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      in Bike

      All Electric Two Wheelers, EV Car Buyers Exempted From RC Fees

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      Bajaj Chetak Electric ScooterExemption announced from RC issue costs for all electric cars, scooters, motorcycles – Basically all battery operated vehicles
      Ministry of Road Transport & Highway’s (MoRTH) notification dated August 03, 2021 focuses on an all important amended. Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989 has been amended to waive off registration charges for electric vehicles. For now, policies catering to boost demand for EVs is pretty much a tree that doesn’t stop giving.
      Following incentives, and subsidies, doing away with registration costs is not just convenient but does translate to a direct financial benefit. Put together, buyers can now enjoy a quantum of benefits. GST on EVs too is a benefit at 5 percent.
      The announcement will see many take this opportunity to save money that would otherwise be spent on e-vehicle registration. Electric two wheeler makers welcome central government’s decision to waive off registration charges for electric two wheelers. The decision is expected to give boost in sale of two-wheeler in the country.
      In the larger picture, the move is also expected to reduce congestion on roads due to toxic emission from vehicles. With these changes, no registration fee is required to be paid for a large variety of battery operated vehicles. The decision helps in promoting sales of electric vehicles in the country.
      Tata Nexon Electric
      Electric vehicles sales roadmap in India
      It’s very much obvious that market situations are now in a much better condition to lay the groundwork for robust EV industry growth. The number of players that have entered the market continues to be encouraging. While electric vehicles have been part of discussions, it’s only in recent months that decision making bodies are aggressively pushing Electric Vehicles (EVs) through revised subsidies and tax exemptions.
      For long one has had to gauge policies that consistently failed to make EVs sell. With an absolute need to follow global targets of pollution and emission reduction, the government has seemingly become more supportive of EV manufacturers.
      Growth expected for EVs
      Ever since the introduction of e-bikes, manufacturers haven’t exactly benefitted from the new tech that’s available. Despite all the markings of a big space for development, there were no takers when it came to buying. It’s only very recently that electric two-wheeler manufacturers have been able to increase their production volume meaningfully.
      In order to meet the increasing demands and market penetration, companies too need to make longterm investments for production, research and development. And this isn’t conducive on the back of weak policies. Now electric bike manufacturers are hoping that this demand will continue grow, so that they can make more money out of it, and see a return on their investment as well. More

    • 138 Shares179 Views

      in Electric Cars

      Tata Nexon Electric Demand Is As Good As Nexon Diesel Demand

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      Image – JJ Automobile VlogsTata Motors currently retails two battery-powered cars in the form of Tigor EV and Nexon EV
      With electric mobility given a serious push in the country, we are witnessing a rise in demand for electric vehicles. This has further been aided by soaring fuel prices in recent months. On a related note, Tata Motors has revealed that demand for Nexon EV has gained a lot of traction in recent months and is currently on par with its diesel-powered sibling.
      This development was confirmed by PB Balaji, Chief Financial Officer, Tata Motors, in an interaction with media during the company’s earnings call. He went on to reveal that the order book for Nexon EV in July 2021 is neck to neck with the diesel variant. Sales of Nexon EV and diesel variants of Nexon are comparable where both iterations of the subcompact SUV are available for sale.
      Surge in demand for EVs
      In fact, in some states like Maharashtra and Gujarat, sales of battery-powered Nexon have taken over its oil burner counterpart. According to Balaji, the combination of benefits from the revised FAME II policies and various subsidies by different state governments are some of the primary reasons for the favourable demand for EVs. The company’s share of electric vehicles has risen from 0.2 percent two years ago to 3 percent of total sales in June-July 2021.
      Tata Motors is hopeful that Nexon EV’s shares will soon account for 5 percent of total passenger vehicle sales of the company. Nexon EV witnessed its highest quarterly sales when Tata was able to sell 1,715 units of the subcompact electric crossover in the April-June quarter. A total of 53,800 cars were sold by Tata Motors during this period.
      Tata Nexon Electric
      Jubilant by seeing the rise in demand, the homegrown automaker has announced that it will launch as many as ten electric vehicles by 2025. The company has already announced its association with Tata Power in setting up an ecosystem of 400 charging points across the country.
      Lower Running Cost of EVs
      Another point in favour of electric vehicles is their low running costs. In many states, prices of petrol, and in some cases diesel as well, have surged past Rs 100 per litre in recent times. Hence the industry has witnessed a strong shift towards EVs. For instance, as per industry estimates, the running cost of petrol and diesel cars is about Rs 4-7 per kilometre in Delhi as compared to Rs 1.6-1.7 for CNG cars and Rs 1.47 for electric cars.
      Tata Motors is presently in the process of ramping up production capacity for Nexon EV but is constrained by the chip shortage. While share of diesel-powered models across the passenger vehicle segment has shrunk significantly over the past year, Tata Motors currently has no plans to phase out the diesel variant of the Nexon.
      In fact, Tata Motors has plans to launch a string of new EVs in India in the coming years. All their new generation cars are built on platforms which are EV compatible. Depending on demand, the company can launch new EVs. Next up planned in the EV space from Tata is most likely Altroz EV followed by HBX EV. More

