This Deep-Tech Startup Claims to Provide Reliable Batteries for EVs
With an agenda to simplify design for complex engineering problems, Vineet Dravid founded Oorja. The company simplifies the product design, and the founder believes that doing so will automatically solve aspects of the energy crisis, sustainability, climate change and the future of the world. They possess deep expertise in simulation and mathematical modelling and have a proven track record of building successful products and businesses. During an interaction with Nitisha; Vineet Dravid, Founder, OORJA.ENERGY shares his goal to come up with an easy-to-use interface for battery modelling and democratize the predictive modelling process by enabling accurate and fast results with information easily available to OEMs.
Kindly talk about Oorja and its special offerings.
Oorja is a deep-tech startup that uses a combination of physics-based modelling and machine learning to perform predictive analysis at the concept design stage. We have started by doing predictive analysis of batteries, the chief enabler of the green mobility transition. Despite their importance in the entire EV ecosystem, batteries are the least understood component of the EV. We enable OEMs to make intelligent decisions regarding battery pack design, which enables them to deliver safer, longer-lasting, and better-performing EVs to their customers.
The company claims to design safe and reliable batteries. Please elaborate its specialities.
The Indian government is in the midst of rolling out stringent norms governing batteries used in all EVs in India. Under these norms, automotive manufacturers need to demonstrate that failure at the cell level will not lead to the explosion of the battery pack. Oorja helps optimize the pack design and run “what if” scenarios that help auto companies come up with safe batteries and get it “first time right.”
What are your company’s key role to simplify the energy crisis and the future of the world?
The energy crisis hinges upon responsible sourcing and utilization of natural resources. Due to an incomplete understanding of the battery design space, current packs utilize only 55% of the energy available in cells. This leads to over-engineering and poor utilization of expensive raw materials. Using our tools, auto companies can come up with safe and optimized designs, providing confidence leading to the rapid adoption of EVs as well as reducing costs and increasing the life of the vehicle.
How was the year 2022 in terms of business and what will be your future agenda?
Oorja is a young startup less than a year old. Our product has been around for less than four months. Despite this, we have seen great traction and have over 30 automotive companies using our tool to design safer and better-performing battery packs.
Kindly talk about EV industry and its growth in the coming years.
The EV industry is poised for rapid growth as governmental policy aligns the consumer with electrification. There is a tremendous amount of innovation happening in this industry, making it a very vibrant and exciting frontier of technology.
Kindly highlight your upcoming project and future marketing strategies.
Our goal is to come up with an easy-to-use interface for battery modelling and democratize the predictive modelling process by enabling accurate and fast results with information easily available to OEMs. We are currently working closely with auto companies in India and are keen to use this as a launchpad to work with automotive companies across the globe.
