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    Ola Electric Car May Be Designed By Mahindra XUV700 Designer

    Ola is working on an electric car for India, which is expected to be launched within 2 years – In under Rs 10 lakh rangeRamkripa Ananthan with Mahindra XUV700While Ola Electric continues to fend off online complaints and trolls regarding quality issues in its scooter and delivery delays, they have become No 1 electric scooter maker of India. They have also announced future plans. After venturing into the two-wheeler, the company intends to hit big in the passenger vehicle segment of electric mobility.The Bengaluru-based EV startup revealed that it is developing a mass-market electric car that could be launched within two years. This electric car will be equipped with some autonomous tech which will offer it self-driving capabilities.Ola Electric Car DesignIt has now come to light that Ola Electric car is being designed by Krux Studio. This is a design studio which is being led by none other than Ramkripa Ananthan, the former Mahindra Head of Design. She played an important role in the transformation of Mahindra passenger vehicles. She and her team helped design the new Thar, XUV700 and the upcoming Scorpio.It is also likely that she was involved in the designing of upcoming Mahindra electric cars based on KUV100 and XUV300. ET Auto now reports that Ramkripa recently visited Ola Electric head office, likely to discuss the involvement of Krux Studio in the designing of the upcoming Ola Electric car. It is not clear if Krux Studio will also be involved in the next gen Ola electric scooters.Ramkripa Ananthan with Krux Studio’s Two2 electric carOla Electric Self-Driving CarThis development was confirmed by company CEO and founder, Bhavish Aggarwal who revealed that the upcoming electric car will cater to the mass market. He further revealed that the EV manufacturing firm started testing an autonomous vehicle nearly six months ago. Ola showcased the tech in the form of self-driving demo vehicle / modified golf cart.It featured an autonomous driving technology that comprised two Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) cameras, a video camera and GPS. It detected obstacles ahead, stopped for people and found its way around turns autonomously. The cart can be used in hospitals, malls, offices and public places and will be exported to overseas markets as well.While the technology is still in its initial stages of development, it can be considered as a concept vehicle on which future vehicles can be developed. The upcoming electric car is slated to make its global debut by the end of this year or early next year. Slokarth Dash, Head of Strategy and Planning at Ola Electric, has suggested that this upcoming electric car could be a sub-Rs 10 lakh offering.Ola Electric Car teaserEarlier this year, Ola took over a Pune-based geospatial services provider named GeoSpoc. This acquisition will help Ola Electric to build high-res maps that would prove to be useful in autonomous tech and is most likely to feature in the forthcoming electric four-wheeler. Upon its launch, the Ola electric car will compete against entry-level EVs like Tata Tigor EV and the upcoming Mahindra eKUV100.Ola Electric in United KingdomIn another development, Ola Electric revealed that it will be aiming to enter the UK electric vehicle market by 2025. Its initial lineup for the UK market will comprise its two electric scooters- S1 and S1 Pro and its upcoming autonomous electric car. The company also has some interesting long-term plans that include more electric four-wheelers.Ola Electric will reportedly invest £100 million (around INR 981 crore) over the course of the next five years in its Warwickshire facility in England, which will employ over 200 automobile designers and engineers. For the uninitiated, the EV manufacturer has earlier established a technical centre in Coventry, England that became operational in January this year.Source More

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    Tata Electric Cars May Get Tesla-Like Autonomous Driving Feature

