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      in Electric Cars

      Pravaig Electric Car Debuts – Made In India, Claims 5 Star Safety

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      Pravaig Electric Car
      Pravaig Extinction will be exclusively offered on lease and chauffeur service will also be part of the lease agreement if required

      Even as the Indian electric car segment is currently ruled by EVs such as the Hyundai Kona, MG eZS, and Tata Nexon, there would soon be a rival in the form of the new Pravaig Extinction electric sedan. This new electric car from Bengaluru based Pravaig Dynamics has now been officially unveiled in India ahead of official launch, which is only slated for sometime late next year.
      Pravaig Dynamics has estimated sales at around 250 units per annum with the new Extinction to be initially sold in Delhi and Bengaluru with markets to be extended to Mumbai, Chennai and Hyderabad later. The company is slated to offer the new Extinction as an exclusive lease model and will even provide chauffeur services if the customer so requires. Hence, no prices have been announced as on date.

      Pravaig Extinction design and dimensions
      The Pravaig Extinction sedan will boast of a low couple style design with special focus on aerodynamics. It will be presented as a four door model with a swooping roof, LED projector headlamps connected by an LED. It will get a similar arrangement at the rear with LED tail lamps with an LED connecting bar.
      Pravaig electric car will get a minimalistic side profile, distinctive shoulder line, blacked out alloy wheels and a ‘Pravaig’ logo prominently positioned in the middle of the tail lamps. Dimensions would stand at 4,820mm length, 1,934mm width and 1,448mm height with 3,038 mm long wheelbase.

      The interiors will be in a lounge like arrangement, much in the same way as is seen on the Volvo XC90 Excellence Lounge. This would give passengers extended leg room and relaxed posture. The company has also stated that the new Extinction could come in with recline of left rear passenger seat at around 165 degrees.
      Apart from its well designed interiors, customers will also be able to incorporate their own designs while liaisoning with a tie up with architects and fashion and interior design professionals, so as to get a bespoke interior set up. For example, for the music system, they have tied up with France based Devialet audio technology company.

      Pravaig also plans features such as autonomous driving technologies while this has yet to get Government of India approvals, swappable battery pack, HEPA air filters and a total of 8 air bags. Regenerative braking and smartphone connectivity could also be a part of its features.
      Battery and Range
      Pravaig Extinction electric sedan will be powered by a 96 kWh battery pack offering max power of 150 kW or 200 hp with an electric range of 504 km and a top speed of 196 km/h. Acceleration from 0 top 100 km/h could be achieved in 5.4 seconds and fast charging upto 80 percent charge in 30 minutes. Pravaig aims to rival Tesla in terms of battery performance, and offer Mercedes S-Class like luxury.

      Speaking about safety, Pravaig claims that safety has been their top priority, and that the car offers 5 Star Safety. But it is not clear if the car is actually crash tested by any other body or it is an internal claim of 5 star safety. The full debut presentation can be watched on YouTube.
      Pravaig Dynamics targets corporate customers like fleet operators and hotels with the new Extinction and hence this sedan will not be seen in any showroom for purchase by private buyers and will be exclusively on lease. The company will itself reach out to potential customers and will even offer chauffeur service with the car if the customer so desires.
      Interiors of the cars were not revealed. The car still seems to be far away from production. If the production variant can manage to achieve all the above claimed figures, that is a matter of discussion for another day. For now, the company has started accepting interests from buyers at their website – defy.city More

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      in Electric Cars

      Tata Nexon Electric Maintains No 1 Position – Sales Cross 2,200 Units

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      Image – Kajal
      Tata Nexon EV sales have a great showing in Sept-Nov 2020, to take total sales till date to 2.2k units.

