Softbank Group-backed Ola Electric plans to build a battery cell manufacturing plant in India with a capacity of up to 50-gigawatt hours (GW), a source told Reuters, as part of its broader electrification push.\\\
Ola will need 40Gwh of battery capacity to meet its annual target to produce 10 million electric scooters and the remainder will be for electric cars, which it plans to manufacture in the future, said the person who knows the plans.\\\
The initial plan is to set up 1Gwh of battery capacity by 2023 and expand it to 20GWh over the next 3-4 years, said another source aware of the plans, adding that this alone will need an investment of up to $1 billion (roughly Rs 7,560 crores).\\\
Ola, which currently imports battery cells from South Korea, also plans to invest in companies with advanced cell and battery technology, and will set up a battery research and development facility in India, the sources said.\\\
Battery cell manufacturing is dominated by a handful of Asian companies including CAT L, LG Energy Solutions, and Panasonic that supply to major global automakers like Tesla Inc and Volkswagen.\\\
Recalls of EV batteries from some of the biggest producers have shown how demanding it is to produce them on a large scale, coupled with setting up an extremely complex supply chain with both corporate and geopolitical risks.\\\
"Battery and cell research and manufacturing is an important area of focus for us, and our plans are in the advanced stages. We will not comment on the specifics," Va run Dubey, chief marketing officer at Ola Electric, said in an emailed response to Reuters, questions.\\\
India wants companies to build clean fuel vehicles and batteries locally to cut the country's oil import bill and reduce pollution. The government plans to give incentives of up to $6 billion for this, and Ola is among those that have bid for them.\\\
However, Ola's ambitious electrification plan has got off to a shaky start with production and delivery delays, senior-level exits, and criticism of its product by some Twitter users.\\\
The battery plans come even as the company is yet to ramp up scooter production to a sizeable level. Ola currently produces about 1,000 scooters a day, its CEO said on Twitter, and has a target of two million in the first phase.\\\
Ola did not give a timeline on when it would scale up to two million or 10 million scooters.\\\
Ola will require 40Gwh of battery ability to meet its yearly objective to deliver 10 million electric bikes and the rest of being for electric vehicles, which it intends to fabricate, later on, said the individual who knows about the plans.\\\
The underlying arrangement is to set up a 1Gwh of battery limit by 2023 and extend it to 20GWh throughout the following 3-4 years, said another source mindful of the plans, adding that this by itself will require a venture of up to $1 billion.\\\
Ola, which at present imports battery cells from South Korea, additionally plans to put resources into organizations with cutting edge cell and battery innovation, and will set up a battery innovative work office in India, the sources said.\\\
Battery cell production is overwhelmed by a modest bunch of Asian organizations including CAT L, LG Energy Solutions, and Panasonic that stockpile to major worldwide automakers like Tesla Inc and Volkswagen.\\\
Reviews of EV batteries from probably the greatest makers have shown that it is so requesting to create them for a huge scope, combined with setting up a very complicated store network with both corporate and international dangers.\\\
"Battery and cell examination and assembling is a significant area of concentration for ourselves as well as our arrangements are in the high-level stages. We won't remark on the points of interest," Va run Dubey, head showcasing official at Ola Electric, said in a messaged reaction to Reuters, questions.\\\
India needs organizations to assemble clean fuel vehicles and batteries locally to cut the nation's oil import bill and diminish contamination. The public authority intends to surrender impetuses of $6 billion for this, and Ola is among those that have offered for them.\\\ In any case, Ola's aggressive charge plan has looked insecure so far with the creation and conveyance delays, senior-level ways out, and analysis of its item by some Twitter clients.\\\
The battery plans come even as the organization is yet to increase scooter creation to a sizeable level. Ola as of now creates around 1,000 bikes every day, its CEO said on Twitter and has an objective of 2,000,000 in the principal stage it didn't give a timetable on when it would increase to 2,000,000 or 10 million bikes.\\\
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