By Anshul Gupta, Spokesperson and Board Representative, OPG Mobility
India is at the forefront of the global electric mobility revolution, poised to become one of the largest consumers of electric vehicles (EVs). The change is visible on every city street, where electric scooters and auto rickshaws, these workhorse vehicles for millions of people in urban and semi-urban neighbourhoods, are steadily claiming larger sales shares. This can be attributed to friendly policies such as the Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles India scheme. Batteries, of course, sit at the centre of this story.
The current scenario
Today’s mass-market of EVs still lean on lithium-ion batteries that carry a noteworthy ecological footprint. Refining lithium, cobalt, and nickel ores leave a heavy mark on the environment: these steps utilise huge amounts of water, wreck local habitats, and spread toxic waste over the land, problems that hurt especially hard in India’s dry states. Due to this environmental damage, producers, whether Indian or not, are now under pressure to demonstrate that they source their minerals responsibly.
The next stage – making the battery cells – is also hungry for energy. As of early 2025, most of India’s power comes from coal, so every battery made on home turf burns coal before the EV even starts its motor. Rough estimates suggest that building one EV battery pack pumps out roughly four tonnes of carbon dioxide. That figure changes when you factor in today’s grid mix. On top of everything, standard methods release N-Methyl-2-Pyrrolidone, a solvent that adds yet another layer of pollution. The story doesn’t end with production; the fate of a spent battery is equally frightening. India is set to welcome millions of electric two-wheelers and three-wheelers in the near future, which means the country will soon face the giant task of collecting and recycling those old cells.
At present, formal recycling systems for lithium-ion batteries in India are still in their infancy. With much of the work falling to the informal market, valuable metals are lost, and toxic materials can poison people and land alike. These issues are crucial for the long-term growth of India’s EV sector, particularly its large two-wheeler and three-wheeler markets, which contribute significantly to the economy.
Aiming for a sustainable future
Fast-paced innovations are emerging in India to tackle these obstacles more sustainably, especially in cleaner battery manufacturing. One clear trend is the ongoing shift toward new battery chemistries. Lithium Iron Phosphate packs are gaining ground in India because they are cheaper, safer, and last longer, qualities that match the surging demand from two-wheeler and three-wheeler riders; their share of the market is climbing sharply. Sodium-ion cells, however, may prove even more useful for the country since they rely on locally available sodium and sidestep imported lithium or cobalt. Although energy density is still improving, Indian researchers are developing prototypes for grid storage and low-cost short-range vehicles, which aligns neatly with the Make in India vision and enhances national energy security. Solid-state designs, promising higher performance and safety, remain several years from mass production. Meanwhile, battery factories are adopting cleaner, less wasteful methods, strengthening both supply chains and the environment.
Dry-electrode coating technology, which cuts energy use by roughly 30 per cent and avoids toxic solvents, is under global development and could deliver major cost and environmental gains to Indian gigafactories. At the same time, an increasing number of battery makers are committing to renewable power for production. This shift plays an important role in curbing the carbon footprint tied to India’s coal-heavy grid. Modern factories are also adding closed-loop water systems and robust scrap-reclaim programmes, making water savings and waste management core to their strategies.
In addition, repurposing used EV batteries as backup power or grid storage – the long-term stopgap before final recycling – creates sizable economic and environmental value. Digital battery Passports promise to simplify this reuse and recycling by tracking each cell from manufacture through every second of life.
Tackling the challenge
Even with bright prospects, India still faces hurdles on the road to sustainable battery design and manufacturing. Scaling pilot projects such as sodium-ion chemistry or dry-coating lines to full-volume plants remains costly because it demands modern buildings, dependable power, and months of skilled training. Although government production-linked incentive programmes aim to boost local manufacturing, it remains vital that new factories learn about and implement world-class practices from day one.
India must still build a countrywide, efficient framework for collecting and recycling batteries, and that task is far from simple. Formal routes able to manage the flood of spent batteries from two- and three-wheelers – not yet fully scaled – operational or administrative – must merge with informal workers already in the sector, creating tricky logistical and social challenges. At the same time, clear guidelines on supply-chain fairness and the ethical sourcing of imported minerals remain demanding for Indian manufacturers.
Building low-carbon batteries in India remains difficult because the country’s power grid still relies on fossil fuels and only gradually becomes cleaner as new renewable plants come online. Meaningful sustainable manufacturing will follow only after stronger policies reshape the grid. Investors need coherent rules and systematic backing of the existing battery waste management framework if they are to trust the nation with their clean-tech dollars.
All in all, electro mobility is already racing ahead, especially in the two- and three-wheeler segment. Yet that momentum rests on the batteries’ long-term sustainability. Meeting lofty targets requires working recycling networks, a greener grid, ethical supply chains, and bold technological leaps. Positive signs are visible. Thanks to India’s inventive spirit, supportive government direction, and rising passion among makers, progress is unfolding in new battery chemistries, cleaner production routes, and circular-economy models. However, it is imperative to implement a comprehensive battery strategy from birth to death. The sector must pump in capital, elevate research, frame clear policy, build robust infrastructure, and inform consumers.
By working together, India as a nation can link fresh ideas with practical action, tackle tough challenges, cut pollution and carbon emissions, save vital resources, and move toward a self-sufficient, cleaner future that benefits everyone.
