India’s electric future is being built quietly inside labs, research centers, and now, ambitious startups.
At the center of this shift is Ananya Gangadharan, Co-founder of Triolt Energy, a deep-tech startup tackling one of the country’s most critical challenges: advanced battery cell manufacturing and energy storage innovation.
While most startups chase quick wins, Triolt Energy is playing a long game building high-performance lithium-ion cells that can compete globally, right from India.
The Turning Point: Why 2022 Was the Right Time
The idea for Triolt Energy wasn’t new.
In fact, it began nearly a decade ago.
Ananya and her co-founders, Rajesh Thomas and Raghu Sripada, first identified the opportunity during their PhD years, working deeply in lithium-ion cells, Sodium ion cell, lithium-sulfur technologies, and supercapacitors.
But back then, India’s startup ecosystem especially in deep-tech and battery cell manufacturing was not ready.
“We always knew we wanted to build something in this space, but the ecosystem wasn’t supportive enough at that time.”
Fast forward to 2022, things had changed. Government policies became more supportive, EV adoption started accelerating, and the energy storage ecosystem matured.
That’s when Triolt Energy was officially born.
Building What India Truly Needs
India’s dependency on imported battery cells has long been a strategic gap.
Triolt Energy is working to change that with locally developed, globally competitive lithium-ion cells.
What makes their technology stand out?
- Fast charging in just 20 minutes
- Over 3400 charge cycles
- Designed for high-temperature conditions, ideal for India
“We wanted to build cells that are not just competitive globally, but also tailored for Indian conditions.”
First Movers in India’s Drone Battery Space
One of Triolt Energy’s most exciting breakthroughs is in drone battery cell technology.
With India’s drone ecosystem rapidly expanding, demand is growing but domestic manufacturing is almost non-existent.
Triolt stepped in early.
Their drone cells offer:
- 1000+ usage cycles
- High discharge rates
- Reliable performance comparable to global standards
This positions them as one of the first Indian manufacturers in this niche segment.
From Lab to Market: The Real Challenge
Building cutting-edge technology is one thing. Scaling it is another.
For Triolt Energy, the journey hasn’t been easy.
Key challenges include:
Capital intensity: Battery manufacturing requires heavy investment, especially for production lines.
Supply chain complexity: A strong and reliable supply chain is critical for scaling.
Talent gap: There are very few people in India who actually know how to manufacture battery cells.
Communicating deep-tech to investors: Coming from a technical background, simplifying their story for investors was a major learning curve.
Progress That Speaks
Despite these challenges, Triolt Energy has made significant strides.
They have secured Letters of Intent from OEMs, completed reliability testing based on international standards, and developed products that are ready for commercial production.
All of this has been achieved with minimal capital, showing strong execution and discipline.
What’s Next: Scaling the Battery Ecosystem
The next phase for Triolt Energy is all about scale.
Their roadmap includes setting up a full-scale production line, entering both EV and drone markets, and starting commercial sales within the next 6 to 7 months.
But beyond growth, their focus remains clear: building a globally competitive, India-based battery ecosystem.
The Founder’s Mindset: Science Meets Strategy
What sets Ananya Gangadharan apart is her ability to balance deep technical expertise with business understanding.
Instead of rushing to market, the team focused on strong product development, built supply chain relationships early, and learned cost optimization from the ground up.
“You need both a great product and a strong ecosystem—to succeed in this space.”
Advice to the Next Generation
Ananya’s message is especially powerful for young entrepreneurs and women in tech.
- Follow your passion, not just job security
- Embrace emerging technologies
- Be ready to learn constantly
- Don’t be afraid to take risks
“This is the best time to build. The ecosystem in India is ready you just need to take the step.”
She also emphasizes that entrepreneurship isn’t limited by gender.
Women can compete equally. It’s about skill, mindset, and persistence.
Final Word
In a world racing toward electrification, startups like Triolt Energy are not just participating they are shaping the foundation.
From research labs to real-world impact, Ananya Gangadharan and her team are proving that India doesn’t just need to adopt global technologies it can build them.
And perhaps, the future of energy won’t just be electric.
It will be made in India.
Interview By : Kashish Srivastava