    Tata Motors could offer self-driving autonomous technology on future EVs based on the Avinya concept underpinned by a new Born Electric platformNew Tata AvinyaTata Motors has been on a roll as far as electric mobility is concerned. The homegrown carmaker has laid down its grand vision for the electric vehicle (EV) space for India and overseas markets as well. The carmaker’s electrification strategy will be headed by the Tata Passenger Electric Mobility (TPEM) division which is responsible for all EV-related developments.In this regard, the company has recently unveiled pre-production concepts Curvv and Avinya which are going to form the base of upcoming Gen 2 and Gen 3 EVs from the brand respectively. The Avinya concept is based on a new ‘Born Electric’ skateboard platform purely dedicated to future EVs.Autonomous Driving in future EVsIt has also come to light that Tata Motors is envisioning autonomous driving technology for models based on the Avinya Concept. Anand Kulkarni, VP- Product Line and Operations, TPEM, revealed that Tata Motors is looking into this aspect. The architecture is fully capable of incorporating Level 3 or even higher levels of autonomous technology.He further added that fully autonomous driving is also possible for this platform but there needs to be enough demand in global markets. Currently, there are a few car manufacturers who offer higher levels of autonomous driving features. One of them is Tesla, who also has plans of launching their electric cars in India.New Tata AvinyaAvinya Concept Based On Full EV platformThe Avinya Concept measures 4.3 metres and the platform can accommodate cars between lengths 4.1 metres to 4.5 metres. This architecture is versatile in adopting a wide range of body styles as well as drivetrains. Models based on this platform can be front-wheel driven, rear-wheel driven or all-wheel driven. According to Kulkarni, it is important that this architecture meets all safety regulations for autonomous driving. This platform will be laced with modern connectivity features that will play a crucial role in autonomous tech.He further highlighted that there is nothing common between this Born Electric platform and internal combustion engine (ICE) platform. In his words, it is a pure ground-up EV only platform and cannot ever take an IC engine. This skateboard architecture has been created by moving the wheels to the farthest points and creating a space in the middle to fit in the battery pack.Expected Range, Battery Swapping tech & moreTata Motors is working on its elaborate plans that include launching ten new electric cars by 2026. The company isn’t working on a battery swapping technology in this segment as of now, however, this platform offers a provision of such a setup to be added later. Large EVs based on the Avinya concept are likely to have a claimed range of 500km on a single charge that should translate to a real-world range of around 370km.It also came to light that Tata Motors isn’t looking to dive into hybrid powertrains and will instead work to provide a ladder to customers for EVs with a specific range and features built into them according to market demand. The first product based on this new Born Electric platform is expected to be a large SUV which is likely to be an electric equivalent of Safari or Harrier. More

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    Tata AVINYA Electric Concept Makes Global Debut – New Tata Logo

    This is the second electric vehicle concept to be unveiled by Tata Motors after covers from the Curvv Concept were lifted earlier this monthTata AVINYA Electric ConceptTata Motors is going all guns blazing when it comes to electric mobility. Currently, the largest electric vehicle manufacturer in the passenger vehicle segment, Tata Motors aims to cement its place in the future as well. The company is planning to come out with a number of EV offerings in the coming years.The homegrown brand has taken its biggest step in the electric mobility space by unveiling a new concept electric car called AVINYA. This EV concept will be underpinned by the company’s first ‘Born Electric’ platform that will incorporate a wide range of body styles with two- and three-row seating configurations.New Tata Avinya Electric – New Logo of Tata MotorsTata Motors ‘Born Electric’ VehicleModels based on this platform are expected to start hitting showrooms from 2025 onwards. Tata AVINYA is a future ready electric car, which will pave the way for Tata becoming a global car manufacturer. Tata says that they are benchmarking to becoming the best, not only the India – but across the globe.Avinya Electric Concept is aimed at showcasing flexibility and versatility of Tata Motors’ new electric skateboard which is understood to have been born out of the same philosophy as the Audi Urbansphere. Avinya has IN at its center – IN standing for India. It has been designed from inside out with a focus on its interior. The vehicle’s exterior design is crossover-ish in nature with a blend of SUV and MPV body styles.New Tata AvinyaNew Skateboard ArchitectureNew Tata Born Electric vehicles will be underpinned by a new skateboard architecture, specifically dedicated to battery-powered vehicles. Usually, skateboard platforms have a long wheelbase that can accommodate a large battery pack. One of the first products to be built on this skateboard is likely to be an electric equivalent of Safari or Harrier.New Tata AvinyaPetrol-powered iterations of both SUVs are based on the OMEGA Arc platform that has been derived from Land Rover’s D8 platform. This platform is extremely difficult to electrify and hence we have not seen a fully electric Land Rover built on this platform yet. Moreover, the new skateboard could be shared with JLR (Jaguar Land Rover) as part of a collaboration between the parent company and the British brand.[embedded content][embedded content]New Tata Motors Logo for EV lineupFurther, it has also come to light that with Avinya electric concept, the company has unveiled a new logo for Tata Motors’ electric car range. The upcoming electric cars will come out of Tata Passenger Electric Mobility (TPEML), the EV division of the brand that was recently set up. The new Tata logo is an illuminated ‘T’ that stretches across the rear of the car.Tata AVINYA Electric ConceptA fully electric version of Tata Harrier that has been internally codenamed Eturna. The carmaker is aiming for a production date of this electric SUV in early 2025. More