      Tata Nexon EV sales have surpassed the 2,000 sales milestone. Of this, a 1000 units were sold in a matter of 3 months. In over 10 months since launch, Nexon EV sales accounted for 2,200 units as of November 2020 in the personal mobility front.
      In August 2020, Tata Motors rolled out its 1000th Nexon EV. The following 1000 units were retailed in the following 3 months (Sept-Nov 2020). Tata Motors says the car has a ‘compelling value-proposition’. For now, Nexon EV is the best-selling electric car in India. At present, Tata Motors leads the EV segment with 74 percent market share.
      Shailesh Chandra, President – Passenger Vehicle Business Unit, Tata Motors, said, “This is a moment of great pride for us and those working with us in our journey to accelerate the adoption of EVs in India. The Tata Nexon EV, since launch, has captured the imagination of the entire nation and has consistently led the way for the electric vehicle segment. Offering thrilling performance, connected drive experience with zero emissions and at an attractive pricing, the Nexon EV has found widespread acceptance among its customers.”
      Benefits of buying an EV
      Increase in demand for EVs is attributed to increased awareness, improved and available charging infra, government incentives, better customer understanding of EVs, and lower operating cost. Government support comes from registration benefits and road tax. Tata Motors hopes EVs are soon most desirable and a mainstream choice for vehicle users.
      Image – Prakash
      Tata Motors’ e-mobility ecosystem, Tata uniEVerse is curated to speed up EV adoption in India. This is achieved by leveraging strengths and experience of other Tata Group companies to foster a sustainable EV environment. The scope of Tata uniEVerse gives customers access to a suite of e-mobility offerings. this includes icharging solutions, innovative retail experiences and easy financing options.
      Advent of EVs in India
      Back in September 2020, the government’s EV procuring arm, Energy Efficiency Services (EESL) placed an order for 150 units of Tata Nexon EV and 100 units of Hyundai Kona EV. A shift in policy and outlook in recent years has seen EESL back the use of electric cars for the use of govt officials.
      EV adoption is now a multi prong strategy that’s been furthered through public transport needs as well as personal mobility. In the public service front, the focus lies on use of electric buses. Last mile connectivity bigwigs are engaged in building e-rickshaws.
      Electric scooters have taken the lead where it comes to personal mobility solutions. In the electric passenger car segment, choices for now are less than limited with the choice limited to Hyundai Kona, MG ZS EV, Mahindra eVerito and Tata Nexon and Tigor EV. While clubbed together as a handful of EVs available, the vehicles are vastly different when it comes to segment classification, and thereby budget. More

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      Hyundai Kona Electric Recalled In India – Over Battery Fire Issues Reported Globally

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      File Photo.
      Hyundai Kona competes with other electric crossovers such as MG ZS EV and Tata Nexon EV in India

      While electric vehicles (EVs) have already established a wide footprint in many international markets, Indian consumers are still warming up to the idea of vehicles running on batteries and electric motors. However, since its technology is relatively new to the automotive world, we often get to see many defects come across with regards to EVs.
      Hyundai Motor India Ltd (HMIL) on Tuesday stated that they will be recalling 456 units of its electric crossover Kona. The company added that the selected models have been manufactured between 1 April 2020 and 31 October 2020.
      Cause of recall
      The South Korean automaker added that it initiated a recall to inspect the problem with its high-voltage battery system in its electric crossover. This is in line with cases of Kona Electric catching fire recently. As many as 13 such incidents have been reported in overseas countries including one each in Canada and Austria. It is being speculated that the high voltage battery system in Kona might be the reason behind this fire.
      Hyundai has assured its customers that all defects will be checked and resolved free of cost. It further added that all Kona Electric owners will be notified about this in a phased manner after which customers can bring their cars to their nearest authorized Hyundai Electric vehicle dealers.
      Hyundai Kona getting charged at the PlugNgo electric car charging station in Delhi
      Other Cases of recall
      The safety recall has been deemed as a proactive response to a suspected defective production of high-voltage batteries used in the vehicles. Similar cases of recall might be issued in other countries where the electric UV is retailed.
      This is not the first time that Kona Electric has been issued a recall. Earlier this year, the brand had issued a recall in regards to software updates and battery replacements. This recall involved Kona electric crossover manufactured between September 2017 and March 2020.
      Batteries used in Kona Electric are made by LG Chem Ltd. LG said that it has conducted a joint experiment with Hyundai to recreate fire but it did not. Therefore, the fire could not be attributed to faulty battery cells and so the exact cause of fire is yet to be known.
      Kona EV in India
      Hyundai launched its first EV offering in India in April 2019 at a price of Rs 23.7 lakh (ex-showroom). The electrified crossover UV is powered by a 39.2 kWh battery pack paired with an electric motor which results in an output of 135 Bhp and 395 Nm of peak torque.
      It has an ARAI certified single-charge driving range of up to 452 km. Using a simple home AC charger, it takes around 6-10 hours for batteries to get fully charged. On using a DC fast charger it takes around 57 minutes for the battery to juice from 0 to 80 percent. More

