Indian-origin scientist rewarded $500,000 in USA’s largest clean-tech business competition

Dr. Upreti with his award

Indian-origin scientist, turned entrepreneur, wins $500,000 award in USA’s largest clean-tech business competition, held in New York. The prestigious 76West Clean Energy Competition reward was awarded to Dr. Shailesh Upreti, an IIT Delhi alumnus. The tech, invented and patented by Dr. Upreti, enhances a Lithium-Ion battery’s lifetime to more than 20 years and improves storage capacity and power while reducing the heat emitted in the event of a fire or short-circuit.

A group of companies in New York and three other global companies have been licensed to manufacture the batteries which can be used to store solar energy in addition to running electric vehicles like cars, trucks and busses.

Dr. Upreti will use the award for more than just commercialisation,
he will provide learning opportunities to upcoming entrepreneurs and internships to graduate students from the the State University of New York at Binghamton. Students will get the chance to work hands-on at the Charge CCCV LLC facility – the tech company co-founded by Dr. Upreti in New York.

He is also working on a plan to manufacture advanced Lithium-ion batteries in India, speaking on the same, he said, “After ‘Clean India’, the next milestone could very well be ‘Green India’, where country’s electricity & transport can be migrated to green energy solutions. Batteries are the future, they will replace diesel & gasoline; a timely action could make India self-dependent for all its energy needs. There is no reason to wait and shift our foreign dependency from oil to batteries. I am taking this challenge first-hand!”