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      Balan Engineering Launches 6 New Electric Vehicles – Rickshaw, Loader, Push Cart

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      Balan Electric Vehicles Launched
      The vehicles are currently produced at the company’s Bengaluru plant but production will soon shift to a larger manufacturing facility in Bagalkot District, Karnataka

      Balan Engineering, a Bengaluru based automaker has introduced 6 electric vehicles in various segments. These EVs are designed for individuals and companies with special focus on cargo transport, agriculture and civic amenities.
      The 6 electric vehicles were unveiled by Hon’ble Minister for Industries, Shri.Jagdish Shettar at Hotel Lalith Ashok, Bengaluru while Shri. Sadananda Gowda, Hon’ble Minister for Chemicals & Fertilisers, Govt. of India and Shri. Nitin Gadkari, Hon’ble Minister for Road Transport & Highways and Minister of MSME, Govt. of India attended the launch virtually.
      Balan Engineering New Bagalkot Plant
      The 6 electric vehicles launched include a Loader-Vishwas, Garbage Vehicle-Swach Rath, Passenger Rickshaw B5, a Sanitizing Vehicle, Fumigation Vehicle and Push Cart-Kamala. Each of these vehicles will play a major role in boosting rural economy. They are durable and sturdy for taking on challenging road conditions and all come in with 4 year company warranty on battery and motor controller.
      The Bengaluru production plant currently has capacity of 300-400 units per month. With Balan Engineering set to enter into manufacture and assembly of a range of electric vehicles, the company plans to set up operations in Bagalkot in Karnataka from where production will commence once the factory is competed in the next 6-9 months.
      Balan Electric Vehicles Launched
      Once production shifts to Bagalkot which is spread over a land are of 25 acres, the Bengaluru facility will be used exclusively for servicing of vehicles. Investment into the Bagalkot plant is at Rs.50 crores being allotted in two phases. Initial capacity is set at around 25,000 units per annum which can be extended to 50,000 vehicles. The Bagalkot plant will help generate around 200 direct and 300 indirect jobs initially.
      The company will not only use this facility for the production of EVs under their own brand but is also in talks with other EV makers for a tie up for production under their names.
      Balan Engineering EVs
      The EVs being produced by Balan Engineering include cargo, transport and rickshaws for rural population. The Garbage Vehicle-Swach Rath will be used for garbage collection while electric push carts will be beneficial to fruit and vegetable vendors and the sanitizing and fumigation vehicles will take care of civic amenities in rural areas.
      Balan Electric Vehicles Launched
      Each of these vehicles are Made-in-India products and in line with the Government of India’s Atmanirbar Bharat. Balan Engineering has also entered into alliance with reputed motor and battery suppliers. The location of the Bagalkot plant is such that it is at the tri-junction from Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Maharashtra and will help the company focus on these and other south Indian markets. More

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      MG ZS Electric Subscription Offer Launched At Rs 50k Per Month

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      MG ZS Electric Subscription
      One of the best selling electric car in India, MG ZS EV is now available via subscription

      To make it easier for customers to experience its pure electric SUV without the hassles of ownership and paperwork, MG Motor has launched subscription plans for ZS EV. This is part of ‘MG Subscribe’ platform, which already has Hector SUV available on subscription.
      Addition of ZS EV on the subscription platform is in line with the company’s focus to provide dynamic mobility solutions to customers. It is part of MG’s long-term strategy of CASE (Connected – Autonomous – Shared – Electric), which is designed to suit evolving customer needs and industry trends.
      MG ZS EV subscription plan details
      Subscription plans for MG ZS EV have been launched in partnership with Zoomcar and Orix. A self-drive car rental company, Zoomcar has presence in 45 cities across India. It will be providing high-end technology solutions that will power the ‘MG Subscribe’ platform.
      Orix will function as MG’s vehicle deployment partner and will make available ZS EV to customers on subscription. It is to note that Orix is India’s largest shared mobility platform.
      MG ZS Electric Subscription
      Initially, subscription plans for MG ZS EV will be available in four cities – Delhi-NCR, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Pune. Based on market response, the service can be introduced in other cities as well.
      Customers who subscribe soon stand to gain, as the subscription plans for ZS EV are currently available under an inaugural offer of Rs 49,999 per month in Mumbai. This is applicable on 36-month subscription plan. Similarly, there are flexible tenure options of 12, 18, and 24 months.
      Customers will have the option to choose between self-use subscription plans and shared subscribe. In the former, customers will be using the car for their own use and bear the entire cost of subscription. In shared subscribe, customers can share the car with others when they are not using it. This will allow them to reduce their monthly subscription fee in a proportionate manner.
      MG ZS EV subscription plan – key benefits
      Subscription plans for MG ZS EV are designed to eliminate all the hassles of owning and operating a car. That means no worries about insurance, maintenance, vehicle taxes, and paperwork. Customers don’t even have to pay down-payment when they choose the subscription plan. They also don’t have to stress about things like selling a used car. Moreover, users can avail tax benefits on the monthly amount paid as subscription fee.
      With evolving customer preferences, car subscription plans are gaining popularity across the country. As of now, most carmakers such as Tata Motors (Nexon EV subscription starts from Rs 30k per month), Maruti Suzuki, Toyota, Mahindra, Renault, Volkswagen, and Hyundai have dedicated subscription plans for their customers. More

