Electric Cars

Tata Electric Cars at the new EV Charging Station on Pune Mumbai Expressway
Battery charging/swapping infrastructure needs major investments for EVs to go mainstream

In a welcome development for electric vehicle owners who use Mumbai-Pune Expressway, a new charging station has come up at Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd.’s flagship Sajgaon Retail Outlet. The EV charging station has been setup by Magenta Group in collaboration with HPCL. Magenta is a leading provider of green energy products and solutions.
The EV charging facility was inaugurated on March 4 in the presence of Shri Sai Kumar Suri (ED – Retail) and Shri Rajnish Mehta (ED – CS & BD). The charging station has two types of chargers – 122KW (CCS2+ChaDeMo+Type2) and 15KW (DC001) fast charger. Users can choose any of these based on their EV’s charging specifications.
Magenta ChargeGrid – A hassle-free charging experience
Magenta’s new charging station on Mumbai-Pune expressway is part of the company’s mission to develop a pan-India EV charging network. It has charging stations in several other states including Delhi, Rajasthan, MP, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, West Bengal and Bihar.
As of December 2020, the total capacity of EV chargers installed by the company was 3.5 MW. This is expected to increase in the future, as Magenta opens EV charging stations at new locations across the country.
Electric Vehicle Charging Station At Pune Mumbai Expressway
One of Magenta’s key focus areas has been to provide a hassle-free charging experience to EV users. This has been made possible with the use of its ChargeGrid charging stations and an app with the same name.
If we talk about the hardware, Magenta currently has two types of charging machines, ChargeGrid Pro and ChargeGrid Flare. While the former is meant for commercial and residential use, the latter can be installed in public places such as airports, car parking lots, etc. Both charging machines are fully automated and can be accessed with the ChargeGrid app.
Magenta ChargeGrid App
This app makes it easier for users to find a nearest charging station. Both location and availability of charging stations are displayed on a map. Magenta ChargeGrid app offers a number of online payment options including UPI, net banking, wallet payment, and debit and credit cards.
Tata Nexon Electric at the new EV Charging Station on Pune Mumbai Expressway
While charging their EV, users can keep track of electricity consumed and time taken for the charging session. The company offers multiple membership plans, so that users can choose the best fit as per their specific needs and preferences.
While EV charging infrastructure is at a nascent stage in the country, it’s good to see that companies like Magenta are coming up with innovative products and solutions to ensure a hassle-free experience for EV users. This segment will need several such initiatives if EVs are to become the preferred option for customers.
Electric Vehicle Charging Station At Pune Mumbai Expressway More

Toyota Electric Crossover Teaser
The Toyota X-Prologue is the first product to be based on the new e-TNGA platform which will spawn fully electric vehicles

Being the world’s largest automaker, it is in Toyota’s best interest to stay at the forefront of the ongoing crossover revolution. The giant’s e-TNGA (electric – Toyota New Global Architecture) is set to spawn a whole new array of future products and most of them are going to be SUVs, including the X-Prologue which has been teased ahead of its world premiere on March 17.
Toyota X-Prologue – A mid-size crossover
The latest teaser not only reveals the name of the crossover but also gives us a glimpse of its unconventional front fascia design. The Toyota X-Prologue sports a unique LED DRL that runs across the width of the car and nestled within it are the 3-part LED headlamp elements.
Being a fully electric vehicle, the crossover does not require a radiator grille and this gives the designers a free hand in shaping up the front fascia. There is a definitive step in the sheet metal design where a conventional grille would be. We will know more about the design in the coming days.
The previous teaser suggests that the profile of the crossover is relatively less radical than its front fascia, with a flat roofline and a steeply inclined C-Pillar. There is simply no further detail about the Toyota X-Prologue at this moment.
Patent image for reference. Credit – AutoWeek
Toyota e-TNGA
Toyota had announced earlier that its e-TNGA modular platform will be spinning out a whole new range of electric vehicles. The lineup will include a mid-size crossover, a large crossover, a compact crossover, a mid-size sedan and a minivan. Some of these products will also have Suzuki, Subaru and Daihatsu derivatives to take advantage of the synergies.
The modular platform is is flexible enough to adopt different wheelbases and drive configurations (front-, rear- or all-wheel drive). Different battery sizes and motor outputs are also possible, giving Toyota and its collaborates a wide range of options when it comes to body styles and powertrain configurations.
The Toyota X-Prologue will be the first product to be based on the e-TNGA. While it will have Europe as its primary market, it is expected to be manufactured in Japan at Toyota’s EV-specific factory. So, it is reasonable to expect it to be sold in its home country as well.
Patent image for reference. Credit – AutoWeek
Launch plans in North America and other leading markets in Asia are not clear as of now. With electrification becoming the focus of mobility sector across the world, we expect e-TNGA derivatives to become global models sooner than later.
It is too early to speculate about the possibility of X-Prologue’s arrival in India. For now, Toyota Kirloskar Motor is focused on maximizing the potential of its product-sharing partnership with Suzuki in the domestic market. More

