Mahindra and LG Chem have announced a partnership to jointly develop new and advanced lithium-ion battery technology to be used in Mahindra and SsangYong’s range of electric vehicles. This seems to be a part of the trend where automakers in India are tying up with battery manufacturers to develop EV tech including the Toyota-Panasonic partnership and Suzuki’s collaboration with Toshiba and Denso.

As part of the collaboration, LG Chem will develop a unique cell that would be exclusively developed and used in India and will also supply lithium ion cells based on NMC (Nickel-Manganese-Cobalt) chemistry with high energy density. LG Chem will also design Li-ion battery modules for Mahindra Electric, which in turn will create battery packs for the Mahindra Group and other customers.

Commenting on this announcement, Hemant Sikka, president and chief purchase officer, Mahindra & Mahindra said, “The electric vehicle revolution is taking the country by storm and at Mahindra, we are happy to be at the forefront of this change. This association with LG Chem will give us the requisite access to advanced battery technology and will also enable us to deliver globally competitive products.”

According to JH Kim, executive vice president in Energy Solution Compay, LG Chem: “LG Chem expects this collaboration to be one of the memorable moment for putting the commercialisation of EVs forward in India market.”

Mahindra had announced last year that as part of its investment plan, a battery module plant, which will have a capacity of half a million battery modules per annum, is under development. The plant will also include a battery module pack line and is expected to go into production in the last quarter of FY 2020.

Mahindra Electric’s portfolio of electric vehicles in India includes the e2o plus hatchback, eVerito sedan, the eSupro minivan and the electric rickshaw, the e-Alfa Mini.