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    Tata Electric Car Production Target At 80k This Year – Nexon, Tigor

    Following phenomenal EV sales growth in FY22, Tata Motors has even more ambitious goals for EV production in FY23Tata CURVV Electric SUV Coupe ConceptA Reuters report sheds light on Tata Motors’ ambitious EV plans for the current fiscal. Sources say the auto manufacturer has a production target of 80k units for the current fiscal. This is vastly magnified from the 19k units sold in the fiscal just concluded.This would help meet demand. The volume estimate for FY23 is larger than life but provides an insight into the enquiries and interest Tata Motors EVs are receiving. As it stands, Tata leads from the front where EVs being sold in India are concerned. This scene however would get a lot more interesting and competitive once a larger number of manufacturers sell EVs here. More importantly, they need to be affordable.Electric cars, fleet and busesTata Motors currently accounts for over 90 percent of all EVs sold here. Earlier in the month, Tata Curvv concept was showcased. This week itself, Tata further strengthened its EV journey by announcing a sizable order for EV fleet cars. The same market penetration is being seen where electric buses are concerned. This will see Tata fulfill an order worth 5 crores for 5,450 electric buses.In its EV journey forward, Tata is leaving no stone unturned. And having seen results being an early mover, it’s only expected that Tata will continue to strike while the iron’s hot. While electric car sales only make up a very small percentage of total car sales here, these numbers are expected to have a bigger impact by the turn of the decade. Late in 2021, Tata announced its future EV plans. This includes 10 new EVs by 2026.Tata Nexon Electric Production. Image – National GeagraphicCurrently its electric passenger car lineup consists of Nexon EV and Tigor EV. Soon, they will launch long range version of both Nexon as well as Tigor. Apart from that, Tata is also likely to launch electric versions of Altroz and Punch this year. EV versions of Nexon, Tigor, Altroz and Punch are likely to help Tata achieve their aim of 80,000 electric car sales in FY 2023.The company has a new electric car concept unveiling scheduled for today. This will be their first car built on the ground up EV platform. These new gen all-electric Tata cars will be built on PURE EV architecture. It will be a modular platform, which will deliver cars in various shapes and sizes, as well as battery capacities.Pure EV architectureUntil now, Tata’s EVs haven’t been built from the ground up. Nexon and Tigor, and its EV fleet offering are a derivation of existing ICE platform cars. The recently shown Curvv is built on a Gen 2 platform that’s capable of supporting a range of electric powertrains. This would support ICE and electric powertrain options. Which would mean, Curvv when in production would be available first as an electric vehicle, and then in ICE variants. But that is going to change soon.Tata is ready to build on its first EV only platform called Pure EV architecture. Last year, a billion dollar investment was made by TPG. While today’s global unveiling will further strengthen Tata’s EV goals, the manufacturer is already on the leading track as of now. Currently, India targets 30 percent electric car penetration of total cars sold by 2030.Source More