Image – Auto Town
Under test conditions is an accepted industry norm, so selectively targeting Nexon seems unfair

In response to Delhi’s government’s decision to remove Nexon EV from its subsidy list, Tata Motors approached Delhi High Court for a resolution. As may be recalled, Delhi govt. had taken the decision based on a complaint filed by a Nexon user. As per the complaint, Nexon never reached the claimed ARAI certified range of 312 km.
A Tata Motors spokesperson said, “The Honourable Delhi High Court has issued notice on our writ and granted interim relief by directing a stay against the delisting of Nexon EV from Delhi Government’s eligible list of vehicles. The Honourable High Court has granted time to the Delhi Government to file counter affidavit in the matter.”
Tata Motors case in Delhi HC
In its plea, Tata Motors stated that Delhi government’s decision is an extreme step and based on a single complaint filed by an unsatisfied and disgruntled consumer. The plea also mentions that actual range of most other vehicles including petrol, diesel and CNG is different from the claimed range. This is because mileage of a vehicle is dependent on multiple factors such as environment, traffic conditions, overall load, use of AC, condition of the vehicle, driver skills, etc.
Tata Motors response seems valid as there are various consumer goods that come with claims based on tests conducted in a controlled environment. In the auto industry, it would be difficult to find a vehicle that can match its claimed mileage in actual road tests. Unless Delhi govt. is planning to pinpoint the shortcomings of generally accepted industry norms, it has little chance to win this case in court.
Tata Nexon Electric
Facts in favour of Tata Motors
It is to note that the current suspension of subsidy for Nexon EV is a temporary one. The final decision will be taken after the expert committee submits its report to Delhi government. The committee will look into the complaints filed by Nexon users as well as assertions made by Tata Motors. The committee has representatives from Delhi Transport Department, Tata Motors, and Delhi Integrated Multi-Modal Transit System (DIMTS).
In its earlier response to Delhi government, Tata Motors had stated that its claimed mileage is certified by ARAI, which is a govt. approved designated body for testing all mass-produced vehicles. As such, the 312 km range is a proven thing under test conditions. The company has also said that Nexon EV easily meets the minimum range requirement of 140 km, which is necessary to be covered under FAME-II subsidy scheme.
It further said that Nexon EV has already been approved, as per the eligibility conditions mentioned in Delhi EV Policy 2020. Tata Motors had pointed out that even the complainant has mentioned 200 km range, which is higher than the minimum requirement of 140 km to qualify for the subsidy. These points helped Tata Motors get a favourable decision in the court.
In response, Delhi government’s assertions seem to ignore all the existing rules and laws and focus solely on the complaints filed by some dissatisfied Nexon users. It’s quite like target fixation as of now. That’s unlikely to have any value in the court of law. More

2021 Volvo XC40 Electric SUV
Swedish carmaker-Volvo will launch the fully electrified version of its popular compact SUV- XC40 in India this year

