Minutes of the Meeting of Main Committee to consider proposals/projects for extending financial support under DCAAI funds by the Department of Heavy Industry held on 18th October 2019 A meeting of the Main Committee under the chairmanship of the Secretary (Heavy Industry) to consider the proposals / projects recommended by Screening Committee for extending financial support through DCAAI Funds was held at 11.00 AM on 18th October 2019, at “KAUSTUBHAM” Conference Hall, Udyog Bhawan, New Delhi. The list of the participants is at Annexure-I. 2. At the outset, the Chairman welcomed all the participants. After a brief round of introduction by all participants, Joint Secretary (Auto) initiated the discussions by informing the background/ activities and about funding under DCAAI funds. It was informed that 30 proposals were received against the EoI issued by DHI, out of which an internal Pre-Screening Committee shortlisted 10 proposals for consideration by the Screening Committee. The Screening Committee, in consultation with Technical experts have recommended these proposals for consideration by the Main Committee. Further, Joint Secretary(Auto) informed that Screening Committee has also recommended to the Main Committee two projects from ICAT and TERI, received separately apart from the EOI. AS&FA inquired about the status of review of previous projects. JS(Auto) clarified that so far no comprehensive review has been done, however, projects are being reviewed on individual basis. Director(Auto) informed that the exercise of review of the past projects along with formal closure of projects will be taken up in a planned manner. 3. The Chairman requested that the applicants should mainly explain technological gaps that their project proposals are trying to address and the scope of commercialization of their project proposal. Development Officer (RKJ), DHI presented the brief of the project proposals. Record of discussions on each project and decisions taken thereof by the Committee is summarized in the succeeding paragraphs followed by summary table of the decisions taken at Annexure II: - Project 1: Development of Solid-State Li-Ion Batteries for Automotive Applications and Techno- Commercial Viability Studies of Such Batteries Implementing Agency: IISc Bangalore Partner Organization: 1. Vimano EWA 2. Ashok Leyland Ltd. Duration: 36 Months Total Project Cost: Rs 372.5 Lakhs Fund Sought from DHI: Rs. 297.5 Lakh (80%) Contribution from Lead Organization: 0 Contribution from Partner Organizations: Rs. 75 Lakh (20%) a) Objective: The primary objectives of this proposal are: Develop assembly techniques to build solid state cells employing either Li or Li-mixed electrode materials as negative electrodes; Develop indigenous synthetic techniques for manganese or iron-based cathodes or even Sulphur-based cathodes that may harness the indigenous mineral wealth in India; Assemble all solid-state Li-ion batteries with a nominal cell voltage of up to 4.5 V and storage capacity of ~2500 mAh; Perform techno-commercial evaluation of such batteries for suitability in electric automotive applications; To collaborate with industry partners (Vimano and Ashok Leyland) in demonstrating the utility of solid-state cells in automotive applications b) Discussion: i. Committee was informed that the preliminary lab studies are very encouraging to start the project. The results can address the problems and limitations of liquid electrolyte EV battery, which are being used presently. ii. The partner organization informed that of the advance battery with high power density developed during the project has huge commercialization potential to help the EV industry. iii. The Committee was informed that a similar project was earlier funded by DHI in collaboration with DST. The Implementing Agency informed that their project proposal is based on their patented interlayer technology developed in IISc. laboratory and builds ahead on the outcome of the earlier project. While different potential battery materials for consumer electronics and Light EV were explored in the earlier project, Prototype development and scaling up the cells to a size relevant to mainstream automotive application is the main focus of the present proposal. iv. The Committee directed that the project partners should ensure non-duplication. c) Decision: The closure report of the earlier project was shared with the Implementing Agency and it was confirmed that there is no duplication The Committee observed that the project is aimed at addressing key problems of EV battery technology and decided to support the project for funding under DCAAI. The Committee asked JS(Auto) to freeze the baseline before releasing the funds. Project 2: Development of Energy Efficient Control