Agratas Develops Proprietary LFP Battery Technology in India

Agratas Energy Storage Solutions, the battery unit of the Tata Group, is developing proprietary technology to manufacture lithium iron phosphate (LFP) cells. The company is establishing a pilot production line for these cells at its factory in Sanand, Gujarat, after concluding that technology deals with Chinese firms are unlikely due to Beijing's strict export curbs on manufacturing know-how.

This self-sufficiency strategy for LFP cells differs from the company's approach to nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) cells, which rely on licensed technology from Japan's Automotive Energy Supply Corp. Agratas plans to produce both cell types at the Sanand facility, with NMC production expected to begin by early 2027.

To support these efforts, the company is investing over $400 million in a research and development center in Bengaluru. This facility will focus on advancing LFP and lithium manganese iron phosphate technologies. Agratas also maintains a factory in Somerset, England, which is scheduled to start production by mid-2027.