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      in Electric Cars

      Mahindra e2o Electric Modified – Now Faster Than Tata Nexon EV

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      Image – Hemank Dabhade
      Mahindra e2o is no longer on sale and has been officially discontinued by the company

      Known for its expertise in transforming fossil fuel cars into pure electric vehicles, Northway Motorsport has created the fastest electric car in the country. This is something new because when talking about entry-level electric cars, the focus is usually on range and charging time. The automotive firm also specializes in carrying out tweaks that enhance the range of existing electric cars.
      For this project, an old Mahindra e2o has been used. As may be recalled, the e2o was discontinued and replaced with the larger e2o Plus in 2016. The automotive firm has also given a new name to its modified car by adding ‘Type-R’ suffix.
      Mahindra e2o Type-R by Hemank Dabhade
      Speed comparison with other electric cars
      Although the exact details of the modification have not been revealed, the firm has claimed that its Mahindra e2o Type-R custom car can achieve top speed of 160 kmph. This is double the speed of existing Mahindra e2o Plus that has top speed of 80 kmph.
      e2o Type-R also beats other electric cars in India such as Mahindra eVerito (86 kmph), Tata Tigor EV (80 kmph), and Tata Nexon EV (120 kmph). e2o Type-R is also faster than MG ZS EV (140 kmph) and Hyundai Kona Electric (155 kmph), which are imported as CKDs and assembled in India. Effectively making this the fastest electric car in India.

      Modified e2o Type-R delivers 750 Nm of torque at wheels and has been equipped with 4-speed semi-automatic gearbox. Even when the vehicle has been redesigned for speed, it is still cost effective at just Rs 1 per kilometre.
      Northway Motorsport has also said that most of the components used in this modification project have been sourced from within the country. The modified car meets OEM standards in terms of quality of parts and fitment.

      Key upgrades
      Some of the key hardware changes include 6 pot brakes, drilled and slotted rotors, adjustable suspension, 9J forged wheels, and stretch fit low profile tyres. The car has also been equipped with internet connected smart features that can be accessed via an app or voice controls.
      Mahindra e2o Type-R also gets a stylish makeover with changes such as black mesh grille and eye-catchy fluorescent yellow strips at top of the grille and on front bumper. On the inside, upgrades include a large floating touchscreen infotainment system and bucket seats.

      This modification project is non-commercial and has been carried out purely for research and development purposes. So, if you own an e2o and want similar results, it’s unlikely that such modifications would be road legal. Just like its other project vehicles, e2o Type-R was tested on private tracks in a controlled environment.
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      in Electric Cars

      Old Volkswagen Beetle Modified Into An Electric Vehicle By IIT Delhi

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      1948 Volkswagen Beetle converted into an EV
      An old vintage VW Beetle has been successfully converted into an electric car

      Setting an example of how a fully electric ecosystem can be achieved much faster, folks at IIT Delhi have successfully converted a 1948 Volkswagen Beetle into a fully electric car. The project was executed by Center For Excellence for Research on Clean Air (CERCA), which functions as the academic think tank of the premier educational institute.
      If this technique can be improved further and made available commercially, existing fossil fuel car owners won’t have to invest in buying an electric car. The existing high cost of ownership of electric vehicles can be reduced significantly with this conversion technique.
      1948 Beetle electric project details
      One of the notable aspects of this project is that it has been executed with minimal changes to the 1948 Volkswagen Beetle. Only the engine and some components have been removed to make way for the battery and electric powertrain.
      This has ensured that the car can be easily switched back to its petrol format if the need arises. This would be sufficient to take care of any concerns that people may have about questions such as ‘what if something goes wrong with their car’s conversion to electric’.
      Team at IIT Delhi with the modified 1948 VW Beetle
      The ability to convert fossil fuel cars to electric would also be a great help to collectors who own classic cars. Parts for such cars are often difficult to source and there may be issues with the engine or it may have stopped functioning.
      An electric powertrain would be useful, as the exteriors and interiors of the car can be retained in their original form. Another benefit of electric powertrains is that they produce minimal vibrations. This can help prolong the life of vintage cars that are several decades old.
      Environmental gains
      The biggest gain of converting existing fossil fuel cars to electric will be the positive impact it will have on the environment. Adverse weather events are on the rise and most of it can be attributed to global warming linked to human activity. Vehicular emissions are among the biggest sources of pollution on earth, which is why we need to switch to an all-electric ecosystem as soon as possible. By converting existing fossil fuel cars to electric, we can reduce the time to reach that goal.
      The combination of renewable energy sources (solar, wind, hydro, etc.) and electric vehicles can transform the planet like never before. Electric cars have zero emissions and if their batteries are charged using renewable power sources, it would create a completely pollution free ecosystem. More

