Electric Cars

Subterms

    More stories

    • 113 Shares199 Views

      in Electric Cars

      Tata Nexon Electric Driving Experience Improved With Software Update

      by

      There could be marginal improvement in driving range as well
      The Tata Nexon EV, India’s best selling electric passenger car, has received a new software update that is aimed at improving the overall driving experience. The latest software version 2.07 can be installed by taking the vehicle to the authorized service center.
      Tata Nexon EV software update – what’s new?

      The Nexon EV’s V 2.07 software update is reported to have improved the vehicle’s creep function by reducing the response time between releasing the brake pedal and the vehicle moving forward. The overall operation is said to be smoother than before.
      Another significant upgrade comes in the form of improved brake energy regeneration which was considered to be intrusive by some owners when the state-of-charge (SoC) is less than 20%. The brake pedal effort has also been reduced and this could be partially due to the changes made to the regeneration operation.
      Tata Nexon EV – Hemank
      Furthermore, Tata Motors’ engineering team has brought forth improvements in sensor calibration to achieve more accuracy in energy consumption (Wh/km) reading. The coasting function has also been optimized for better driving experience on the highway. The overall changes are expected to improve the range marginally but there is no data to prove at this point.
      Nexon EV Performance
      Priced from Rs 14 lakhs, ex-sh, Nexon Electric is powered by an PMSM (Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor) which is powered by a 30.2 kWh lithium ion battery pack. Power delivery is rated at 129 PS while torque output is 245 Nm. Two drive modes are on offer called Drive and Sports. The system is powered by Tata Ziptron technology.
      Drive range of Nexon EV on a fully charged battery is claimed to be at 312 kms. But real world drive range is a lot lesser. Some owners have reported getting range of 170 kms while some have even managed to get 250+ kms. It largely depends on how you drive the car, in what conditions.
      Nexon EV Sales
      Since its launch, Nexon has been the best selling passenger electric car in the country. In the current fiscal year, Nexon EV sales have reached almost 850 units. While sales of other passenger EVs – MG ZS was at 387 units while Hyundai Kona was at 71 units. It is also to be noted here that Nexon is the most affordable of the three.
      Along with Tigor EV and eVerito, the total passenger E-Car sales in India for April 2020 to Aug 2020 stood at 1,408 units. Nexon EV has lion’s share in the market, which is at 60.23%. In the future, Tata plans to launch electric Altroz as well as electric HBX. This will help the company improve their market share in the electric car segment even further.
      Source More

    • 163 Shares169 Views

      in Electric Cars

      Delhi Govt to deposit Electric Vehicle Subsidy in bank account of EV buyers

      by

      Under this new EV Policy, the Delhi Government will provide subsidies to buyers of electric vehicles
      Delhi Government is set to become the first state government in India to implement its Electric Vehicle policy. The state is likely to roll out the subsidy schemes under the new electric vehicle (EV) policy next week.

      The Delhi Government had notified the EV policy for the national capital last month after a formal announcement by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. The policy was adopted with the aim to boost economy and reduce pollution levels in Delhi which is considered to be one of the most polluted cities in the world.
      At the time of the announcement, CM Kejriwal said that the new policy aimed at registering five lakh new EVs in the next five years. Officials of private nationalised bank- ICICI demonstrated a software to Transport Minister Kailash Gehlot which would be used for the disbursement of subsidies under the policy.
      Ather e-scooters will soon launch in Delhi. File photo
      Provisions Under This Policy
      This new EV policy will provide incentives up to Rs 30,000 for two-wheelers, three-wheelers, auto-rickshaws and e-rickshaws while offering a massive incentive of up to Rs 1.5 lakh for electric cars. This new EV policy will be valid for three years after which the government will review the conclusion of the policy. All the benefits offered under this policy will be relevant over and above the already existing Central Government’s FAME 2.0 policy.
      According to the payment mechanism of this policy, the subsidy will be transferred to eligible owners within two days to their bank accounts after confirmation from concerned motor licensing officers. Also, the dealers of EVs need to be self-registered with the Transport department of Delhi government so that they are able to transfer the subsidies to the beneficiary’s bank account.
      Also, the road tax and registration fee will be waived off by the state government under this scheme. Financial institutions will also provide low-interest loans to commercial EV owners. Not only this but the government will provide a 100 percent subsidy for purchasing charging equipment priced under Rs 6,000 for the first 30,000 charging sockets across the city. The new policy also mandates new residential societies and offices to reserve 20 percent parking space for EVs.
      After introduction of the new EV policy, Delhi is set to become the nerve centre of electric vehicles in India. Until the previous month, over the 11 million vehicles plying on Delhi roads, currently, only 83,730 are electric vehicles out of which majority are e-rickshaws. A similar policy in other states would definitely boost the EV movement in India. More

