Nexus Power Creates Bioorganic Batteries from Crop Waste for Electric Vehicles

The electric vehicle revolution faces a critical sustainability paradox: while EVs promise to reduce carbon emissions, the lithium-ion batteries powering them create significant environmental challenges through mining hazards, supply chain vulnerabilities, and mounting e-waste. Enter Nexus Power, an Indian startup founded by twin sisters Nikita and Nishita Baliarsingh, who've developed a groundbreaking solution – rechargeable bioorganic and biodegradable batteries made from crop residue that would otherwise be burned, contributing to air pollution.

What makes this innovation particularly remarkable is its elegant solution to two interconnected environmental crises simultaneously: the toxic air pollution from crop stubble burning that plagues northern India every winter, and the growing environmental burden of lithium battery disposal. Nexus Power's technology transforms agricultural waste into valuable energy storage devices, creating a circular economy approach to sustainable energy.

"The moment we say batteries, electric vehicles comes into our mind. But the stationary industry is actually far more in need of these energy storage systems and it is growing way faster than what the vehicle or the mobility segment is growing at," explains Nikita Baliarsingh, Co-founder of Nexus Power.

The Problem: Why Lithium Batteries Aren't the Final Answer

The electric vehicle industry's explosive growth has exposed critical limitations in lithium-ion battery technology. While lithium batteries have powered the EV revolution, they come with significant environmental and economic costs that many consumers and policymakers overlook in the rush to adopt electric mobility.

"Batteries are not made in India, they are imported from other countries and they are pretty expensive. That is what is making electric vehicles really expensive," Baliarsingh explains. "Also lithium is really volatile, it's not as safe and renewable for the world as it sounds like it's a little hazardous material and it's very rare – it's a rare earth material, it's scarce."

The Lithium Supply Chain Challenge

India's dependence on imported lithium batteries creates multiple vulnerabilities:

• High Costs: Import expenses make electric vehicles significantly more expensive for consumers
• Supply Chain Risks: Geopolitical tensions can disrupt battery supplies, threatening EV adoption targets
• Foreign Exchange Drain: India spends billions importing battery technology and materials
• Technology Dependence: Lack of domestic battery manufacturing capabilities limits innovation and customization

This supply chain vulnerability became painfully evident during the COVID-19 pandemic when global disruptions highlighted India's dependence on foreign critical technologies. The government's push for electric mobility – with ambitious targets for EV adoption – faced the reality that battery technology remained the bottleneck.

The Environmental Burden of Battery Disposal

Beyond the challenges of battery production and cost lies the growing crisis of battery disposal. Lithium-ion batteries present significant environmental hazards when they reach end-of-life:

• Toxic Materials: Cobalt, nickel, and other heavy metals can leach into soil and water
• Recycling Challenges: Current recycling processes are energy-intensive and not economically viable
• Landfill Accumulation: Most lithium batteries end up in landfills, creating long-term environmental risks
• Fire Hazards: Damaged lithium batteries can spontaneously combust, creating safety risks

"Lithium batteries actually pile up in e-waste. So we wanted batteries which could be disposed of comfortably whether biodegradable or recyclable or whatever," Baliarsingh explains.

The Solution: Bioorganic Batteries from Crop Residue

Nexus Power's innovation represents a fundamental rethinking of battery chemistry. Instead of mining rare earth materials, they've developed a process to extract bioorganic compounds from agricultural waste – primarily crop residue that farmers would otherwise burn – to create battery cells that are both rechargeable and biodegradable.

The Eureka Moment: From Concept to First Battery

The journey began in 2017-2018 when the twin sisters, then college students, were inspired by discussions about sustainability and the lack of indigenous electric vehicle manufacturing in India. Their initial vision was to build four-wheeler electric vehicles entirely made in India.

"India was not making electric vehicles indigenously. A couple of concepts were displayed in auto expo but nothing had come into the market. So at that point of time Nishita and I, we wanted to make four-wheeler electric vehicles indigenously made in India," Baliarsingh recalls.

However, during the component collection phase, they discovered that batteries – the most critical and expensive component of EVs – were entirely imported. This realization shifted their focus from vehicle manufacturing to battery technology development.

"During this phase of component collection is when we realized that the batteries are not made in India, they are imported from other countries and they are pretty expensive – that is what is making electric vehicles really expensive," she explains.

The breakthrough came during what Baliarsingh describes as a "late night terrace conversation" when they decided to explore biomaterials as battery cell chemistry. The first experiment, conducted at home during COVID with help from their parents, produced a working 2.55-volt rechargeable battery made entirely from crop waste.

