As the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) continues to grow in India, Honeywell has announced availability of innovative solutions to address safety concerns across the spectrum of EV manufacturing and use. The company has a number of EV industry safety solutions in its global portfolio, which it is now bringing to India.
The company’s lithium-ion (li-ion) battery safety sensors help play a crucial role in detecting potential battery fires, which can protect drivers. Additionally, its suite of personal protective equipment (PPE) and gas detection solutions help safeguard workers in EV plants.
“With more than 10 million EVs sold around the world last year, we’re seeing how pivotal they are in making the future of sustainable travel a reality,” said Sarah Martin, president of Honeywell Sensing & Safety Technologies. “However, achieving sustainability goals can’t compromise safety. Honeywell’s portfolio of solutions enables safer production and operation of EVs, helping to drive tomorrow’s transportation industry forward.”
INDIA’S FAST-GROWING EV MARKET
India’s EV market is expected to grow at an impressive compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 49% from 2022 to 2030. India is taking rapid strides towards achieving its target of 30% EV market share by 2030.
EV industry sales in the first six months of FY2024 have jumped by 51% YoY to over 738,000 units, with the ongoing fiscal headed for a record 1.5 million units. Sales of electric two-wheelers in India surpassed the million-units mark for the first time in FY2023 – 11,71,944 units and 155% YoY growth – and cumulative sales in the first nine months of CY2023, at 616,673 units are up 49%. At end-September 2023, total EV sales were just 14,501 units shy of entire CY2022’s retail sales of 631,174 units, a figure which will be surpassed in October.
While electric two-wheelers (397,399 units) account for 54 % of the total EV sales in first-half FY2024, three-wheelers (296,401 units) have a 40% share of the India EV pie.
ENSURING SAFETY FOR ALL IN THE EV INDUSTRY
Meanwhile, in tandem with the accelerated demand for EVs, demand for gigafactories — massive battery plants and EV factories — and jobs in these facilities, is also growing in regions around the world. In India, an additional 10 million direct jobs and 50 million allied jobs may be needed in this sector by 2030.
This growth, however, can raise safety concerns. Li-ion batteries that power EVs can experience rare but dangerous ‘thermal runaway’ incidents, causing intense and prolonged electrical fires. Workers assembling batteries face risks like hand injuries, exposure to chemical hazards and potential electrocution.
Solutions to protect EV and two-wheeler and scooter riders: Honeywell battery safety sensors, when integrated into EV and scooter battery packs, detect thermal runaway risks, enabling warning of passengers and allowing EV and scooter manufacturers to meet international battery fire safety standards. Through a strategic alliance with Nexceris, the developer of Li-ion Tamer lithium-ion gas detection solutions, Honeywell is developing sensors to detect earlier thermal runaway indicators in EV and scooter batteries. This early intervention can help avoid costly property damage or worse, injury to drivers.
Solutions for workers in electrification: The battery assembly process poses risks, including exposure to toxic and flammable chemicals and ‘arc flash’ when electric current leaves its intended path and travels through the air or to the ground. To help mitigate inherent risks associated with li-ion battery production, Honeywell offers electrical safety gear, portable and fixed gas detection technologies and PPE such as gloves, face shields and dielectric boots for high-risk areas like electrode mixing, coating, drying and cell finishing.
“As a leader in EV and scooter battery safety, we aim to drive the electric mobility revolution in the country by augmenting safety standards, offering innovative ready-now solutions and helping our customers navigate the challenges of the rapidly-evolving electric vehicle market,” said Ashish Modi, president, Honeywell India.
As EVs and electric scooters continue to gain popularity in India, the government has introduced new guidelines for vehicle and passenger safety. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) in India set a new safety requirement mandating that EVs provide a signal to activate the advance warning indication to allow passengers to exit the vehicle five minutes prior to the presence of a hazardous situation inside the cabin, passenger area or seating area caused by thermal runaway.
Images: courtesy Honeywell
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