Reliance unveils swappable, multipurpose battery for e2Ws and home inverters

India's Reliance Industries Ltd (Ltd) on Wednesday unveiled swappable multi-purpose batteries that can power electric two-wheelers as well as home inverters, as part of the conglomerate's larger, $10 billion push into green energy.

The batteries run on the lithium iron phosphate (LFP) chemistry. Reliance also said it was working on customizable batteries for commercial and home usage, intelligent swap stations and integrated charging networks. The company said it would partner with electric vehicle makers, but had no plans to become an EV manufacturer itself, a move JSW is reportedly considering.

Reliance executives declined to reveal a date for market launch of their batteries, but indicated that the idea behind the batteries was for a person to use one common battery for two uses, depending on requirement. The batteries can reportedly support an electric two-wheeler for 70 to 75 km of running.

The batteries will be swappable at Reliance's upcoming 20,000-strong network of battery stations, while also being capable of being recharged through rooftop solar panels, which the company plans to sell.

Reliance Industries, primarily an oil and petrochemicals behemoth, has announced plans to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2035. Towards this the company has unveiled an ambitions plan spearheaded by Chairman Mukesh Ambani's younger son Anant through an RIL division named Reliance New Energy.

The company purchased two battery companies -- Faradion, which makes sodium-ion batteries, in 2021, and Lithium Werks, a maker of LFP batteries, in 2022 -- for about $200 million combined.

Reliance has also announced plans to build a 5 Gwh gigafactory for battery cells and battery energy storage solutions. The plant is expected to be set up by 2026.