Tata Motors switches to Chinese battery manufacturer for new Curvv coupe SUV
Tata Motors Ltd has partnered with Octillion Power Systems, a Chinese battery pack manufacturer, to increase its battery sourcing for electric vehicles (EVs), according to a report by LiveMint.
The update highlights Tata Motors' departure from its earlier approach of procuring battery packs only from its parent firm, Tata AutoComp Systems Ltd.
Octillion, a California-based firm with operations in the US and India, will supply lithium-ion battery packs for the company’s new Curvv coupe SUV. Since its launch of the Nexon EV in 2020, this is the first time Tata Motors is working with an external battery provider.
The update is reportedly in response to the limitations of the EV market and performance issues, including battery discharge going down in older models. Tata Motors is trying to make its electric cars more reliable by developing new designs and types of battery packs to be combined. Moreover, by cooperating with Octillion, they can acquire new raw materials and knowledge to offer more models of EVs.
Octillion opened a 2GWh battery pack manufacturing plant in Pune, India, last year. For the 45kWh model for Curvv EV, Tata Motors has selected the battery packs from Octillion that contain 15.2Ah cylindrical cells obtained from another Chinese company EVE.
The bigger 55kWh Curvv EV will continue to equip Tata AutoComp battery packs, which contain 105Ah prismatic cells from Gotion, a Chinese lithium-ion cell manufacturer. Until now, Tata Motors' passenger EV battery packs were solely manufactured by Tata AutoComp Systems utilising cells from Gotion via a joint venture.
The decision between cylindrical and prismatic cells is determined by the battery pack's unique needs, which include energy density, thermal control, and packaging flexibility.
Citing a Tata Motors representative LiveMint reported that the business is using a multi-sourcing approach to decrease supply chain risks and reliance on a single source, resulting in a consistent and timely supply of parts. The report also mentioned the tremendous development of EV sales, which increased from roughly 6,000 units in FY21 to almost 100,000 units in FY24.