Zerodha's Nikhil Kamath explores battery technologies that could power India's next manufacturing wave
In the latest episode of People by WTF, Nikhil Kamath sat down with Henning Rath, CEO of EnerVenue, and Kun Tang, Executive Chairman of HiNa Battery, to understand what the next battery industry could look like and whether India should build it.
Nikhil Kamath, who has been investing in energy-transition companies, discussed battery technologies with Henning Rath and Kun Tang, in a People by WTF episode. The conversation covered battery chemistry, industrial policy, manufacturing, AI infrastructure, and the economics of building a battery company in India. Both Rath and Tang emphasized the safety issues associated with lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries, with Tang noting that fires have become increasingly common due to the high energy levels involved.
They suggested that sodium-ion batteries, which are cheaper, safer, and readily available, could be a safer alternative for India's battery industry. Tang's company already has a sodium-ion storage project with a capacity of 100 megawatt-hours. While solid-state batteries are seen as the future, the conversation indicated that they are still in the research phase and not yet commercially viable.
Both guests highlighted the importance of energy independence and suggested that India should focus on building a sodium-ion battery company, targeting electric scooters and three-wheelers initially, before expanding to other applications.
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