Electric Cars

Subterms

    More stories

    • 238 Shares139 Views

      in Electric Cars

      Tesla sweetens new EV purchase with Full Self-Driving trial tossed in for free – Roadshow

      by

      Hurry, this deal won’t last. For real.
      Tesla
      Tesla CEO Elon Musk is out here making marketing moves on Twitter as we head into the final few days of 2020. Tuesday evening, Musk tweeted that anyone who purchases a new Tesla will receive three months of the company’s Full Self-Driving mode free of charge. Access to the software, which remains in beta and not complete, typically costs $10,000 extra just to experience it.
      All Tesla cars delivered in the final three days of the year will get three months of the Full Self-Driving option for free. Delivery & docs must be fully complete by midnight Dec 31st.— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 29, 2020

      All new Teslas come with a form of the firm’s Autopilot system, a Level 2 partially automated technology on the SAE’s scale of autonomy, but Full Self-Driving hopes to one day live up to its name. The company rolled out the technology to limited groups of drivers earlier this year and plans expand the invites to those who paid for the option to take advantage of the features. Even Tesla says the system may do the wrong thing at the wrong time, so it’s definitely not ready for hands-free driving, but many owners found it works well with lots of supervision.

      Climb in the driver’s seat
      Subscribe to Roadshow’s newsletter for the latest car news and reviews, delivered to your inbox twice weekly.

      To take advantage of Musk’s latest flash deal, buyers need to complete all documents and take delivery by Dec. 31 at midnight, so it’s probably best to shop Teslas currently in stock if you really want the Full Self-Driving freebie. We also heard earlier this month Tesla authorized its staff to toss in free Supercharging once again for anyone purchasing a new EV as the automaker pushes for record deliveries in 2020.We won’t know if the tactics worked until early next year, but Musk is sort of the master of spurring fans to purchase when it counts.

      Now playing:
      Watch this:

      Tesla Model S Long Range pulls further ahead of the EV…

      8:35 More

    • 213 Shares189 Views

      in Electric Cars

      Tesla vehicles might be able to call 911 in the future – Roadshow

      by

      May as well put that network connection to good use.
      Tesla
      Tesla CEO Elon Musk loves a good tweet, and he regularly engages with owners of his company’s electric cars on the social media platform. One of his latest responses is a bit more than that — it might actually help save lives in the future.A Tesla owner this week asked Musk if it was possible for Tesla vehicles with network connections to be able to dial 911, to which Musk responded, “Absolutely.” According to the tweet, the owner needed to call emergency services, but his phone’s network was lacking signal. His Tesla’s connection, however, was active.

      An idea is just an idea until it’s put into practice, and it’s unclear when Musk intends to roll this feature out. Tesla does not operate a public relations department to field requests for comment, so we likely won’t receive any sort of timeline before the feature is announced as part of a future update. While firmly in the “good idea” corner, dialing 911 through a vehicle’s network connection isn’t in the “new idea” corner. GM’s OnStar also uses its built-in network connection to route imperiled owners to the correct emergency service. OnStar is a subscription service, however, and that money helps pay for things like having a staff of advisors to help customers who press OnStar’s overhead emergency button. It’s unclear if Tesla, lacking similar infrastructure, will simply dial 911 on the owner’s behalf and route the call to the car’s speakers.

      Climb in the driver’s seat for the latest car news and reviews, delivered to your inbox twice weekly. More

    • 138 Shares199 Views

      in Electric Cars

      2021 Tata Nano Electric Spied With Digital Speedometer – Jayem Neo

      by

      Tata Nano Electric – Jayem Neo
      The Tata Nano EV with standard airbag and ABS would be an interesting proposition in the current scenario