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      Tesla Roadster will go into production next year, Elon Musk says – Roadshow

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      Maybe the production Roadster will look more… roadster-y?
      Tesla
      With all the news about the Tesla Model S’ new interior (and that dumb new steering yoke), the Model X Plaid, the upcoming Cybertruck and even the company’s Full Self-Driving software, fans of the automaker are right to ask: Where the hell is the Roadster? It’s been more than three years since we first saw the new Tesla Roadster and, more importantly, since customers began forking over $50,000(!) deposits. But fear not, Tesla CEO Elon Musk says, the Roadster is still on the way.When asked about Tesla’s upcoming sports car on Thursday, CEO Elon Musk tweeted that the automaker “finished engineering this year” and that “production starts next year.” Musk says Tesla is “aiming to have [a] release candidate design drivable [by] late summer.”
      Finishing engineering this year, production starts next year. Aiming to have release candidate design drivable late summer. Tri-motor drive system & advanced battery work were important precursors.— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 28, 2021

      Musk first confirmed the Roadster’s delay last spring. The hold-up is apparently due to the development of the tri-motor drive system and “advanced battery work,” according to Musk.When Tesla announced the second-generation Roadster in late 2017, it promised some pretty impressive specs. Accelerating to 60 mph is said to take less than 2 seconds and the car will be able to go 620 miles on a single charge. Of course, we’re taking all of that with a massive grain of salt, but perhaps we’ll have some more concrete data if and when a Roadster prototype arrives later this year.

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      Tesla's new steering yoke isn't retro, it's a safety risk – Roadshow

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      Just… no.
      Tesla
      Let me get this out of the way up top: I watched a lot of Knight Rider when I was a kid. I mean, a lot. As a child of the ’80s, I specifically remember pedaling my heart out on my BMX to make sure I got home in time to watch that iconic opening sequence. You probably know it by heart, with KITT poking his Cylon-aping nose out of the dusky desert. The show, terrible as I now realize it to be, was a significant part of my childhood. Back then I really, really wanted to be just like Michael Knight.Despite all that, I can’t help but see Tesla’s new KITT-style steering yoke as anything other than a bad idea. I fear it’ll not just be awkward to use, it’s potentially unsafe. Here’s why.
      Refreshed Tesla Model S has a Knight Rider steering wheel
      See all photos

      Getting ratioedThe next time you’re in your car, count the number of times you need to turn the wheel to make it into a perpendicular parking spot. Better yet, try a U-turn. There’s a good chance at some point you’ll need to reposition your hands, in what’s typically called a shuffle-steer. Now, imagine doing that with only half a wheel. It’d be awkward at best. “But racecars,” you might be thinking. And indeed Formula One and many other forms of on-road racing feature steering wheels that look like oversized Batarangs. The thing is, those cars offer swift steering ratios, needing as little as 180 degrees of rotation to turn from the left-most steering extent to the right. Your average street car? Try 900 degrees of rotation from full left to right. That’s two and a half turns. More rotation means slower turning, yes, but it also means more precision and frankly greater safety. A razor-sharp steering rack is a great thing on the racetrack. On the highway, a tiny bump to the wheel would send you spearing across three lanes of traffic. For your average driver, that’s a risky proposition. Many companies have deployed steering racks that offer variable rates, changing based on speed and steering angle. Even at their quickest, though, these racks don’t eliminate the need to reposition your hands for common, daily maneuvers. On top of that, most of them have been panned for making cars feel less predictable and, ultimately, less fun to drive.I can get behind all the other tweaks, just not the most notable one. 
      Tesla
      Losing your gripEver hit a pothole and have the steering wheel slip in your hands? It’s disconcerting, but so long as your wheel is round (or D-shaped at least) you can quickly regrip the wheel. Now, imagine that happening on Tesla’s new steering yoke. At least one of your hands is going to be grasping at thin air.