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    Tata Wins Record Contract For Electric Buses Worth Rs 5,000 Crores

    Tata Motors was the lowest bidder in the tender floated by Convergence Energy Services Ltd (CESL) and will now supply 5,450 electric buses worth Rs 5,000 croresTata Electric BusIn a massive tender for 5,450 electric buses floated by Convergence Energy Services Ltd (CESL) under the FAME II scheme, Tata Motors has emerged as the lowest bidder. The tenders were opened by Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI) on Tuesday and contained the largest ever aggregation of 5,450 buses across five major cities of Kolkata, Delhi, Bangalore, Hyderabad and SuratOther automakers who took part in this tender were Switch Mobility – the electric vehicle counterpart of Ashok Leyland, Evey Trans of the Olectra group and VECV – a JV between Volvo Group and Eicher Motors.After being declared as the lowest bidder for all five categories of the tender, Tata Motors will go on to supply 5,450 electric buses worth Rs 5,000 crores under. The margin of difference between L1 and L2 bidders in all categories was Rs 10.India’s Largest Electric Bus TenderThe bidding was conducted across 5 categories that included 12 meter low floor AC and non AC e-buses, 12 meter Standard floor non-AC and 9 meter standard floor AC and non-AC buses. The prices quoted by Tata Motors were the lowest ever and were on par or close to operational cost of diesel buses.25-seater Tata Ultra Urban 9/9 electric AC busesThe price quoted for 12 meter low floor non AC bus is Rs 43.49 per km while for the 9 meter non AC bus this goes down to Rs 39.21 per km. Quoted price stands at Rs 47.49 per km for 12 meter low floor AC bus and at Rs 44.99 per km for 12 meter standard floor AC bus. The lowest bid from Tata Motors for the 9 meter standard floor AC bus was at Rs 41.45 per km. Prices quoted are also inclusive of the cost of electricity for charging.As against Tata Motors’ lowest bid of Rs 44.99 per km for the 12 meter standard floor AC electric bus, Switch Mobility had quoted Rs 53.99 per km while for the 9 meter AC bus Evey Trans quoted Rs 54.27 per km and Rs 53.12 per km for non AC. The buses will take advantage of the FAME II subsidy offered by the Government of India which in turn will relate to Rs 361 crores which could be used to procure additional e-buses.e-buses to save 1.88 billion liters of fossil fuelThe terms of contract are for a period of 12 years, with assured 10 lakh kms per bus. As per calculations, the electric buses from Tata Motors will operate around 4.71 billion kms over the next 12 years. This will help save 1.88 billion liters of fossil fuel and result in 3.31 million tons of CO2 tailpipe emissions, making strong progress in terms of climate change.As a part of this tender, there will be a total of 25,000 job opportunities raised out of which 10 percent is reserved for women. This does not include any added employment created through new manufacturing facilities. More

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    2022 Tata Nexon Electric Testing Continues – Launch Nears

