Nash Energy commissions a 600 MWh Lithium-ion cell manufacturing plant • EVreporter

Nash Group is a leading Contract Manufacturer and Box Build Services provider, along with OEM/ODM design, engineering and white label products and solutions for leading auto OEMs like Hyundai, Kia, Daimler, Volvo, etc. and Energy OEMs like Siemens, Schneider, ABB, Hitachi etc.

Nash Energy, part of the Nash Group, has completed commissioning its 600 MWh annual capacity LFP cylindrical cell manufacturing plant in Bengaluru. The cells are BIS certified and currently under customer qualification with several EV and ESS OEMs. Nash is also working on several system solutions – from 25.6V to 1100V. Within the EV supply chain, Nash supplies DC-DC converters, Motor Controllers, Battery Chargers, Bus Bars, Wire Harness, Camera and display dashboard solutions, BMS, etc.

In this chat with Anil Kumar, the Chief Operating Officer at Nash Energy, we discuss their lithium-ion cell manufacturing capabilities, plans and road map for this business.

Please tell us about the current Lithium-ion cell manufacturing setup at Nash Energy.

Nash Energy has established a 600 MWh lithium-ion cell manufacturing facility in Bangalore, making it India’s first mass-scale LFP manufacturing line. The facility is operational, and we are currently ramping up production to meet growing market demand.

Can you also share about the cell specification currently being produced?

Our current production focuses on the cylindrical cell, 32140 Format, 15Ah Capacity in LFP Chemistry, designed for electric vehicles (EVs), including 2-wheelers, 3-wheelers, and 4-wheelers, and various stationary energy storage applications. This cell is BIS-certified, ensuring compliance with quality and safety standards.

Please share about Nash Energy’s cell manufacturing technology partner and the type of technology license in place.

Nash Energy has a wholly owned R&D facility in Japan, which serves as the technology centre for both our current and next-generation technologies like Solid State.

This in-house R&D capability allows us to stay ahead of technological advancements and maintain full control over our intellectual property.

Please help us understand your manufacturing roadmap.

Our long-term manufacturing roadmap includes scaling to a cumulative capacity of over 10 GWh by 2030. This expansion plan is aligned with the increasing demand for lithium-ion cells in the EV sector and other applications, ensuring Nash Energy’s position as a key player in the market.

Where is Nash Energy procuring the different cell components at the moment?

At present, we source all our cell raw materials from China.

Please also walk us through the localisation or domestic value-addition plan for your cell manufacturing.

Nash Industries, part of the Nash Group, has over 50 years of experience in sheet metal and component manufacturing.

• The First Phase will focus on localising all the metallic components by leveraging the capabilities Nash Industries.

• In the Second Phase, we plan to localise Electrolyte and other Non-Metallic components for which we are already in discussion with local suppliers.

• Phase 3 and Phase 4 will consist of localisation of Foils, Separator, Anode and Cathode Material.

When it comes to battery pack manufacturing, Nash Group is capable of producing over 90% of the battery pack components in-house, as demonstrated below.

What is the current status of the customer qualification process for your cells?

We have initiated the customer qualification process by distributing BIS-certified sample cells to our customers. This allows them to test the cells in real-world applications and validate performance, ensuring our products meet their specific requirements and expectations.

Also read: Challenges during lithium-ion cell manufacturing plant set up – Part 3