      Back in November 2017, Tata Motors and its long-standing collaborator Jayem Automotives announced a partnership to introduce electric version of the Tata Nano under the Jayem Neo brand. The Neo was originally supposed to be inducted into Ola Electric’s fleet with a reported order size of 400 units.
      After a delay of almost 2 years, in mid-2019, it was reported that Ola Electric secured a debt fund of INR 40 cr from Tata Motors Finance to purchase Jayem Neo EV as city taxi. Now, a 2021 Tata Nano electric test mule has been spotted in Akurdi, Pune.
      Tata Nano EV / Jayem Neo yet to see the light of day
      It’s been over three years since the first announcement but the Tata Nano EV a.k.a. Jayem Neo has neither been introduced as an urban taxi nor as a private vehicle. However, it seems Tata and Jayem haven’t completely ditched the project as evident from the recent spotting of an undisguised Neo test mule. Spy shots are credit to Pravin Nair, who shared the images on Rushlane Spylane Facebook Group.
      As far as design is concerned, the Jayem Neo is identical to the now-defunct Tata Nano but it does not feature Tata branding anywhere. This particular mule features black bumper to keep the costs low. Closer observation reveals that the Neo EV is equipped with a fully digital instrument display which is mounted above the center console.
      [embedded content]
      Specifications
      Based on the spy video from Smiley Tamilian Tech above, the Tata Nano EV is powered by a 17.7 kW, 48V (23 hp) electric motor supplied by Electra EV, which also supplies electric powertrain to Tiago and Tigor. According to the original arrangement made 3 years ago, Tata Motors was supposed supply Jayem with complete body panels of the car and the Coimbatore-based company was supposed to install the electric powertrain and retail it.
      Tata Motors discontinued the Nano as the poor demand did not justify re-engineering the vehicle to meet the latest vehicle safety norms. However, if the company still hopes to leverage the small car’s untapped potential in the emerging electric vehicle market, then a comprehensive safety update is necessary.
      Tata Nano Electric Specs
      Launch Plans
      Whether it is going to be marketed as Tata Nano EV or Jayem Neo, the urban runabout would have to be fitted with driver airbag, ABS, front passenger seat belt reminder and reverse parking sensor as standard. Top speed will be 85 kmph. It is also FAME II certified.
      The Tata Nano Electric will have a maximum range of 203 km. With AC on and 4 adults on board, the vehicle should return a range of around 140 km. We think that, with a silent powertrain and appropriate marketing strategy, the Tata Nano EV could be an interesting proposition as both urban taxi and a private vehicle. More

    • 250 Shares179 Views

      in Electric Cars

      Buy a Tesla before 2021 and get Full Self-Driving for free, Elon Musk says – Roadshow

      by

      Hurry, this deal won’t last. For real.
      Tesla
      Tesla CEO Elon Musk is out here making marketing moves on Twitter as we head into the final few days of 2020. Tuesday evening, Musk tweeted that anyone who purchases a new Tesla will receive three months of the company’s Full Self-Driving mode free of charge. Access to the software, which remains in beta and not complete, typically costs $10,000 extra just to experience it.
      All Tesla cars delivered in the final three days of the year will get three months of the Full Self-Driving option for free. Delivery & docs must be fully complete by midnight Dec 31st.— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 29, 2020

      All new Teslas come with a form of the firm’s Autopilot system, a Level 2 partially automated technology on the SAE’s scale of autonomy, but Full Self-Driving hopes to one day live up to its name. The company rolled out the technology to limited groups of drivers earlier this year and plans expand the invites to those who paid for the option to take advantage of the features. Even Tesla says the system may do the wrong thing at the wrong time, so it’s definitely not ready for hands-free driving, but many owners found it works well with lots of supervision.

      Climb in the driver’s seat
      Subscribe to Roadshow’s newsletter for the latest car news and reviews, delivered to your inbox twice weekly.

      To take advantage of Musk’s latest flash deal, buyers need to complete all documents and take delivery by Dec. 31 at midnight, so it’s probably best to shop Teslas currently in stock if you really want the Full Self-Driving freebie. We also heard earlier this month Tesla authorized its staff to toss in free Supercharging once again for anyone purchasing a new EV as the automaker pushes for record deliveries in 2020.We won’t know if the tactics worked until early next year, but Musk is sort of the master of spurring fans to purchase when it counts.