    Tata Nexon EV has been a runaway success and now a more powerful version is about to be unveiled2022 Tata Nexon ElectricKnown unofficially as extended-range Nexon EV, the vehicle is likely to launch on April 29. It features a 40kWh battery, which will increase the SUV’s range to over 400 km in ideal test conditions. The present Nexon Electric has a 30.2kWH battery which is 30 percent less powerful than the new Nexon’s battery pack.The new Nexon EV’s floor pan will be enlarged to accommodate the larger battery and this will result in boot space getting smaller but that is a small sacrifice to make given that range will substantially improve. The existing Nexon Electric has an ARAI-tested range of 312 km. However, in real world conditions, Nexon EV manages to cover around 180 to 220 km on a single charge while extended-range version is expected to have real-world range of over 300 km.Tata Motors will not discontinue the present Nexon Electric once the new one is launched but will continue selling it giving customers choice in terms of price and range. Test mules of the upcoming Nexon Electric have been spotted going through the paces since the start of the year. Latest spy shots are credited to automotive enthusiast murthyksk, who spotted the EV when it was testing near Cubbon Park in Bangalore.2022 Tata Nexon Electric ChangesSpy pics of test vehicles have revealed not many exterior or interior changes but it is under the skin where most of the changes have happened. The new Nexon EV will get different regeneration modes, which would allow drivers to dial-up/down intensity of regenerative braking, which charges the battery. The existing Nexon Electric has a milder, non-adjustable variable regeneration system.2022 Tata Nexon ElectricThe new version will also get cruise control, ventilated seats and electronic stability control among other features. With these updates and a larger battery, expect the new Nexon to be around Rs 3-4 lakh more expensive than the current one.Value For MoneyNexon Electric is well liked by buyers and as a result it has become one of the most successful electric cars on sale in India at the moment. In this price sensitive segment, what has wowed buyers is the impressive range they get out of the vehicle for not that much money. As an intra-city runabout, Nexon EV is ideal making it more value for money than higher priced rivals.As charging infrastructure is slowly but surely improving along highways, more and more people have started venturing out of cities in their electric vehicles and this is generating demand for longer-ranged EVs. This is the segment Tata Motors will target with the 2022 Nexon Electric.The new Nexon Electric will go up against MG ZS EV and Hyundai Kona EV, but will be cheaper than both. However, rivals are upping the game with MG recently launching spruced up 2022 ZS EV with a larger 50.3kWh battery along with refreshed exteriors and interiors and a comprehensive equipment list. Hyundai is also planning to launch the facelifted Kona EV this year. More

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    Hyundai Ioniq 5 Electric Car India Launch This Year – Official

    New Ioniq 5 is a part of Hyundai’s plans to launch a minimum of six new EVs by 2028Hyundai Ioniq 5 Electric for IndiaWhile Kia India gears up for launch of the EV6, Hyundai is set to bring in the new Ioniq 5 electric car to India. Launch date has not been announced, but Hyundai India confirmed that the launch will take place in the 2nd half of this year. Expect Hyundai Ioniq 5 India launch around October, around Diwali festive season.Hyundai Ioniq 5 is World Car of the Year (WCOTY) 2022 winner and marks the beginning of Hyundai’s BEV expansion plans in India. The term IONIQ is a combination of “ion” and “unique”. It will be built on the company’s highly acclaimed Skateboard Platform, E-GMP – Electric Global Modular Platform, under the company’s ‘Beyond Mobility’ aegis, while its interiors have been designed using several eco-friendly materials further enhancing the company’s sustainability endeavours.Hyundai Ioniq 5 – SpecsHyundai Ioniq 5 is the second electric vehicle from Hyundai after the Kona EV. Features include a U shaped dual LED lighting system, swooping bonnet, pop out door handles and LED tail lamps in a rectangular shape. It also gets 20 inch wheels, an integrated spoiler, shark fin antenna and raked glass at the rear.The interiors boast of the brand’s Sensuous Sportiness philosophy with a spacious and minimalistic design. Premium interior features include a HUD, twin screens of 12 inches each with BlueLink connectivity while seats and other parts are made with eco-friendly material.Hyundai Ioniq 5 Electric for IndiaHyundai Ioniq 5 is offered with two battery packs of 72.6 kWh and 58 kWh. The 72.6 kWh battery offers a maximum range of 481 km while the smaller battery offers a maximum range of 385 km. Its 2WD variant gets a rear axle mounted electric motor offering 217 hp power and 350 Nm torque. The AWD variant sports two electric motors, each powering one axle, generating 305 hp power and 605 Nm torque.Hyundai Ioniq 5 is likely to be launched as a CKD. If that is the case, it will be assembled at their plant located on the outskirts of Chennai. Production could commence by late September ahead of its October 2022 debut while pricing is expected around Rs 35-45 lakhs ex-showroom. Hyundai is also planning to launch a small electric SUV in India.Hyundai Ioniq 5 PlatformElaborating further on this new E-GMP platform that will not only make its way onto the new Ioniq 5 but will also spawn the next generation of electric vehicles from Hyundai, it is built on 4 key pillars.Hyundai Ioniq 5 Electric for India1. Modularity – this platform can be used for varying body types and will sport a modularized battery system thus creating greater synergies with BEV component sharing.2. Reliability – It comes in with a low center of gravity, made of Ultra High Strength Steel and receives 8-point battery mounting.3. Usability – The E-GMP platform gets a flat floor allowing for flexible seating layout with innovative interior space, a sliding console and sliding 2nd row seats.4. Performance – With a large battery capacity, improved handling and capability the E-GMP allows for a top speed of 260 km/h. More