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      MG Hector, Hector Plus, ZS Electric – Discount Offers / Benefits For 1st Time

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      Image – Ram
      This is for the first time MG Motor India cars are on offer with any sort of discount or benefit

      MG Motor India, has recorded sales of 3,625 units of the Hector, Hector Plus and ZS EV in October 2020, the highest sales numbers ever since the automaker made its debut in the Indian market in June 2019. MoM sales increased 47.81 percent over September 20 sales which had stood at 2,537 units.
      This success was marked increased sales, normally seen during the festive season. However, this was mostly a pent-up demand and the real test of the auto industry sales is expected to start now – post the festive season. This has now resulted in MG Motor India dealers offering their cars Hector, Hector Plus and ZS EV at attractive benefits and discount offers.
      Never before have MG cars been offered with any sort of discount or offer earlier. Ever since the brand launched their first car in mid 2019, their cars have enjoyed a really good demand; always with waiting period. But now, demand is not like earlier, and authorized dealers are offering discounts and free benefits with MG cars for the first time.
      MG Car Discount / Benefits – Nov 2020
      There are offers on the Hector, Hector Plus and ZS EV. There is no offer on the new Gloster which is a recent addition to the company lineup in the country. The benefits depend on stock available at dealerships and are restricted to certain variants only.
      MG Hector Plus
      Benefits on Hector and Hector Plus
      Benefits on the Hector and Hector Plus extend upto Rs.25,000 as an exchange bonus scheme; while customers making bookings during the said period will be offered a 3 year AMC maintenance pack for FREE. Waiting period for MG Hector and Hector Plus is no longer multiple weeks, as it was at the start (up to 10 months in some cases). Post lockdown, the waiting periods have comparatively reduced.
      Benefits on MG ZS EV
      The electric MG ZS SUV comes in at a discount of Rs.40,000, an exchange offer of Rs.25,000 along with a 3 year AMC maintenance pack. Earlier this year, when the ZS EV was launched, MG Motor India had to close the bookings due to tremendous demand. Bookings had crossed the 2,800 mark in a few days. As per sales data available, MG Motor has not delivered 2,800 units of their electric SUV till date.
      MG ZS Electric
      The ZS EV is priced from Rs.20.88-23.58 lakhs and comes in with a 44.5 kWh lithium ion battery and a 3 phase permanent magnet synchronous motor that develops 142.76 hp power and 353Nm torque. The SUV offers an ARAI claimed drive range of 340kms.
      The company’s new Gloster full sized premium SUV is not a part of these discount or exchange schemes. In fact, the company has received such demand for the new Gloster that it is all sold out for 2020. Deliveries for the new Gloster have commenced.
      Disclaimer – Discounts are offered by dealers, and they vary from dealer to dealer, depending on the stock. Please check with company authorized dealers in your city for exact amount of discount / benefit offered. More

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      Hyundai Mistra Electric Sedan Debuts With Creta Inspired Front Look

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      Hyundai Mistra Electric With Creta Inspired Headlight setup
      The Guangzhou Motor Show is being held from 20-29 November 2020

      2020 Guangzhou Motor Show is currently underway. It is one of the few automotive shows which has been held this year, as most others have cancelled due to the ongoing pandemic. Several automakers are in attendance at the 18th Guangzhou International Automobile Exhibition, being conducted under the theme of “New Technology, New Life”, where they show off their latest models and technologies.
      Hyundai Mistra
      The new Hyundai Mistra is in attendance at the auto show. This electric vehicle is in the mid size sedan segment and has been designed exclusively for the Chinese market. It will be officially launched sometime in early 2021 and promises to come in with a travel range of approximately 520 km.

