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      Tata Nexon Electric Granted Stay Against Delisting From Delhi EV Policy

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      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

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      2021 Volvo XC40 Electric SUV Makes India Debut – Bookings Open In June

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      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

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      Kia Electric Crossover EV6 First Official Teasers – LED Lights Detailed

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      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

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      Hyundai Kona Electric Owners Affected By Recall – Get Their Car Back After 2 Month Wait

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      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

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      Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo reveal: Watch the electric wagon debut here – Roadshow

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      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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      How to watch the Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo debut live – Roadshow

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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
      See all photos

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      This startup wants to make swappable EV batteries a thing again – Roadshow

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      Drive in and 10 minutes later, you drive out with a new, fully charged battery.
      Ample
      Back when electric vehicles had ranges that could best be described as “uninspiring,” a bunch of companies toyed with the idea of offering a car with swappable battery packs. Its something that still comes up now and then, but for the most part, it’s been left behind as battery tech has improved.A startup called Ample apparently didn’t get that memo because it announced its swappable battery system on Wednesday. It says it’s been working for the last six years with companies like Uber to bring it to market.

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      Ample’s goal is to offer fully automated battery swaps in around 10 minutes at small, self-contained pop-ups. The structures would be cheap and straightforward to build and take up no more than two standard parking spaces. Ample even has a video showing the process on a modified Nissan Leaf.
      Here’s the problem, though: Getting the industry to pivot away from the idea of large fixed battery packs and public charging stations will likely be next to impossible. Ample’s system is unlikely to succeed as a consumer-focused system, in other words. But it could make sense for commercial vehicles.It would make sense in places like ports, where an electric vehicle with its lack of emissions and tons of torque makes it well-suited to lugging containers around. Having the ability to change batteries out quickly would mean that downtime due to charging would be basically nonexistent.Ample says that it’s currently being deployed in the Bay Area, where it’s working with ride-sharing, last-mile delivery, and municipal fleet partners. It also claims that it’s “actively working with a number of the world’s largest automakers to enable mass deployment in the US, Europe, and Asia.”Check out the video and let us know what you think. Will Ample change the trajectory of EV development?

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      Volvo XC20 Electric SUV Planned For Launch – Hyundai Kona EV Rival

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      Volvo XC20 Render by Auto Express
      Volvo is soon expected to launch the all-new XC40 Recharge in fully electric and plug-in hybrid configurations in global markets as well as India

      Volvo is amplifying its plans of expanding its electric vehicles (EVs) portfolio by teasing a potential lineup of future electric crossovers. The Swedish automaker had earlier made its intentions clear that its entire lineup would turn fully electric by 2030. The company pushes ahead in its plans to convert half of its total sales volume to fully electric cars.
      The teaser image shows the prospective line of electric SUVs in the company’s lineup with the range-topping XC100 flagship. In addition to this, the company has also filed trademarks for entry-level models such as XC10 and XC20 that will be fully electric crossovers sitting below the electrified XC40.
      All-new XC20 as a pure EV
      While Volvo hasn’t confirmed any development, it has positively indicated that the upcoming XC20 will be its next big launch. The Swedish brand had earlier confirmed this new electric crossover will be underpinned by the new pure-electric platform developed by its parent company Geely. The Chinese manufacturer unveiled the pure EV-specific architecture underpinning the Lynk & Co Zero Concept at the 2020 Beijing Auto Show which is called Sustainable Experience Architecture (SEA).
      XC40 is currently underpinned by the CMA platform which is a combination platform for EVs and combustion-engined cars and is not very suitable for smaller size cars. SEA, on the other hand, has been developed in China from materials sourced from Chinese suppliers which would make the car very cost effective.
      Volvo XC20 Render by Auto Express
      It would also make use of a battery smaller than XC40 Recharge which would be good enough to provide a single-charge range of around 350 km. Upon its debut, it will be directly rivaling the likes of Hyundai Kona Electric and Kia e-Niro at international markets. More details are expected to be furnished in months to come.
      New Volvo Flagship XC100
      Meanwhile, Volvo’s lineup will be topped by its upcoming flagship electric SUV- XC100. The next-generation SUV is expected to make its debut in 2022 and will be based on the second generation of its large-car platform, named SPA2, which is currently under development. This new platform will allow Volvo to build cars longer than its current flagship full-size SUV XC90.
      The new SPA2 architecture could underpin models measuring up to 5.5 metres in length. As for XC100, it will be around 300mm longer than XC90 and significantly longer than BMW X7 and Mercedes Benz GLS with a three-row seating layout, a long wheelbase and a very spacious boot.
      It will be offered in fully-electric as well as plug-in hybrid powertrain options while a mild-hybrid powertrain could also be offered in lower-specced trims. It will be exclusively sold in larger and developed car markets of the US, China and Europe.
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