Pluss' quest for safe batteries gains momentum

EVs face a slew of challenges including thermal runaway and the need for safe batteries. Now, a southbased company says it has the answers. Nilesh Wadhwa reports on how the company plans to provide a solution that is safer and cost-effective.

- Nilesh Wadhwa

Pluss Advanced Technologies (Pluss), promoted by Carborundum Universal (CUMI, part of the Murugappa Group) is working on a solution to tackle thermal runaway and is confident that it has the answer to the problem. The materials research and manufacturing company is working in the phase change materials (PCMs) for thermal energy storage and speciality polymeric additives for enhancing polymer properties. Its solution could help the EV industry that is trying to cope and understand issues such as thermal management and storage chemistries.

In an email interaction with Autocar Professional, Samit Jain, managing director, Pluss Advanced Technologies gave some insight into the company’s product offering. “Lithium-ion batteries are widely used in electric two-, three- and four-wheelers, with varied power capacities ranging from 1 kWh to 5 kWh for two-wheelers and more than 5kWh for three-wheelers. Since the electrochemistry of lithium-ion batteries is temperature-sensitive, an improper control of thermal conditions in battery applications can result in several issues. Depending on the charge/discharge rates, ambient environment, and battery engineering, heat dissipation rates can typically range from 5W to 100 W per commercial battery pack.”