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    5,000 Tata Tigor Electric Xpress T EVs For Employee Transportation

    Tata Motors signs a MoU with Lithium Urban Technologies to deploy 5,000 XPRES T EVs for employee transportationTata Tigor Electric for fleet – Xpress T EVWith sustainable mobility being a keynote, with each passing day, a large number of corporates are getting onboard. This transition however will take time depending on supporting infra, government policies that are in alignment, and affordable budget.Tata Motors has announced a partnership with Lithium Urban Technologies. The latter is an EV based urban transportation service provider. Through the arrangement, 5,000 Tata Tigor Electric Xpress T EVs will be deployed nationwide. Tata electric car fleet will be specifically used for employee transportation. Tata Motors will deliver the scheduled lot in phases, and the target number of cars will be delivered by 2023.Tata Electric – Leading From The FrontThis has been an essential move by Tata Motors as the manufacturer was for long keen on not letting its passenger vehicles become part of taxi fleet services. When it comes to electric cars, Tata Motors has been leading from the front in an industry that’s pretty much dominated by it.With other manufacturers still awaiting an opportune moment, Tata Motors is one of the first movers in the industry. It helps that the brand obviously sells the most number of electric cars in the country currently. It enjoys a market share of 87 percent in FY’22. Over 24,000 Tata EVs are on road till date in personal and fleet segment.Tata XPRES T EVFast charging solutionShailesh Chandra, Managing Director, Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles Ltd., and Tata Passenger Electric Mobility Ltd. said, “Targeted at mobility services, corporate and government fleet customers, the XPRES-T EV offers an optimal battery size, captive fast charging solution, which will ensure outstandingly low cost of ownership in addition to safety and passenger comfort, making it a comprehensive and attractive proposition for fleet owners and operators.”Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Sanjay Krishnan, Founder & CEO of Lithium Urban Technologies said, “Our relationship with Tata Motors dates back to 2019 when we placed the first order for 500 vehicles. We are delighted that Tata Motors has brought to market a portfolio of vehicles that cater to the entire application spectrum of Corporate and Business travel needs.”Tata XPRES-T electric sedan variantsTata Motors launched the ‘XPRES’ brand in July 2021. It caters to only fleet customers. XPRES-T EV being the first vehicle under this brand. Tata XPRES-T electric sedan is available in 2 range options. They are available with a drive range of 213 km and 165 km (ARAI certified range under test conditions). Depending on variant, battery pack of 21.5 kWh or 16.5 kWh is used. Tata XPRES-T electric sedan can be charged from 0-80 percent in 90 mins and 110 mins, respectively.Apart from fast charging, normal charge is possible through a 15 A plug point. The latter is easily available and convenient. With a commitment to zero tail-pipe emission, the single speed automatic transmission sedans are fitted with dual airbags, and ABS with EBD as standard across variants. A black theme interior is matched with electric blue accents. The accents are visible on the exterior too. The electric sedan features standard automatic climate control. The specific blue exteriors will help differentiate the fleet car from other Tata passenger cars. More