    • 175 Shares129 Views

      in Electric Cars

      Tata Nexon Electric PDU of Rs 1 Lakh Replaced For Free During 1st Service

      by

      Owner of brand new Tata Nexon Electric has revealed that the service center replaced Power Distribution Unit or PDU for free
      Tata Nexon EV is priced between INR 13.99 lakh to 15.99 lakh (ex-showroom, Bangalore). It is currently the most affordable passenger electric SUV. It holds a 60% market share in the country’s electric four wheeler electric passenger car space for April-Aug 2020 period. The green crossover recently received a further INR 1.5 lakh subsidy from the Delhi government under its updated EV policy.

      With sales of the Nexon EV growing, more and more owners are sharing interesting facts about the new SUV. Some days ago, a Pune based owner shared real world mileage of Nexon EV. Now, Nexon EV owner from West Bengal, has shared the cost of first service.
      Nexon EV owner from Bengal (Youtube channel GodSpeed) gave his car for first service when the car had done about 1,500 kms. The service center said that they will need to keep the car for two days. They called him on the 2nd day and said that they will need to replace the Power Distribution Unit (PDU) of his Nexon EV.
      Tata Nexon Electric PDU replaced
      PDU is more or less the brain of electric car. It has multiple functions like battery charging and management system, electric motor control, air condition control system, electric steering system, short circuit protection, electric current leak protection, IP protection as well as control braking system.
      This is the reason that it does not come cheap. As per the service bill shared, PDU of Tata Nexon EV costs about Rs 1.02 lakhs. As the car was under warranty, this unit was replaced for free. The bill was Zero Rupees. It is to be noted here that the Nexon EV comes with an 8 years / 1.6 lakh kms warranty for battery and motor. It is not clear as to why the PDU was replaced, as the owner had not reported of any issues.
      [embedded content]
      Tata Nexon EV at a glance
      To recap, the compact electric SUV is powered by a PMSM which is rated at 129 hp and 245 Nm of torque. Battery pack is a 30.2 kWh lithium-ion unit which offers a range of 312 km. The Tata Nexon EV is claimed to accelerate from rest to ton in 9.9 seconds.
      The estimated regular charging time (from 10% SOC to 90%) stands at 8.5 hours via any 15 A plug point while fast charging takes 60 mins from 0 to 80%. The vehicle’s energy efficiency is rated at 100 Wh/km.
      Tata Nexon EV’s Ziptron Power Electronics
      Feature highlights include regenerative braking, hill ascent assist, hill descent assist, powered sunroof, leatherette interiors, alloy wheels, touchscreen infotainment system, smartphone connectivity, automatic climate control, leather wrapped steering wheel and so on.
      With several noticeable improvements, the Tata Nexon EV software has made the crossover more appealing. With the festive season approaching, we expect the Nexon EV to maintain its segment leadership by garnering more sales. Competition comes from the Hyundai Kona EV and MG ZS EV. More

    • 188 Shares99 Views

      in Electric Cars

      GM shares more secrets of its Ultium battery technology – Roadshow

      by

      Wireless management reduces the number 
      GM
      GM is sharing more information about its upcoming Ultium battery system, a potentially transformative technology that underpins the automaker’s future electric vehicles. On Wednesday, GM announced a new wireless battery management system (WBMS), which should improve scalability and simplify manufacturing, among many other things.Working with a company ironically called Analog Devices, Inc., GM has essentially figured out how to fit its battery packs with Wi-Fi. WBMS allows individual modules in the system to communicate through a wireless network instead of traditional cables. This reduces the amount of wiring needed in battery assemblies by up to 90%, which reduces weight, cost and results in cleaner, easier-to-build batteries. But that’s not all.

      For more like this
      Subscribe to the Roadshow newsletter, receive notifications and see related stories on CNET.

