Rs 1 cr ISRO's lithium ion cell technology gets overwhelming initial response
Chennai, July 15 : Over 130 companies have shown interest in the Indian space agency's lithium ion cell technology and the pre-application conference will be held on Tuesday, said a senior official.
"The response to our announcement to transfer the lithium ion cell technology is overwhelming. More than 130 companies have purchased the RFQ document. The pre-application conference will be held on Tuesday," S. Somanath, Director, Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), told IANS.
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in June announced its decision to transfer its own lithium ion cell technology to the Indian industry on a non-exclusive basis for usage in automobiles for Rs 1 crore.
The space agency had said the initiative will accelerate the development of the indigenous electric vehicle industry.
The VSSC, located in Kerala, will transfer the lithium ion cell technology to the successful Indian industries/start-ups on a non-exclusive basis to establish production facilities in the country that can produce cells of varying size, capacity, energy density and power density catering to the entire spectrum of power storage requirements, ISRO had said.
According to Somanath, the transfer of technology will start from transfer to documentation.
"Successful companies can come to VSSC and familiarise themselves about the battery technology. We do not have the manpower to depute to the technology buyer's place," Somanath said.
According to him, the lithium ion cell battery technology buyers can innovate further so address the market needs.
"Batch manufacturing of lithium ion cells is sufficient for ISRO's needs. Whereas in the case of mass production it is only the industry that can do it," he added.
Somanath said the ISRO makes lithium ion cell batteries of various sizes and power (1.5 ampere to 100 ampere) to power its rockets and satellites.
"ISRO will not get any royalty from the buyers of its lithium ion cell technology. Our idea is to enable the industry to develop," Somanath said.
He said ISRO for its use will source lithium ion batteries from Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL) as the technology has been transferred to the power equipment major.
Last month, ISRO issued the RFQ containing a brief description of the qualification process and technology transfer process, instructions to applicants, eligibility criteria, timelines and other details.
All queries or request for additional information concerning the RFQ will be addressed at the pre-application conference, the space agency had said.
ISRO also said that the "competent firm's security deposit will be adjusted against the technology transfer fee of Rs 1 crore. The security deposit (Rs 400,000) of unsuccessful applicants or withdrawn applications will be returned, without any interest".
The one-time technology transfer fee has to be paid within 30 days of the qualification date.
"Technology shall be transferred to all/any of the competent firms who qualify the eligibility criteria as specified in the RFQ. The required process documents shall be provided by ISRO at the time of signing of technology transfer agreement and payment of technology transfer fee," ISRO had said.
Presently, the lithium-ion battery is the most dominant battery system finding applications for a variety of societal needs including mobile phones, laptops, cameras and many other portable consumer gadgets apart from industrial applications and aerospace.
Recent advances in the battery technology have made it the preferred power source for electric and hybrid electric vehicles also.
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Hit by sexual abuse allegations, ex-PM Deve Gowda’s son Revanna tries to find remedy in rituals
Holenarasipura (Karnataka) (PTI): Smoke billowed as ‘Havan’ (fire rituals) flames raged in the scorching summer at JD(S) MLA and former Karnataka Minister H D Revanna’s residence here on Wednesday.
Conspicuous was a piece of paper pasted on the wall of his house.
Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru before leaving for Holenarasipura, Revanna said the SIT has pasted a notice on his house.
Noting that he has no clue about the content of the notice, he said he will cooperate with the authorities.
“I have the strength to face these conspiracies. I will face it (investigation). There is no need to bother. I did not do anything wrong. I am prepared for any investigation and will fight it in a legal manner,” Revanna said.
Rejecting all the allegations, he said, "I will not speak about it now.”
Meanwhile, the SIT has formed three teams to probe the case.
Revanna, the Holenarasipura JD(S) MLA, is the son of former Prime Minister and JD(S) patriarch H D Deve Gowda and elder brother of former chief minister H D Kumaraswamy.
Prajwal is seeking a re-election from Hassan from the JD(S), which is an alliance partner of the BJP in Karnataka.
Just before the elections, a huge cache of explicit videos and photographs, allegedly belonging to him have gone viral in the social media, following which the Karnataka government constituted the SIT on the request of Karnataka State Commission for Women chairperson Nagalakshmi Chowdhary.
A case has been registered against Revanna and Prajwal at Holenarasipura on a complaint by their former cook and relative for allegedly sexually harassing her. She alleged that Prajwal made video calls to her daughter and spoke in an objectionable manner, which forced her to block him.
Since morning, priests were busy performing rituals at Revanna's residence in Hassan district to "ward off the adversity" that has struck their family.
Revanna’s trust in Gods, Goddesses, rituals and astrology are well known.
Once the JD(S) MLA was seen holding lemons in his hand during a public event on the stage. When asked about it, he said lemon has the quality to ward off any type of spell cast on a person.
Sometime he also was seen walking barefoot as part of a vow to fulfill his wishes.
When he was the Public Works Minister in the coalition government of Congress-JD(S), which was led by his brother Kumaraswamy, he travelled 350 km to and from Holenarasipura after an astrologer had advised him not to stay in his own house in Bengaluru as it would bring him bad luck, a source close to Revanna said.
One cannot miss out a broad ‘Tilak’ on his forehead, a garland of Rudraksh Rosary around his neck and rings on his fingers studded with precious stones.