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      Breaking wrists, or facesImagine the above scenario but in a more serious situation, like a frontal or side impact. When the front wheels of a car are involved in the impact, the steering wheel can very forcefully twist in one direction or another. While it’s possible to get a sprained wrist or even a broken thumb if you’re gripping the wheel too hard, a round wheel will naturally shield your hands and the rest of your person from serious injury. The leading edge of a spinning yoke, on the other hand, has the potential to catch your hands, legs, or even your head if it’s a significant enough frontal impact. I’ve actually experienced this first-hand — literally. I have a yoke-shaped wheel on my sim rig and, on one of my first forays with my new Fanatec DD1 wheel base and formula-style wheel, I took my hands off after a minor impact. However, I didn’t realize the car hadn’t come to a complete stop. It bumped into the wall and spun the wheel, which caught me on the back of the hand. The impact hurt like hell and left me with a painful bruise, but it could have been a lot worse. ‘But full self-driving’Yes, perhaps a wheel like this will make a lot of sense in the future when cars can be fully trusted to drive themselves, to change lanes on their own and handle that three-point turn without any extra assistance. I’m sorry to say we’re not there yet, and assuming you’re buying a car that you’ll not only need to drive, but actually want to drive, this shape wheel just doesn’t make any sense.Now, I’ve spent a fair bit of time speaking with Tesla’s safety engineers about how they creatively solved many safety issues. That pronounced touchscreen on the Model 3 and Model Y
      , for example, has edges that could be a problem in a crash. Tesla designed a special airbag with protrusions meant to keep the passenger’s head away from it. I’m sure there are similarly creative solutions to the problems this yoke presents, but that still leaves me wondering: Exactly what problem is it fixing? More

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      Tesla Model S refresh features radical steering yoke, 520-mile range – Roadshow

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      About that steering wheel…
      Tesla
      During its fourth-quarter earnings announcement on Wednesday, Tesla surprised everyone by unveiling the long-rumored refresh for its Model S sedan. (The Model X SUV received major updates as well.) On the outside, the Model S has features a new front bumper with slightly different air intakes, a tweaked rear diffuser and new 19- and 21-inch wheel designs. All of the exterior trim is now finished in black to match the Model Y, but the paint color palette remains the same, with white being the only no-cost option.The overhauled interior is the star of the show, though. It’s been completely redesigned, marking the Model S’ first major update since its debut way back in 2012. There’s a large 17-inch central screen much like that of the Model 3 and Model Y, but the orientation has changed — it’s horizontal instead of portrait. The S retains a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster in front of the driver, as well. Tesla says the new center screen is basically a gaming computer with 10 teraflops of processing power, and the released images show it running the popular fantasy RPG game Witcher 3.Exterior updates were kept to a minimum.
      Tesla