      WBMS is designed to help balance battery chemistry right down to individual cell groups for improved performance. Periodic health checks of the pack can also be conducted in real time as well, things that should improve the working lifespan of batteries. And once their usefulness in automotive applications is over, they can be reused, combined with other compatible battery packs to provide power to homes or other facilities.
      GM
      Beyond that, WBMS will provide greater scalability, making it easier for GM to offer a broad range of electric vehicles, everything from high-performance sports cars to family-friendly crossovers to heavy-duty trucks. And that’s exactly what the automaker plans to do. Shared battery components make it far simpler to bring vehicles to market since engineers don’t have to develop specific components for every make and model or put together new wiring systems for each vehicle application. Aside from enhanced scalability and reduced complexity, WBMS makes it easy to add new features as they become available in the future, something enabled via over-the-air updates. And if you’re worried about hackers accessing your future vehicle’s Ultium battery, don’t lose any sleep over this. Cybersecurity measures are baked right into GM’s latest automotive electrical architecture, called the Vehicle Intelligence Platform.Ultium is the future of GM and WBMS will be standard in every one of its vehicles that use this battery technology. When it launches, this should be the first nearly wireless battery management system used in production cars and trucks. 
      The Cadillac Lyriq electric SUV is ushering in a new era at GM
      See all photos

      Now playing:
      Watch this:

      GMC Hummer EV: I’ve got an opinion

      2:42 More

    • 175 Shares129 Views

      in Electric Cars

      Tata Nexon Electric Owner Shares Points on How To Get 250 kms Drive Range

      by

      With Tata Nexon electric owners not getting higher drive range, here are some pointers by a fellow Nexon EV owner
      In the last 1 year or so, Electric Vehicles have slowly started to become main-stream, thanks to the introduction of practical products like Hyundai Kona, MG ZS EV and the Tata Nexon EV. However, despite the drive range claims by the OEMs, most users and perspective buyers are still not very well convinced about the range of the EVs which are on offer in India.

      What can possibly help change opinion are real-life reviews from other owners. One such interesting review has come in from Nirvik Banerjee, who shared his experience of ownership of a Tata Nexon EV with Electric Vehicle Web. Nirvik states that he managed to clock over 250 kms on a single charge with his Nexon electric.
      This is a pleasant surprise as many owners have claimed that they failed to get even 180 kms drive range on a full charge with Nexon EV. It is to be noted that the official range claimed by ARAI is of 312 kms, which is in ideal conditions. Hence, 250+ km on a single charge, is actually a good figure. Here are some excerpts from Nirvik’s experience with the Nexon electric.
      Nirwik achieves range of 250+ kms in his Nexon EV from a fully charged battery.
      Purchase Experience – Nirvik had booked a Nexon EV for himself back in December’19 however thanks to the ongoing pandemic, the delivery of his vehicle was delayed and he finally got his car in July’20. Because of the subsidies provided by Maharashtra Government, Nirvik didn’t have to pay road tax or any registration fees. Additionally, he also got a subsidy of Rs 1 lakh upon the ex-showroom price. Below are some tricks to extract the maximum drive range out of your Nexon EV, as per Nirvik.
      1. Take A Break
      Nopes, we aren’t trying to use a jingle of one of the famous chocolate brand in the country. Instead, Nirwik insists that after every 100-120 km or so, it is advisable to take a short break of around 5 minutes. From his experience he states that during long drives in his Nexon EV, the power consumption figure starts to increase slowly after a long stretch. Once he did not take a break after driving for over 120 kms non-stop, and his Nexon EVs MID flashed a message to stop the car and take a break. The battery consumption level at this point had reached 190 Wh/km.
      2. Using the AC Smartly
      Even if you haven’t personally driven an IC engine powered car, we are sure you would have had multiple experiences with drivers who would have insisted that using AC aggressively (extremely low temperature settings) directly reduces their earning potential, thanks to higher fuel consumption while use of an AC. Similar is the case with all EVs too.
      Nirwik usually has a goal to extract around 3 kms from every percentage point of his battery’s charge. Technically, gunning for around 300km against the ARAI claim of 312 km. In order to do so, he suggests that using AC in lower settings helps to conserve battery’s charge. During his city drives, he prefers to stick to 25 degrees Celsius as his preferred temperature setting and keeps the blower at the first point. He further adds that to understand more about the car and to figure out more ways to conserve charge, one should thoroughly read the 250 page long Car Manual.
      3. Right Speed
      Nirwik states that he ensured that his driving speed was around 70-80 kmph mark. It helped him to extract the best possible distance from a single-charge on his Nexon EV.
      4. Go Easy on the Gas
      Well, technically, there is no Gas pedal in an EV. However, just like a typical gasoline powered vehicle, EVs too land up draining energy/power (charge) when there is a requirement of sudden acceleration. Hence, it is advised to use a light-footed driving approach. The speed doesn’t matter significantly, if it is 50 kmph or 80 kmph. What will be critical is if there is no sudden acceleration which drains out battery really fast. Nirwik suggests that one should try to emulate the acceleration which a 1L NA petrol motor would provide with a light foot.
      In case you haven’t driven an EV in the past, we can assure that the new-age EVs have some really good acceleration capabilities, so it surely will be a difficult task to not to get tempted to push the accelerator pedal hard.
      5. Tyre Pressure
      Nirwik states that he used a tyre pressure of 34 psi against the recommended tyre pressure of 32 psi. We would like to add that 1-2 psi difference against the recommended tyre pressure can still be tolerable however inflating the tyres beyond the recommended mark isn’t a great idea, in light of safety risks which such practices come along with.
      6. Usage of the Correct Mode
      In Nirwik’s opinion, one of the most critical requirement to ensure a long-drive range from an EV is to use it in the ‘Drive’ mode, in other words, use the Eco mode and not a performance focused mode which is usually on offer in most EVs. This one is pretty intuitive, even if you have never driven an EV in the past. Talking about the Nexon EV, it comes with 2 drive modes, Sport and Drive and there is almost a 60% difference in the torque output figures between the two.
      Overall, Nirwik managed to complete his trip with two of his friends (more occupants = more weight = lesser mileage) and clocked 256.7 kms on a single charge on his Nexon EV. Additionally, he still had around 6% charge remaining in his battery. As a Nexon EV owner, Nirwik goes on to showcase that long-trips are possible in EVs too, however, one needs to be a little calculative and careful.
      Source More

