chief Technology Officer at Battrixx and was earlier Vice President, Energy Storage at Kalyani Powertrain.

His career also includes a long stint with Octillion Power Systems, where he worked on lithium-ion battery systems and electric mobility, as well as roles at Customized Energy Solutions and Tata Motors. His technical background extends across battery-pack development, battery management systems and energy storage applications.

Amara Raja Energy & Mobility has been expanding its new-energy operations through subsidiary Amara Raja Advanced Cell Technologies. The company has committed an investment of Rs 9,500 crore over 10 years towards its Giga Corridor in Telangana, which includes manufacturing and research infrastructure for its new-energy business.

For Gokhale, the move brings together areas that have formed a significant part of his career, particularly automotive battery packs and stationary energy storage. At Amara Raja, that experience will now sit under a wider engineering mandate covering battery packs and BESS.

The appointment comes as Amara Raja scales these businesses alongside its established automotive and industrial battery operations, adding engineering and manufacturing capabilities for electric mobility and stationary energy storage.