Automobile industry in India has been adapting to a lower market demand since past 3 years. With BS-VI norms to the government’s push to electric vehicles, the industry has been on its toes with a slew of new variants introduced each month as well as rising cost fuel and people’s preference to use public transport. Amid this, the unforeseen blow by COVID-19 has been a major setback for the sector that was already reeling under recession.
However, the market might soon bounce back. As per the report, Changing Gears: The impact of Covid-19 on the automobile industry, by carandbike.com, the automobile might see a possible V-shape recovery – a sharp economic decline followed by a quick and sustained recovery.
This recovery will happen at the back of rising demand by consumers to own a private vehicle for daily commutes. As physical distancing becomes the norm in the post COVID ‘New Normal’, people will be more inclined to buy private vehicles above commuting through metros, rail, or cabs. The demand for two-wheelers and smaller cars is likely to increase.
Also, the change in consumer behavior about green products and company’s pushing their marketing around green environment-friendly vehicles, the EV market will see better uptake over the vehicle powered by an internal combustion engine (ICE).
Impact Of Covid-19 On The Electric Vehicle Market
There has certainly been a slowdown but not because of a lack of interest but more due to the general lockdown. ‘Turning India to adopt 100% EV by 2030’ might sound ambitious today – three years since this announcement made by Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari. Since then, India may not have achieved the anticipated growth in the EV space but many things have happened at the backend though the full picture may not be visible at the moment
While the availability of technology, raw materials, manufacturing methodology, dry rooms are being stitched together to ensure manufacturing of Lithium batteries is cost-effective and scalable in India, the lack of infrastructure for charging stations may mean lower uptake by consumers.
As per EV market forecast by Frost and Sullivan, e-rickshaws, e-autos, and e-two wheelers are the most promising segments for electrification in India and are expected to account for over four-million units by 2025. Whereas in the private cars and buses the uptake will depend on the readiness of the charging infrastructure. The adoption of electric buses will be driven by the government demand and the government is committed to putting 15-20 thousand buses in the next years.
The electric vehicles market may not grow at the same level as the target set by Niti Aayog, but it will grow.
Bry-Air has always manufactured and marketed innovative products made with pride in India for the world and the EV space is no different. BryAir’s patented Green Drypurge Dehumidifiers have long been exported to China and Europe for Lithium Battery manufacture.
As the EV Revolution in India is happening Bry-Air has one of the most important “legs” on which the Lithium Battery Manufacturing in place and already has supplied to a few R&D units for Lithium Battery.
For India to successfully manufacture one major component for EV i.e. the batteries, there needs to be strict control over the environment in the manufacturing plant. Moisture is the culprit behind ruining the quality of batteries and needs to be controlled. This is where Bry-Air comes in with its environment control solutions and moisture adsorption technologies. Bry-Air has over 55 years of experience in delivering solutions for the moisture absorption needs of various industries across the globe. In India, Bry-Air is delivering customized Dry Rooms to battery assemblers and lithium cell manufacturers to achieve the highest standards of battery production.
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High technology often entails working in precisely controlled environmental conditions. Lithium batteries are a classic example of a product where production is not possible in the absence of efficient dehumidification
Deepak Pahwa, Managing Director, Bry-air and Chairman, Pahwa Group
Today, with almost 100 large engineered dehumidification systems and many small ones for maintaining humidity levels in Dry Rooms, Bry-Air has become the preferred choice of world’s leading Lithium Battery Manufacturers. As the Make in India narrative for Lithium-ion batteries takes flight, Bry-Air acts as a critical and key catalyst to the EV revolution- being the only Indian supplier of Dry Rooms, which are a must for manufacturing Lithium-ion batteries.
Bad Environment Affect The Quality Of Lithium-Ion Battery
Pure Lithium metal is extremely sensitive to even tiny amounts of moisture in the air. Hence, the slightest of exposure to moisture leads to reduced performance and reduced product life of Lithium-ion batteries. Thus, Lithium battery production is undertaken in very critical and controlled (dry room) environment conditions. Non-maintenance of the desired RH during lithium cell manufacturing (<10%) and battery assembling (<10%) may lead to severe consequences.
Since lithium battery application is fast growing across diversified industries there is large scale production of lithium batteries and moisture acts as a major deterrent leading to the growth of this industry. Lithium batteries are affected by uncontrolled temperature and humidity. If the lithium battery is exposed to moisture during production, it may lead to impairing quality that could lead to reduced product life, reduced performance (charging capacity), and might raise safety concerns including chances of explosion.
High technology often entails working in precisely controlled environmental conditions. Lithium batteries are a classic example of a product where production is not possible in the absence of efficient dehumidification. Dehumidification, or moisture control, has proven itself to be a critical factor in the control of the environment in the dry rooms without which lithium battery manufacturing is not feasible.
Bry-Air’s GreenDryPurge® (GDP) patented technology for dehumidifiers ensures the optimum performance of dehumidifiers, even at the ultra-low dew point, up to (-) 80°C (-112°F). Bry-Air is the only total solution provider for Dry Rooms with Environment Control Equipment incorporating Patented Technology critical for Lithium Battery Manufacturing
Post-Covid Plans In The Automotive Industry?
The strategy and plans remain same. Our compact Dry rooms with patented Green Drypurge technology is supplied to every manufacturer of Lithium Battery.
Besides, playing a crucial role in the EV growth, we do provide dehumidifiers for moisture removal and humidity control in the automobile industry for –
• Safety glass manufacturing
• Engine testing rooms
• Tyre creel rooms
• Automotive component/ precision part storage
• Paint booths
We also supply the Plastics processors for the Automobile industry with two other products Dryers for proper drying of plastic resins including the world’s 1st Waterless Plastic Dryer (Bry-Air DrySmart Green series). Moisture Minder - Inline Moisture Analyzer for integration and production traceability during plastic processing.