    • 125 Shares179 Views

      in Electric Cars

      Suzuki Jimny based Electric Hybrid Concept – Created by Students

      by

      This design study has been created by students of IED Turin in association with Suzuki
      Over the decades, the Suzuki Jimny has grown into an iconic automobile, thanks to its simplicity, compact foot print and impressive abilities off the road. The Japanese automaker has managed to stick to the nameplate’s core characters every time it came up with a new generation of the mini SUV. No wonder that in most markets, the little Jimny has a waiting period stretching out to several months.
      Design students tribute to the Jimny

      Having a cult status with distinct design identity naturally puts the Suzuki Jimny in the radar of aspiring automotive designers. IED Turin students Raffaele Anile, Nicolo Bettinelli, Fiorenzo Fiorentino and Fabrizio Luciano found the Jimny’s raw character so fascinating that they decided to pay tribute to the vehicle through their dissertation design concept.
      The Suzuki U:man concept created by the IED team derives inspiration from both Jimny and Vitara. The brief was to design an Suzuki SUV concept made for everyone rather going after extreme performance or resorting to over-designing.

      U:man SUV concept
      The Suzuki U:man, just like the Jimny, adopts a simple boxy design. The roof section is kept simple with the B-pillar also doubling up as a roll hoop. A sporty front fascia with headlight displays represent modern technology while the bumper with neatly hidden tow hitch enhances functionality. The bulging wheel arches and six-spoke wheels add to the U:man’s character without going overboard. The whole glass roof gives a convertible feel while ensuring insulation from weather.
      While the exterior is all about preserving the classic identity, the interior is all about modern technology. The top part of the dashboard is made of displays that run across the full width of the cabin. The concept adopts an innovative HVAC which has blows air though gaps in the plastic panels of the dashboard. Features like wireless charging pad, advanced connectivity are on board.
      The team has opted for a four-seat configuration instead of a conventional five-seat setup in a bid to offer equal comfort to all the occupants. The place between the two rear seats has been used for luggage storage.
      The Suzuki U:man SUV concept is a design case study rather than a potential future model. So, the technical specifications of the vehicle have not been discussed by the creators aside from revealing that it has been designed for an electric hybrid powertrain.

      Source More

    • 100 Shares189 Views

      in Electric Cars

      Volta Reveals 16-Tonne Electric Truck For Cargo Deliveries

      by

      Volta plans to go into production by 2022 in the UK, with trails planned with some of the biggest cargo movers in Europe by early 2021
      As time goes by, we will get to read and learn more about electric mobility solutions. With two-wheelers and passenger vehicle cars already manufactured at mass scales, it is time that the commercial vehicle segment goes through an electrification process as well. While we recently saw the example of Hyundai developing an electric bus, now we get to see an electric truck.