Volvo is looking to add the XC40 Recharge EV to its product line-up in India, making it the first electric vehicle(EV) offering by the Swedish manufacturer in India. Volvo XC40 Electric will be open for bookings from June 2021, while deliveries will start from October 2021.
Design
Visually, the XC40 Recharge will be very similar to its gasoline counterpart barring a few tweaks in design. The most noticeable change in the electrified version will be the new sealed front fascia which replaces the conventional mesh-like grille. It also receives a ‘Recharge’ badging at front and the battery charging port is placed at the same place where the fuel refilling cap is found.
Performance
The electric SUV will be powered by dual motor setup, one on each axle, and will be backed by a 78kWh battery. The twin motor setup produces a combined output of a huge 408 hp and 660 Nm of torque. It can reach 0-100 kmph in just under 5 seconds, however, top-speed is capped at 180 kmph just as rest of the Volvo cars.
The battery pack is positioned under the floor with Volvo claiming a WLTP certified range of about 320 km and has a towing capacity of 907 kg. Battery could be charged via an 11kW AC charger or via a 150 kW DC fast charger which can fast-charge from 10 percent to 80 percent in approximately 40 minutes.
2021 Volvo XC40 Electric SUV Launch Plan
Mr. Jyoti Malhotra, Managing Director, Volvo Car India said, “Our first electric car XC40 Recharge has been received very well globally and we expect the same in India as well. Starting this year we will launch one electric car every year in the Indian market and by 2030 we aspire to become a fully electric car company. This will reinforce our values and commitment towards sustainability and climate safety.”
Features on offer
At the interior as well, design is similar to its petrol counterpart. The cabin provides enough storage spaces for water bottles, phones and other knick-knacks. When it comes to features, it gets a new Android-based touchscreen infotainment system- a first from Volvo.
Other standard features included will be heated seats in front and back, a multifunctional steering wheel and an automatic climate control to name a few. On the safety front, it will offer a 360-degree parking camera, multiple airbags, lane assist and emergency braking system.
It also comes with ‘Volvo On Call’- its in-car connectivity technology which is capable of Over-the-Air (OTA) updates. Internationally, the XC40 Recharge EV is set to compete against the electrified Mercedes Benz EQA SUV upon its launch. More

Kia EV6
The Kia EV6 adopts a brand new design philosophy which gets rid of the trademark Tiger Shark grille

Kia has released a teaser of its first EV to be born of a dedicated electric vehicle platform. Dubbed as the Electric-Global Modular Platform or E-GMP, the flexible architecture is set to be the backbone of the South Korean automaker’s future product portfolio, starting with the EV6 crossover.
Kia EV6
The Kia EV6 is not only the first battery electric vehicle to be developed on E-GMP it is also the first vehicle to feature the brand’s new design philosophy which has been realigned with the shifting focus towards electrification. Speaking about the new design philosophy, Kia’s senior VP and head of Kia Global Design Center Karim Habib stated that the aim was to design the physical experience of Kia brand with bold, original and inventive electric vehicles.
Kia has also unveiled its rather simple naming strategy for its upcoming range of fully electric vehicles. The common prefix EV leaves no doubt about the nature of powertrain while the number 6 denotes the position of the vehicle in the global portfolio. All the future BEVs from Kia will be featuring this alfa-numeric nomenclature.
What to expect?
The Kia EV6 is set to make its world premiere during the first quarter of 2021 and that means, we should be seeing the car in its full glory sometime before the end of this month. Details are pretty scarce as of now.
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From what we see in the teaser, the new design language phases out the quintessential Tiger Shark grille element and replaces it with a narrow slot. With no IC engine to be cooled down, the designers could emphasis more on aerodynamic efficiency. Angular LED headlamps and curvy bonnet characterize the front fascia.
The sporty silhouette a near flat roof and steeply raked C-pillar reminds us of the Toyota C-HR. Rear combination lamps appears to run across the width of the car and them some more. Finer details are under wraps but we will know soon. We expect the vehicle to have grounds up interior design as well. We won’t be surprised to see more than one display screens with wide range of functionalities.
The Kia EV6 is expected to be offered with a range of pure electric powertrains with different outputs and ranges to cover a wide audience base. Keeping up with the trend, the EV6 is likely to be equipped with ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance System) features such as Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Keeping Assist, Autonomous Emergency Braking, Park Assist, and so on.
Kia’s next generation range of electric vehicles will eventually make it to India, but we don’t expect them to be here in a hurry. The next launch from Kia in India is going to be an MPV, which will be based on Seltos platform. This new MPV will launch sometime early next year. More