Scheme for Induction Motor Drive Used in EV and HEV. Implementing Agency: IIT Dhanbad Partner Organization: Mahindra & Mahindra Duration: 24 Months Total Project Cost: Rs 84.37 Lakhs Fund Sought from DHI: Rs. 67.43 Lakh (80 %) Contribution from Lead Organization: 0 Contribution from Partner Organization: Rs. 16.94 Lakh (20 %) a) Objectives: To achieve over 20% of efficiency improvement of Induction Motor drive system at a low load torque. b) Discussion: i. Committee was informed that the currently used Permanent Magnet DC (PMDC) motors in EV and HEV suffer from the following disadvantages: a) need for imported rare earth material for manufacturing permanent magnets b) low efficiency of the motor at low load torque. The project is aimed at improving efficiency of the induction motor for EVs, thereby decreasing the dependency on the PMDC motors and reducing the imports. ii. The deliverables include development of mechanism in controller system to achieve improvement in efficiency of Induction Motor at low load torque. iii. Industry partner informed the Committee that multiple gears to maintain the motor RPM at optimal level costs money and also adds to the weight. Development of a single controller system in the Induction Motor would help in reduction of weight resulting in efficient low load condition, useful in the city drive. It was confirmed that the control system will be independent of the type of controller. iv. Regarding scope and plan for commercialization, Committee was informed that improvement in efficiency will result in price reduction and industry will readily adopt this technology on successful completion of project. v. Chairman inquired as to why this project has not been taken up so far and why Mahindra & Mahindra by itself has not taken up this project. Participating institute informed that controllers were not that mature earlier and now they are trying to upgrade the existing software to bring out this efficiency at low torque. Participating institute confirmed that they were working on this idea and Mahindra & Mahindra was willing to partner with them in supporting the development. c) Decision: Committee observed that outcomes of the project can help in improving the efficiency and reducing the overall cost of the vehicle. It was therefore decided to support the project for funding under DCAAI. Project 3: Development of guidelines for accelerated validation of safety critical axle components due to increase in axle load specifications / norms and change in driving pattern and infrastructure Implementing Agency: ARAI, Pune Partner Organization: M/s. Kalyani Maxion Wheels Ltd. Duration: 18 Months Total Project Cost: Rs 350 Lakhs Fund Sought from DHI: Rs. 280 Lakh (80 %) Contribution from Lead Organization: Rs. 35 Lakhs (10 %) Contribution from Partner Organization: Rs. 35 Lakhs (10 %) Objectives: To arrive at guidelines for accelerated validation of safety critical axle components such as axle, wheel rim, suspension components etc. due to change in axle load norms, driving pattern and infrastructure in terms of: Development of India specific generic axle load spectra Calculations of test load normalization factors in relation to variations in axle static loads Relationship evaluation of increase in axle loads to that with change in factor of safety of load bearing components b) Discussion: i. Committee asked the implementing agency that the outcomes of the project should include formulation of Draft standards for safety critical components impacted by increase in axle load norms, which were also intimated earlier by the Screening Committee. ii. Committee was informed that this type of work is done by the OEMs in their respective labs and is not shared publicly. Due to increase in axle load, factor of safety of other components would be affected and it is in public interest to revisit the standards of individual components affected due to increased axle norms and put the data so generated in public domain. iii. Committee was also informed that the results of the project i.e. the draft standards would be helpful for Government to revise the existing standards. c) Decision: Committee observed that the Draft standards will be helpful to the Government in setting/updating the standards of the critical parts such as axle, wheel rim, suspension components etc. Accordingly, it was decided to support the project for funding under DCAAI. Project 4: Development of an E axle Powertrain Kit for 3-Wheeler Application in India Implementing Agency: ARAI, Pune Partner Organization: M/s. Endurance Technologies Limited Duration:18 months Total Project Cost: Rs 119 Lakhs Fund Sought from DHI: Rs. 84 Lakh (70.5 %) Contribution from Lead Organization: Rs. 15 Lakhs (12.5 %) Contribution from Partner