      Now playing:
      Watch this:

      Tesla Model S Long Range pulls further ahead of the EV…

      8:35 More

    • 225 Shares99 Views

      in Electric Cars

      Toyota C-Plus Pod is a cutesy new EV with a big mission – Roadshow

      by

      This is Toyota’s newest EV, the itty-bitty C-Plus Pod.
      Toyota
      Last week, Toyota introduced the C-Plus Pod, a new electric minicar designed to improve per-person energy efficiency. This golf cart-like machine seats just two people and is super small. But despite its diminutive dimensions, it has a big mission: It’s designed to help broaden the appeal of battery-operated vehicles, at least in Japan.Looking vaguely like a Smart Fortwo, this ultra-compact car is intended for short-distance, daily use, not long-distance cruising. The C-Plus Pod is about 98 inches long, 51 inches wide and 61 inches tall. Yeah, I told you it was small. And with a turning radius of less than 13 feet, it should be more maneuverable than a shopping cart. As for weight, it clocks in at about 1,500 pounds.The C-Plus Pod’s styling is definitely more functional than flowery with utilitarian and simple lines. Reducing weight and likely making it easier and cheaper to manufacture, this vehicle’s body panels are made of plastic. For some visual flair, Toyota offers five different two-tone color schemes. Lighting the way are LED headlights and taillights.Inside this cutesy EV are just two seats, and they don’t look particularly comfortable or accommodating. The cabin is also suitably utilitarian — a frill-free zone, if you will. For easy access, the switches and controls are located on the dashboard’s cleanly designed center stack. This car’s interior is simple and honest.
      Toyota
      Providing the go-power is a single, rear-mounted permanent-magnet electric motor that’s juiced by an under-floor-mounted 9.1 kWh lithium-ion battery pack. This drivetrain layout provides a low, flat floor. The C-Plus Pod’s top speed is just 60 kph, or 37 mph, so a freeway cruiser it is certainly not. Slowing things down are front disc brakes and drums at the rear. With a low top speed and modestly sized battery pack, this Toyota offers an estimated cruising range of up to 150 kilometers (about 93 miles) on the Worldwide Harmonized Light Vehicle test cycle, so it’d probably go a little less further if the EPA got its hands on the car. With an appropriate membership, it can be recharged at Toyota dealers that have G-Station chargers, though you can also juice it at other charging locations across Japan. A handy feature, the C-Plus Pod can also serve as a portable generator for use during power outages or natural disasters, delivering up to 1,500 Watts of power. It can supply electricity for up to 10 hours, which is super convenient.Even though it doesn’t look very robust, the Toyota C-Plus Pod meets safety standard for minivehicles. It’s also equipped with a standard pre-collision system that can detect other vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists. The automaker even fits the car with ever-useful parking sensors, too.Toyota will build the little machine at the automaker’s Motomachi Plant in Japan. Initially, it will be offered to select customers including corporations, local governments and other organizations. Broader availability to individual customers should start by 2022. You’d expect such a tiny car to carry an inexpensive price tag, but that’s not necessarily the case. It starts at roughly $16,000 USD at current exchange rates.

      Now playing:
      Watch this:

      2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E: Not yet a good Mustang, but…

      11:28

      Climb in the driver’s seat for the latest car news and reviews, delivered to your inbox twice weekly. More

    • 150 Shares129 Views

      in Electric Cars

      Tata Nexon Electric Mileage Rally For Owners – Bangalore To Nandi Hills

      by

      Tata Nexon EV Mileage Rally
      Tata Motors and Dealers Adishakti Cars in Bangalore organized a mileage rally for the Nexon EV from the showroom to Nandi Hills