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      Most radical is the new steering wheel. It isn’t exactly a wheel anymore, instead looking like a yoke right out of Star Wars or Knight Rider. There are no stalks, either, meaning the turn signals, lights and other typical features are now controlled by touch buttons on the “wheel.”There’s more carbon fiber or wood trim covering parts of the dashboard and door panels, and the door cards have been redesigned and appear to feature much-needed additional storage space. The new center console also has more storage space and looks a lot nicer, and it has wireless charging for multiple devices. The rear seats look more sculpted and feature a new fold-down armrest with cupholders. Rear-seat passengers get an 8-inch screen that offers the same infotainment and gaming functions as the main screen, and it even works with wireless gaming controllers. The Model S has three-zone climate control, a 22-speaker audio system, heated seats all around (and ventilated front seats), ambient lighting and a glass roof as standard. White, black and beige remain the only interior color options.Rear-seat passengers get a screen for gaming, too.
      Tesla
      The Model S is now available in three different specs. The $79,990 Long Range version has two motors and all-wheel drive, with Tesla quoting a 3.1-second 0-to-60-mph time, a 155-mph top speed and a range of 412 miles. The $119,990 Plaid gains a third motor, “carbon-sleeved rotors” and torque vectoring. The Plaid has 1,020 horsepower boasts a 2.0-second 0-to-60 time (Tesla technically says 1.99 seconds), a 200-mph top speed and a 390-mile range.Then there’s the $139,990 Plaid Plus, which is the real big deal. Tesla says it has over 1,100 hp and will hit 60 mph in under 2 seconds. It also boats a sub-9-second quarter-mile time, a top speed of 200 mph and a range of over 520 miles. Tesla also says the Model S is now the most aerodynamic production car in the world, a claim likely achieved by the Plaid Plus modelThe only option besides color, trim and wheels is Tesla’s Full Self-Driving suite of driver-assist systems, which costs $10,000. (Tesla’s basic Autopilot setup is standard.) The updated Model S is available to order now, with Tesla saying that estimated deliveries for the Long Range and Plaid models will begin in March. If you want the Plaid Plus model, you’ll be waiting until late 2021.
      Refreshed Tesla Model S has a Knight Rider steering wheel
      See all photos More

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      Ozone Alice Electric Car Teased Ahead Of India Debut In 2021

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      Ozone Electric Car Prototype
      Yet another Indian startup is getting ready to showcase a made in India electric car this year

      In what could be a game changer for the electric car segment in the country, Ozone Motors will be unveiling its first product in 2021. Named Alice Urban, the EV has been especially designed for urban commutes.
      Ozone Alice electric car promises to solve the current set of challenges in this segment such as high cost of acquisition and long charging time. It has been in development for the past few years, and now the first teaser of the prototype has been shared.
      Ozone Motors Alice Urban design and styling
      As can be seen in the teaser image, Alice Urban has a compact, aerodynamic design. The front grille stretches all the way to the edges, where it is flanked by LED headlamps and boomerang shaped LED DRLs.
      As the focus is more on practicality, Alice Urban is expected to have a minimalistic look and feel. It is likely to use lighter alloys and composite materials to reduce weight and extract more miles from the battery. More details about the electric car will be revealed in the coming days.
      Hat tip to Rushlane Infolane member Bhargav Patel
      Ozone Motors Alice Urban tech specs
      As compared to other electric cars available for sale in the country, Alice Urban has relatively modest numbers in terms of range and top speed. The top speed is rated at 70 km/h whereas range is 150 km. This has been purposely done to keep the pricing affordable.
      As of now, the cheapest electric car available in the country is Tata Tigor EV, which retails in the range of Rs 9.58 lakh to Rs 9.90 lakh. Top selling Tata Nexon EV is available at a starting price of Rs 13.99 lakh. Others like MG ZS EV and Hyundai Kona are priced above Rs 20 lakh. The high pricing of these cars has made them inaccessible to a large number of customers who may be interested in buying an EV.
      Alice Urban can be expected to be offered at lower prices. The price difference would be significant enough to motivate customers to switch to an electric vehicle. With lower cost of acquisition, Alice Urban will also appeal to first time car buyers as well as youngsters who are more willing to contribute to environmental causes.
      Ozone Electric Car Prototype
      With its smaller battery setup, Alice Urban has a faster charging time. It can achieve a full charge in just 180 minutes. This will be useful when charging the vehicle at a recharging station in the city.
      Advanced tech features
      Alice Urban will be equipped with a range of internet connected smart features. Below is a short video of the Ozone Alice electric car early prototype in action.
      [embedded content]
      Ozone Motors is a leading provider of vehicle tracking and safety systems and it will be an easy job to equip Alice Urban with the same set of features. Expect Alice Urban to have smart features such as real-time vehicle tracking, vehicle speed monitoring, vehicle location update, remote engine on/off, unauthorized vehicle movement detection, and SOS button. More

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      Where the hell is the new Tesla Model S' PRNDL? – Roadshow

