KPIT Technologies, an automotive software company, has transferred its sodium-ion battery technology to Trentar Energy Solutions for commercialization, the companies announced on February 12, 2025. The agreement includes a 3GWH manufacturing investment by Trentar and provides KPIT with upfront technology transfer fees plus royalties over an eight-year period.
The sodium-ion battery technology, developed by KPIT in December 2023, offers 80% capacity retention for 3,000-6,000 cycles and faster charging capabilities compared to traditional lithium-ion batteries. The technology aims to reduce dependency on lithium by utilizing more readily avevailable raw materials.
Ravi Pandit, Chairman of KPIT Technologies, emphasized the company's focus on sustainable mobility technologies, while Trentar's Founder and Vice Chairman Subodh Menon highlighted the strategic importance of sodium-ion technology for their organization's future plans in mobility and energy storage sectors.
The technology has potential applications across various transportation segments, including two-, three-, and four-wheelers, as well as public transit. It can also be utilized in stationary applications such as UPS systems, grid storage, and marine and defense sectors.
This development comes amid growing global interest in sodium-ion batteries as an alternative to lithium-ion technology. Several major battery manufacturers and automotive companies have been investing in sodium-ion research and development, driven by concerns about lithium supply chain constraints and costs. China's CATL, one of the world's largest battery manufacturers, announced its own sodium-ion battery technology in 2021, signaling industry momentum in this direction.
KPIT Technologies, listed on both NSE and BSE, has established itself as a significant player in mobility solutions, while Trentar Energy Solutions is positioning itself in the electrical mobility and energy storage space. Both companies join a select group of organizations worldwide working on sodium-ion battery technology development.