      Nexon EV owners congregated at Adishakti Cars, a Tata Motors Dealership in Bengaluru to put their cars to the test. A total of 12 Nexon electric cars lined up in a straight line and after a full charge, a complete check of each car, battery percentage and remaining range, the cars set off across the open road to test the range and performance of this electric vehicle launched earlier this year.
      All the drivers decided on switching off the AC as the weather in Bengaluru was pleasant. The cars, with their green and white number plates, caused some excitement on the roads among general public as it is not everyday that you get to see so many electric cars together.
      Nexon EV Mileage Rally
      The electric cars headed towards Nandi Hills across the National Highway, stopping at the first toll for all the cars to assemble and set off again together. Despite the fact that the local police had made sufficient parking space for the 12 Nexon EVs at the top of Nandi Hills, they could not proceed to the top due to the road being blocked.
      After a 64 km drive, a final stop at Nandi Upachar restaurant for a complimentary breakfast saw the winners being announced. Mr Jaysurya of Nexon EV Dept, Tata Motors announced the winner and runner up. The entire event was documented on video by Youtube channel Auto Town.
      [embedded content]
      Mr Shriram was announced as the Runner Up. He completed the 64 km drive with a 290 kms range remaining. His Nexon EV had consumed 22 percent of the battery power. The winner of the Tata Nexon EV Rally was Mr Arun Somyaji with the 304 kms range remaining and consuming just 21 percent of battery power.
      Tata Nexon EV Specs
      The Nexon EV, launched around 11 months back in January 2020 noted sales of 2,200 units as of November. The company claims a growing interest among buyers in the country. Tata Motors claims that the Nexon EV is the best selling electric car in India, leading the segment with as 74 percent market share.
      The Nexon EV offers outstanding performance, a connected drive experience, zero emissions and comes in at an attractive price while it also offers lower operating cost. Priced from Rs.13.99-16.25 lakhs, the Nexon EV is presented in three variants of XM, XZ+ and XZ+ LUX.
      This electrified vehicle gets its power via an electric motor with output rating at 129 hp and 245 Nm. It receives two driving modes of Drive and Sport and claims a range of 312 kms on a full charge of its 30.2 kWh battery pack. This battery can be charged from 0 to 80 percent in 1 hour via a DC fast charger.
      The Nexon EV is also available on a subscription basis in select cities and while it currently competes with the MG ZS EV and Hyundai Kona Electric, it will soon get a third rival in the form of the Mahindra XUV300 electric set to go on sale in early 2021. More

    • 163 Shares99 Views

      in Electric Cars

      Toyota C+Pod Small Electric Car Debuts – Price 1.65m Yen (Rs 11.7 L)

      by

      Toyota C+Pod Electric Car
      Toyota has launched an all new micro electric vehicle, named C+Pod in Japan

      It happens to be an ‘Ultra Compact’ electric vehicle with a seating capacity for 2 adults. To begin with, sales will be restricted to local government bodies, corporate users and other organizations which are planning to include electric vehicles in their fleets. A full-scale launch for the masses is scheduled to take place in 2022.
      Specifications
      The Toyota C+Pod measures just 2,490 mm in length, 1,550 mm in height and 1,290 mm in width. Thanks to its compact dimensions, it has a turning radius of just 3.9 meters making it a perfect choice for heavily packed cities like Tokyo.
      It derives power from a 9.06 kWh lithium ion battery which has been mounted under the floor. The battery powers an electric motor which has been installed on the rear axle and delivers a total output of 12 hp and 56 Nm of peak torque.
      As per Toyota’s claims, the C+Pod has a range of 150 km (as per WLTC Class 1 mode testing conditions) and can be charged to its full capacity in 5 hours on a 200V/16A power supply. On the standard 100V/6A power supply, the charging time goes up to 16 hours.
      Toyota C+Pod Electric Car
      Pricing and Trims 
      The C+Pod has been launched in 2 variants, X and G. The X trim is priced at 1.65 million Yen (approx INR 11.75 lakhs) while the G trim is priced at 1.71 million Yen (approx INR 12.15 lakhs). The X trim weighs 670 kg while the G trim lands up weighing 690 kgs. The light weight of the vehicle can be attributed to the exterior panels which have been made out of plastic.

      Toyota has designed the structure of C+Pod in such a way that it absorbs impact and offers pedestrian protection too. The pre-collision system which has been installed on the C+Pod ensures that the chances of a collision with other cyclists, pedestrians, vehicles are lowered to the maximum extent possible.

      C+Pod and Indian Market
      Currently in India, Toyota has been selling more rebadged Maruti cars than cars from its very own product portfolio. In the last 1-1.5 years, we have seen the Indian EV market slowly maturing with good practical models like Nexon EV, ZS EV and Kona Electric getting launched in the last 18 months or so.

      Brining in the C+Pod or an iteration of it could work well for Toyota as currently there is no such model available in the Indian EV market. A model like the C+Pod could work well for last-mile mobility and even for environmentally conscious regular commuters looking for their second or third car/vehicle which can be used for short trips around the town.

      Its size and compactness could help the vehicle to become popular, however, we don’t think Toyota currently has any such plans to bring in an ultra compact EV to India. But, such a product, if priced aptly could help Toyota with some healthy sales numbers in the future. MG Motor India had showcased a similar small sized 2 seater electric car at the 2020 Auto Expo – called the MG e200. More