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      Tesla
      The Tesla Model S was updated with a totally new interior on Wednesday, and the most radical change is that new yoke-style steering “wheel,” which looks straight out of Knight Rider. But what might be even more radical is something that I can’t see: It seems like there’s no PRNDL shifter.Up until now, the Model S has shifted into gear via a column-mounted stalk swiped from the Mercedes-Benz parts bin. (The Model 3, Model X and Model Y use the same stalk.) But Tesla has eliminated all stalks from behind the new Model S’ wheel, moving controls for the turn signals, horn and wipers onto the yoke. So how exactly do you shift?There’s no PRNDL here.
      Tesla
      In all of the released images, the center console and dashboard are smooth and devoid of any sort of controls, save for the 17-inch touchscreen and the hazard warning light button that sits under the wireless charging pad below the screen. There’s nothing on the door panels or the headliner, either.The shifting controls could be found in that center screen, but there’s no visible evidence of that. The lower left corner of the screen shows controls for the climate control and the heated windshield, while the lower right corner displays media info. In the top left there’s an icon showing a top-down view of the car, so maybe the PRNDL is found there? But it seems like it would be extremely dangerous to keep such an essential function in a submenu of a digital display that could break.No PRNDL here either.
      Tesla
      Now there’s a chance that these CGI images are all at an angle that obscures the PRNDL shifter, or maybe they were rendered or edited to remove its location. The only mention from Tesla on the topic is this blurb under an image of the steering wheel on its website: “The ultimate focus on driving: no stalks, no shifting. Model S is the best car to drive, and the best car to be driven in.” That seems like an obvious reference to Tesla’s Full Self-Driving system, which does nothing of the sort.No matter how advanced you think Tesla’s Full Self-Driving tech is, the driver still needs to be able to put it the car in drive, reverse, neutral or park. In fact there’s even a law on the books that mandated the order of the letters PRND, as our friends at GearPatrol explain, and while I’m not sure if there is an actual law that requires a car have a shifter, it seems like there’s got to be.If this were any other car company, I could just call the public relations team for an explanation, but Tesla dissolved its PR department a few months ago. Guess I’ll just have to tweet at Elon Musk.
      Refreshed Tesla Model S has a Knight Rider steering wheel
      See all photos

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      Tesla says the new Model S is the world's most aerodynamic production car – Roadshow

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      The Model S is one slippery sedan.
      Tesla
      There’s a lot of new stuff to talk about when it comes to the Tesla Model S, which today received its most major update since it was first unveiled in 2012. It’s got a completely new interior with a crazy steering wheel, lots of updated tech and a Plaid Plus model that promises over 520 miles of range. But buried in the deluge of info is a new superlative that Tesla is claiming: The updated Model S is the most aerodynamic production car in the world, with a drag coefficient of just 0.208.Now there are a couple of technicalities here. Tesla doesn’t say which specific Model S achieves that 0.208 figure, whether it’s the Long Range or one of the Plaid models and if it’s with the 19- or 21-inch wheels. Given the Plaid Plus model claims a 520-mile range, it’s likely that one. That number also nicely rounds up to 0.21 — and that matches the Lucid Air’s claimed figure. Lucid hasn’t given a specific drag coefficient that goes beyond the second decimal place, so its 0.21 claim could perhaps have been rounded up. We’re not sure about that, but we are sure the aerodynamic one-upping won’t stop anytime soon. 
      Refreshed Tesla Model S has a Knight Rider steering wheel
      See all photos

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      The Model S also hasn’t technically entered production yet, so it’s not exactly the most aerodynamic car you can currently buy. (That would be the Porsche Taycan Turbo.) Tesla says first deliveries won’t begin until March for the Long Range or the Plaid, while the Plaid Plus won’t get to customers’ hands until late 2021. With Lucid Air deliveries set to commence in the next month or two, it could potentially still take and hang onto the aerodynamics crown, at least for a bit.Tesla also can’t claim that the Model S is the most aerodynamic production car ever, either. The General Motors EV1 and Volkswagen XL1 both boasted 0.19 drag coefficients, and the VW at the very least most definitely is considered a production car. Nevertheless, the Model S being the third most aerodynamic production car ever is still quite an impressive feat.The Model X SUV also received many of the same upgrades as the Model S, but with a 0.25 drag coefficient it already was the most aerodynamic SUV in the world. More