The Science: Nanotechnology and Bioorganic Chemistry

Nexus Power's technology leverages nanotechnology to achieve energy density comparable to lithium-ion batteries while using bioorganic materials. The key innovation is in how they structure these biological compounds at the molecular level to store and release energy efficiently.

"We are working on a concept of nanotechnology where we are obviously trying to replicate this storage of energy – massive storage of energy in a very small compact space. Nanomaterials basically," Baliarsingh explains.

While current energy density doesn't yet match the best lithium-ion batteries, Nexus Power's technology offers significant advantages in cost, safety, and environmental impact. For stationary energy storage applications – which don't require the extreme energy density needed for vehicles – their current performance is entirely adequate.

"In terms of affordability, these batteries are cheaper because the raw material is very cheap. Secondly, we have equal number of charge cycles. We have the lifespan of the battery almost at par with lithium," Baliarsingh notes.

Market Focus: Stationary Storage and Electric Vehicles

Nexus Power has strategically targeted two primary market segments where their bioorganic batteries can create immediate impact: stationary energy storage systems and two/three-wheeler electric vehicles.

The Growing Stationary Storage Market

While electric vehicles capture most media attention, the stationary energy storage market – essentially giant batteries that store power for buildings, factories, and electrical grids – represents a massive and rapidly growing opportunity that often flies under the radar.

"The stationary industry is actually far more in need of these energy storage systems and it is growing way faster than what the vehicle or the mobility segment is growing at," Baliarsingh explains. "The moment we say batteries, electric vehicles comes into our mind. But the stationary industry is actually far more in need."

Stationary storage applications include: - Solar and wind energy storage for homes and businesses - Backup power systems for hospitals and data centers - Grid-scale storage for utilities - Industrial applications requiring consistent power supply

Electric Two-Wheeler and Three-Wheeler Market

For mobility applications, Nexus Power has focused on the two-wheeler and three-wheeler segments – which represent the bulk of India's EV market and are critical for last-mile connectivity, public transportation, and personal mobility in a country where car ownership remains out of reach for most citizens.

"For electric vehicles we opted to start with two-wheeler and three-wheeler options precisely because they were already available in the country, they were pretty much being used like a day-to-day commodity," Baliarsingh explains.

The advantages of targeting this segment include: - Established market with existing manufacturers and supply chains - Lower power requirements compared to cars and trucks - Strong government incentives and subsidies - Massive addressable market in India and similar developing economies - Faster adoption cycles and easier testing and validation

Government Support and Validation

Nexus Power has received significant support from Indian government agencies at both the central and state levels. This backing serves dual purposes: providing critical funding for research and development, and offering third-party validation of their technology's potential.

The rigorous screening process for government grants provides important validation. Multiple rounds of selection ensure that only technologies with genuine potential receive funding, making government support a strong signal to private investors and commercial partners.

"If government departments of science technology are putting in the money in our research, then definitely that works as a major validation also," Baliarsingh notes. "The process of screening is stringent and there are multiple rounds of selections that happens."

Recognition and Achievements

Beyond funding, Nexus Power has received significant recognition for their innovative approach: - Featured in Forbes India's "30 Under 30" list - Top three placement in DST's Gumption program - Showcased at multiple DST events - Extensive media coverage in The Hindu, YourStory, Electronics For You - Featured in Autodesk's Design Make series on sustainable manufacturing

Intellectual Property and Patents

Nexus Power has filed multiple patents protecting their core technology, including: - Patents on the bioorganic materials they synthesize - Patents on the manufacturing process - Patents on original cell designs - Patents on material extraction and processing methods

"We have patents on our material that we synthesize. We have patents on the process of making of this material. We also have patents on the design of cells which we were doing initially," Baliarsingh explains.

The patent granting process is lengthy, and Nexus Power's patents are still in the evaluation phase. The company hasn't yet licensed their technology to external parties, holding it closely as they prepare for commercial manufacturing. However, licensing remains a potential future revenue stream.

Funding and Commercialization Strategy

Nexus Power has progressed through multiple funding rounds as they've moved from concept to prototype to pre-commercial testing:

• Bootstrapping: Initial research funded by founders' personal resources
• Government Grants: Multiple grants provided crucial early-stage funding
• 2022: First equity funding round completed
• 2024: Second equity round closed
• November 2025: Third round raising capital from PSUs and major VCs

"We did our first round of equity investments in 2022 and then the second came in 2024. Now we are doing our third where a couple of PSUs and major VCs have already given us hard commitments," Baliarsingh shares.