Image – Akhil Krishnan
The shift to electric is inevitable, but new challenges are emerging for EV makers

A recent example is that of Hyundai Kona, which had to undergo a large-scale recall across the globe. The recall was extended to India last year, applicable for Kona units manufactured between the period April 2019 to October 2020. Hyundai had sold a total of 456 units during this period, all of which were covered under the voluntary recall notice.
Kona battery issue
Kona recall was carried out to check potential issues with the car’s high-voltage battery management system (BMS). Some users had reported that their Kona would stall after a warning on the MID that asks them to check electric vehicle system. In such cases, most owners had to get their Kona towed to the service centre.
There were conflicting reports as well, wherein a user had said that the problem could be fixed by restarting the engine. However, even if true, such temporary solutions cannot be expected to be the norm for a premium EV like Kona.
An expensive recall
Customers in India have started getting back their Kona after spending several weeks at the workshop. It’s taking longer to patch up the EV, as the entire battery unit is being replaced by Hyundai. It’s not certain if all Kona units will have to undergo the same process, but a significant percentage will have to be updated in this manner.
Hyundai Kona Electric delivered to owner after getting fixed
Akhil Krishnan is one such owner, who recently got his Kona back after the fix said that Hyundai has replaced the entire battery unit. His Kona had to spend two and a half months at the service centre while it was being fixed.
Globally, around 76,000 Kona units are covered under the recall. This will make this recall an expensive exercise for Hyundai. The company has said that it will carry out all the needed updates completely free of cost.
Recalls are not only expensive, but they also impact customer trust and confidence in an adverse manner. EVs are supposed to make things easier for users, but if there are persistent issues, it may prevent people from switching to electric.
Hyundai Kona Electric battery replacement
Kona specs
Hyundai Kona electric gets its power from a 39.2 kWh Lithium-ion Polymer battery pack. Power is send to a Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor (PMSM) that generates 136 ps and 395 Nm of torque. Kona has ARAI certified range of 452 km, which is the highest in its class. The range varies based on the drive mode selected – Eco, Comfort and Sport. Kona can accelerate from 0 to 100 kmph in 9.7 seconds.
In terms of safety, Hyundai Kona offers six airbags, vehicle stability management, hill start assist control, electronic stability control, virtual engine sound system for pedestrian safety and ISOFIX child seat mounts. More

It’s here, everyone. The gorgeous Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo bowed via a digital debut on Thursday, and it’s a looker. It becomes Porsche’s second electric car, following the standard Taycan sedan that sent shockwaves through the electric car industry when it launched as a true, potential Tesla Model S rival. Now, we have an even cooler version.You can catch the live reveal above or read all about the new electric wagon right here.
2022 Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo wagon looks so damn cool
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The Cross Turismo takes the Taycan’s winning formula and gets it dirty.
Porsche
Porsche’s Taycan Cross Turismo is looking like it’s going to be an incredibly awesome machine, with all the things we love about the standard Taycan, crossed with all the things we love about tall, slightly off-road-oriented wagons. Needless to say, we’re excited about its debut, and we can only assume you are as well.Luckily, the world being what it is right now, most major car debuts have been shifted to an online format, and the Cross Turismo is following that same formula. Even better, you don’t even have to be a journalist or have press credentials of any kind to watch it as it’s happening. In fact, you can watch it right here on Roadshow when the live stream kicks off at 7 a.m. PT/10 a.m. ET on Thursday, March 4.

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What can you expect to see? Well, probably a whole bunch of videos of the Cross Turismo blasting through the dirt and in the snow as well as some details on performance and maybe even an on-sale date.Porsche’s Taycan sent shockwaves through the electric car industry when it launched, despite offering up less-than-impressive range on paper. It did this because it was the first high-performance, luxury electric vehicle from a legacy manufacturer. Beyond that, Porsche is known for its excellence in engineering and epic build quality, and we’re excited to see that carried over in the Cross Turismo.We’d expect the Cross Turismo to make a slightly smaller splash, but we definitely know which of the two we’re going to go to sleep dreaming of driving like maniacs through a rally stage.
Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo is a champ on road, track and dirt
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