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How do you perceive the market growth of high capacity batteries during FY 2016-2020?
The anticipated All India power supply position as reported by CEA in its Load Generation Balancing Report 2015-16, indicates that the country is expected to experience a peak shortage of 2.6 per cent and energy shortage of 2.1 per cent, despite very high shortages likely to be experienced by Southern India. It is thus anticipated that longer hours of energy backup requiring higher capacity batteries will be the order of the day. The smart grid market in India is expected to reach $7.4 billion (Rs 50,000 crore) by 2020. The 100 smart cities will be the key driver for this and energy storage systems will play a vital role. In a report released by Markets and Markets, the growth of the smart homes market in the coming years is expected to be high with the market size estimated to reach $58.68 billion by 2020, at an estimated CAGR of 17 per cent from 2015 to 2020. It continues to report that the key drivers of the smart home market are increased requirements of consumers for convenience, safety and security, demand for energy efficient solutions, and product development in Internet of Things (IOT) and M-2-M communication. All of this necessitates the deployment of higher capacity, safe and green batteries and an equally robust battery management system to monitor and analyse energy storage parameters.

What is the range of batteries offered by you for MHE equipment?
We offer deep discharge, long cycle life lithium based batteries which are high on performance and are absolutely maintenance-free.

What are the new technologies being introduced in this important component sector? What will be benefits to the end users?
Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) batteries have been recently included into our product portfolio. Our LFP batteries are extremely safe as the chemistry is non-combustible. This is a key benefit given the application and usage of batteries in MHE. In addition, our LFP batteries are ?green? - all components used are totally bio-degradable. Further, a very low self-discharge of <2 per cent per month ensures that the batteries function even after extended period of non-usage.

Could you share some applications for which you are the market leader? How do you plan to sustain your leadership?
Ultralife India has primarily been associated with the Defence and Space organisations since its inception in 2007. It is a subsidiary of Ultralife Corporation USA which also is a market leader worldwide in these sectors. Ultralife also has expertise in providing energy storage solutions for golf carts and holds the leadership position globally. In India, UI is currently focusing on promoting its range of LFP batteries as a direct replacement of lead acid batteries, across all sectors. Given its myriad benefits over the traditional lead acid batteries and even lithium ion, LFP is the latest commercialised battery technology which will enable UI to maintain its leadership in certain sectors and also help penetrate other sectors such as UPS/Inverters, renewable energy and telecom towers.

LFP is a new technology and in India not many battery companies are offering this yet. The challenge is to counter resistance to change from the traditional lead acid technology. But given that there is increased focus on deployment of green technologies, we foresee an increase in demand to upgrade to superior energy storage solutions such as LFP, soon.