Tata Group's Agratas Energy Storage Solutions develops in-house LFP battery technology

Key facts

• Tata Group's Agratas Energy Storage Solutions is developing its own lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery cell technology.
• A pilot production line for LFP cells is being set up at Agratas' upcoming battery manufacturing facility in Sanand, Gujarat.
• The in-house LFP development follows China's tighter controls on battery manufacturing technology exports, which made licensing agreements with Chinese companies unlikely.
• Agratas' nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) battery programme is progressing through a technology licensing agreement with Japan's Automotive Energy Supply Corp. (AESC).
• The Sanand facility will manufacture both NMC and LFP battery cells, with commercial NMC production in India expected to begin in early 2027.
• Agratas' battery plant in Somerset, England, is scheduled to commence production around the middle of next year.
• Initially, battery cells from both facilities will be supplied to Jaguar Land Rover for its upcoming Range Rover Electric SUV.
• LFP batteries are considered suitable for India's battery energy storage systems market due to lower costs, improved thermal stability and longer cycle life compared with NMC batteries.
• Agratas is investing more than USD 400 million in a research and development centre in Bengaluru focused on LFP and lithium manganese iron phosphate (LMFP) battery technologies.