Tata plans to launch a passenger EV in the coming 2 years.
Tata has re-engineered its traditional engine cars, the Tigor and the Tiago with electric powertrains and is now working on an electric vehicle (EV) based on its new-generation Alpha platform. The car is expected to be unveiled at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show in March. The EV will be out in 2 years and is expected to do 250 kms on a single charge.
The Tata Tigor EV may be the first electric vehicle in production for the personal buyer segment and its launch will be followed by an ambitious car that will be based on the X451 hatchback. Company officials have stated that fleet services will be the primary market for the EVs in the coming 4-5 years, but the company wants to attract private buyers too. He also said that if EVs aren’t made exciting or appealing for the passenger segment, then they might end up being branded as fleet vehicles only.
Tata has already delivered 250 units of the Tigor and plans to deliver the second phase of another 4800 units of the car to Energy Efficiency Services (EESL). Tata Motors has analysed that lack of charging stations, driving range and higher costs had been disrupting the adoption of EVs. They have also said that a range of 220-250 km on a single charge is quintessential to address the buyer’s concern.
Electric vehicles for fleet services would make sense in a couple of years considering the reduction in the cost of batteries and EVs would be common in the personal buyer segment in the next 4-5 years. The government should support the production of EVs to make this feasible.
The company will first finalise on the selected markets to develop public charging infrastructure and other easy-owning options like leasing. Tata wants to take a micro-market approach to this and has chosen a couple of cities based on their pollution levels, sales potential, level of government support and demography. Tata has half-a-dozen electric vehicles lined up in its portfolio (including CVs) and 3 of them are in production right now.
Tata Passenger EV Launch
– Tata to launch an all-new passenger EV in the next 2 years
– Tigor EV likely be the first EV to get into private car segment
– The new EV will have a range of 250 kms on a single charge
Source – ETAuto.com