The company targets commercial launch and revenue generation by the end of the current financial year, marking the transition from R&D startup to commercial enterprise. This milestone will be critical in proving the viability of bioorganic batteries at scale.

From 35-40 People to Global Aspirations

Starting with just the two founders – neither of whom had formal science backgrounds – Nexus Power has grown to a team of 35-40 people with intensive research and development capabilities. This team expansion reflects the complexity of moving from home experiments to industrial-grade battery technology.

"Eventually you know companies are not built with just two people and when you look at a raw experiment and then when you have to scale up to a proper product which is ready to fit in the market and is at the industry standards, you need teams who are specialized at doing that," Baliarsingh explains.

The Vision: Becoming a Global Battery Manufacturer

Nexus Power's ambitions extend far beyond the Indian market. Baliarsingh envisions the company becoming one of the world's largest manufacturers of bio-material-based batteries, powering everything from consumer electronics to mobility applications to stationary storage systems globally.

"Five years down the line, I think I want to be one of the largest battery manufacturers of the world – largest bio material based battery manufacturers of the world – and I want to make sure that most of these companies that need batteries to power their devices, whether it is consumer electronics, mobility or even stationary storage, that should be powered by Nexus," she declares.

India's Potential to Lead in Battery Technology

When asked about India's potential to compete with China in battery technology, Baliarsingh expresses optimism about India's capabilities and the entrepreneurial spirit driving innovation in the sector.

"We have great skills in the country, we have a lot of resources also. I'm sure if we put the different elements together and we put them in a proper way with all our efforts, I think we are in the path of being able to be the best in the world – beat multiple countries," she says. "Every Indian has this fever and this fire in them."

This confidence reflects broader trends in India's startup ecosystem, where entrepreneurs are increasingly tackling hard technology challenges rather than just software and services. The success of companies like Nexus Power could catalyze a new generation of deep-tech startups focused on sustainable manufacturing and advanced materials.

Challenges and Competitive Landscape

While Nexus Power's technology is promising, the company faces significant challenges in scaling and commercializing their innovation:

Scaling Production

Moving from lab-scale production to industrial manufacturing requires massive capital investment and process optimization. Building battery manufacturing facilities is capital-intensive, and achieving cost competitiveness at scale remains challenging.

Performance Competition

Lithium-ion battery technology continues to improve, with energy densities increasing and costs decreasing. Nexus Power must continuously improve their technology to remain competitive as established battery manufacturers invest billions in R&D.

Market Adoption Barriers

Automotive and electronics manufacturers are conservative about adopting new battery technologies, given the critical nature of energy storage to product performance and safety. Overcoming customer skepticism and securing pilot programs requires significant relationship building and performance validation.

Regulatory Hurdles

Battery technologies must undergo extensive safety and performance testing before certification for use in vehicles or grid applications. This regulatory process can be lengthy and expensive, particularly for novel chemistries like bioorganic batteries.

The Broader Context: India's Clean Tech Revolution

Nexus Power is part of a broader movement of Indian startups tackling climate technology challenges. The country's unique combination of: - Massive environmental challenges (air pollution, climate vulnerability) - Strong technical talent pool - Growing startup ecosystem - Government support for clean technology - Large domestic market for sustainable solutions ...creates fertile ground for companies like Nexus Power to thrive.

The company's focus on agricultural waste is particularly relevant to India, where crop stubble burning contributes significantly to northern India's severe winter air pollution. By creating economic value from crop residue, Nexus Power provides farmers with an alternative to burning while simultaneously addressing energy storage challenges.

Conclusion: The Future of Sustainable Energy Storage

Nexus Power represents a new generation of Indian startups that aren't just adapting existing technologies for local markets, but developing fundamentally new approaches to global challenges. Their bioorganic batteries offer a glimpse of a more sustainable future for energy storage – one that works with natural systems rather than extracting from them.

The transition from lab experiments to commercial manufacturing will be the critical test for Nexus Power's technology. If successful, their approach could fundamentally reshape the battery industry, proving that sustainable alternatives can compete with established technologies on performance, cost, and scalability.

For Nikita and Nishita Baliarsingh, the journey from late-night terrace conversations to leading a deep-tech startup reflects the growing ambition and capability of India's entrepreneurial ecosystem. Their success could inspire a new generation of founders to tackle hard technology challenges, creating sustainable solutions that benefit both India and the world.

As the world races to decarbonize transportation and energy systems, innovations like Nexus Power's bioorganic batteries remind us that the most sustainable solutions may come from unexpected places – even from the crop residue that farmers once considered worthless.

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