Exide begins production at India's largest lithium-ion battery plant with partner Leclanche

Leclanche SA

05/05/2022 16:07

By Aditi Shah
    NEW DELHI, May 5 (Reuters) - Indian battery maker Exide
Industries  EXID.NS  and joint venture partner Switzerland's
Leclanche SA  LECN.S  have begun mass production at the nation's
largest lithium-ion battery plant in the western state of
Gujarat, the companies said on Thursday. 
    The plant, with total installed capacity of 1.5 Gigawatt
hours (GWh), has six automated assembly lines on which it will
produce batteries for automobiles and energy storage
applications, the joint venture company, Nexcharge, said in a
statement. 
    The push by Nexcharge comes as Prime Minister Narendra
Modi's government is giving billions of dollars in incentives to
companies to build clean cars and their components, including
batteries, locally.  urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL2N2VK0GA
    Nexcharge has so far invested 2.5 billion rupees ($33
million) in building and setting up the plant, which also has a
cell testing lab, Chief Executive Stefan Louis said, adding that
the company is on a "fast-track" to cater to demand from the
mobility and utility sectors.
    Electric vehicles and clean energy are critical to India
meeting its carbon reduction and climate change goals.
   
($1 = 76.2826 Indian rupees)

 (Reporting by Aditi Shah
Editing by Bill Berkrot)
 ((aditi.shah@tr.com; +91-11-4954 8023, +91-11-3015 8023;
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