      Swedish electric auto startup Volta Trucks has unveiled its first product and it is called ‘Zero’ which signifies zero emission. This 16-tonne electric truck is specifically designed for freight and parcel deliveries within city limits. The company expects to start production in the UK by 2022 and aims to have 500 units of Zero by the end of that year. Volta has forged many valuable partnerships that might help shape its future as an electric mobility solutions provider.
      Performance and Range
      The Volta will be powered by a 160-200 kWh Lithium Iron Phosphate battery pack which will give a range of 150-200km. Its Swedish counterpart Volvo has also developed an electric truck that gives a much better range of up to 300km. It can attain a top speed of 90 kmph. It offers a space of 37.3 cubic meters and a maximum payload capacity of 8.6 tonnes.

      The company can also employ an innovative e-Axle to send power to the rear wheels instead of a traditional driveshaft setup and electric motor. To be specific, the transmission, axle and electric motor are contained within a single lightweight unit thus making it more efficient.
      Exterior body panels and some interior of the cabin are made from biodegradable resins and flax fibers. Inside the cabin, the driver sits in the middle on a swivel chair far lower than conventional trucks at about 1.8 metre (6 ft.). This makes it easier for the driver to communicate to the ones around the truck outside like pedestrians, cyclists, motorists etc.
      Features

      There are two touchscreens on each side of the driver instrument cluster which gives out information such as route planning, navigation, climate control, in-cab media, communication and more. The driver gets a 220-degree view thanks to the large windows which have been designed for reducing blind spots and optimum visibility. For making easier ingress and egress, the Volta Zero gets fast opening sliding doors on each side of the cabin.
      Instead of traditional side mirrors, Volta has used rear-view cameras. A 360-degree camera detects objects near the periphery at blindspots. Other notable safety features include reverse parking assist, active steering, lane assist and lane watch camera among many more. There’s also the AI-monitoring system which will enable fleet operators to run their vehicles on road for a longer duration.
      Driver is seated in the center
      Volta is planning to begin trails with some of the biggest parcel delivery and logistics companies in Europe in early 2021. The prototype vehicle features in the photos was built by UK-based company Prodrive Advanced Technology. Volta hasn’t yet revealed its price. More

    • 150 Shares169 Views

      in Electric Cars

      Electric car in China explodes while charging – Explosion caught on video

      by

      The incident took place in China, where demand for electric cars is on the rise – No one injured in this incident
      In yet another incident that raises questions about safety of EVs, an electric car can be seen exploding after it caught fire due to a potential battery malfunction. The incident happened at a charging station in Sanming, located in southern China. Electric cars are quite popular in China and there’s fierce competition between international players such as Tesla and local EV manufacturers.

      As per reports, the electric car was facing issues with charging. After a while, smoke started to come out of the car and it also caught fire. Fire fighters were called subsequently and they tried the conventional technique of cooling things off with water. All this while, the car was still plugged into the charger.
      However, this was not the right thing to do, as using water is generally not advised for fires involving batteries, especially the ones that have lithium. Watch the explosion video below.
      [embedded content]
      Potential cause of the explosion
      Lithium reacts violently with water, producing flammable gases and it also ignites upon contact with water. Another possible theory is that the electric current in the car could have reacted with water, producing hydrogen and oxygen via the process called electrolysis of water. As the car was already on fire, a few sparks could have easily ignited the combustible gases present inside the car.
      The explosion was quite powerful, as the doors and roof were ripped off in an instant. The explosion also produced a ball of fire, which clearly indicates towards presence of flammable gases. Both hydrogen and oxygen can explode if the required conditions are met. This is why water (H2O) is not recommended for dousing fires caused by gasoline. Putting water on a gasoline fire causes the fire to erupt even more violently, as the hydrogen and oxygen in water start to burn.
      In a split second, the electric car exploded
      It is not yet known which electric car was involved in this accident. Thankfully, the nearby area was evacuated after fire fighters rushed in. So, no one was injured in this incident.
      Other cases reported in the past
      This is not the first time that we are witnessing a car going up in flames. Over the years, several such cases have been reported involving both electric cars as well as gasoline powered cars. In 2019, A Tesla Model S had caught fire while it was parked. The incident had happened in China and was captured on CCTV camera.
      A similar incident had happened in Montreal, Canada in 2019, where a Hyundai Kona electric car had caught fire when parked in the garage. The owner had claimed that the car was not even plugged in to the charging board. The fire and smoke was followed by a powerful explosion that took out the garage door and ripped off part of the roof and walls.
      While electric cars are quite safe, such incidents show that there’s room for improvement. Users also need to follow prescribed usage and maintenance guidelines, as high powered lithium batteries can be dangerous if handled inappropriately. More