      Hyundai Mistra is being made by Beijing-Hyundai, the joint venture between Hyundai and BAIC. It receives sleek styling with a front fascia dominated by a wide front grille with chrome finish, LED headlamps and flowing body work.
      It is smaller in dimensions as compared to the Hyundai Sonata standing 4,780mm in length, 1,815mm in width and 1,460mm in height with a 2,770mm long wheelbase commanding extensive interior space which the company states is the best in its class.

      Interior Features
      Hyundai Mistra gets several cabin comforts and technologies. It boasts of a 12.3 inch digital instrument cluster, a 12.3 inch infotainment system and driver assistance systems. Interior highlights also include a panoramic sunroof and a surround view monitor while safety equipment includes forward collision avoidance system, highway driving assistance and navigation based cruise control along with rear cross traffic alert etc.
      Engine specs include a 1.8 liter engine that offers 141 hp power and 176 Nm torque while buyers will also receive an option of a 1.5 liter engine making 168 hp power and 252 Nm torque. The electric variant gets its power via a 56.5 kWh battery pack with power and torque figures at 181 hp and 310 Nm respectively.

      The electric Mistra offers a range of 520 kms. Charging from 30-80 percent is possible in 40 minutes while full charge via a slow charger can be accomplished in 9.5 hours.
      There is soon to be a shift in favor of electric vehicles in China which is set to make up 20 percent of China’s new car sales by 2025 from a current 5 percent as on date. The State Council states that a policy paper is part of the country’s 14th 5 year plan and the Chinese government is set to improve green car quota system to guide automakers to produce more environmentally friendly vehicles. Companies such as Tesla and Volkswagen along with Nio Inc are boosting production of their electric vehicle lineup in China; with sales set to touch 1.1 million this year. More

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      Hummer Electric SUV Unofficially Revealed During Investor Meet

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      Hummer Electric SUV
      General Motors had revealed its plan for reviving the ‘Hummer’ moniker some time back in a fully electrified avatar

      GMC officially unveiled the first part of its highly ambitious project of fully electrified vehicles last month. The Hummer electric pick-up truck revealed that it has nothing to do with its predecessors and it is indeed a start of a new revolution by the American auto giant.
      Now, GMC has unofficially given us a sneak peek at the second part of this mega project- Hummer Electric SUV and visually it shares a lot of commonalities with its sibling. Images of the SUV were inadvertently revealed during an investor conference recently.
      Common Design & functionalities
      The SUV prototype is seen parked behind the company’s presenter’s, Executive Vice President, Doug Parks and CEO Mary Barra. The long roof derivative of the Hummer EV seems to be a near final production-spec model.
      The SUV shares its front end and bloated fenders with the pickup truck model while its overall silhouette is identical to the latter. It also shares the blacked-out roof and white colour scheme from the pick-up truck revealed earlier which is the limited-edition first-year Edition-1 model.
      Hummer Electric SUV Teaser
      Edition 1 Hummer EV went on sale a few days back and was completely sold out for the entire year in a few moments. As expected, the SUV is essentially the pickup truck rebadged with a permanent roof over the bed area. In all probability, the SUV version will share most of its features and mechanicals with its SUT sibling. This means the SUV will carry similar design elements such as center LED headlights with each letter of ‘HUMMER’ embossed in individual panels.
      Expected similar 35-inch alloy wheels with the option of 37-inchers like the military Humvees. Rear of the SUV has not been revealed yet but expect it to be in line with the design of Hummer electric pick-up truck so is the case with its interiors. It is also expected to be provided with a body-armour underneath to protect it from all sorts of damages which is set to protect the vehicle essentials while venturing off the tarmac.
      Functionalities of the pick-up truck too are also set to be retained in the SUV with a large central screen and a digital gauge cluster. It is offered with tonnes of off-roading features which enhances its off-roading prowess, the highlight being a ‘crab walk mode’ which enhances its maneuverability on a tricky path by moving diagonally.
      Expected Launch
      Hummer Electric SUV is also likely to draw energy from General Motors’ all-new Ultium batteries paired to a three-motor setup. This powertrain can generate up to a humongous 1000 bhp and 15,600 Nm of torque. While GMC has already revealed that the pickup truck will be launched late next year, the SUV will be made available a year later in 2022 as a 2023 model.
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