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      in Electric Cars

      Tata Nexon Electric Nepal Launch Price NPR 36 L – Approx Rs 22.5 L

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      Tata Nexon EV launched in NepalTata Motors has launched the made in India Nexon Electric SUV in Nepal today – It is exported as a CBU
      India’s best selling electric car has just gone on sale in Nepal. Tata Motors has announced the launch of Nexon EV in Nepal via their Sipradi Trading Pvt. Ltd. Price starts from Nepal Rupees 35.99 lakh, which is about Indian Rs 22.5 lakh. Bookings in Nepal are now open. You can book against a payment of NPR 25k.
      In India, Nexon EV is priced from Rs 13.99 lakh to Rs 16.56 lakh (ex-sh); making it around Rs.1 lakh to Rs3.5 lakh pricier over the top spec Nexon diesel variant. Demand for Nexon EV in India is similar to that of Nexon diesel variant.
      Nexon EV Warranty
      Tata Nexon EV is a 5 seater compact SUV that is presented in three variants of XM, XZ Plus, and XZ Plus Lux. It measures 3993mm in length, 1811mm in width and 1606mm in height with a wheelbase of 2,498mm. Ground clearance is at 205mm while kerb weight is at 1400 kgs. It comes with a warranty of 8 years or 1,60,000km (whichever is earlier) on the battery and 3 years 1,25,000 Km (whichever is earlier) on the Vehicle.
      Speaking on the launch of the Nexon EV in Nepal, Mr. Mayank Baldi – Head PVIB, Tata Motors, said, “We are thrilled to announce the launch of our electric SUV – The Nexon EV in Nepal. Powered with cutting-edge green technology, Ziptron, the Nexon EV elevates the customer experience to an all-new level.
      Tata Nexon Electric Dark Edition
      With the most aspirational design and features, uncompromised safety, superior driving pleasure, attractive service package, and a fully dedicated charging network, the Nexon EV brings to its customers the most comprehensive ecosystem, ensuring complete peace of mind at lowest cost of ownership. We are confident that our customers will be delighted with the Nexon EV, and we wish them happy memories on behalf of Tata Motors passenger and electric vehicles.”
      Features and Safety Equipment
      Tata Nexon EV is based on the same platform as the petrol / diesel Nexon that has been awarded 5 Star Global NCAP safety rating. It is presented in 3 colours of Signature Teal Blue, Moonlit Silver and Glacier White. New Dark Edition is also on offer. It receives features such as automatic headlamps, automatic wipers, a sunroof, roof mounted antenna and body coloured bumpers.
      The interiors are done up in a black and grey colour scheme and sports a 5 seater layout with rear seats folded in a 40:60 ratio. Infotainment is via a 7 inch touchscreen system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay along with connected car technology. On board conveniences include push button start, rear parking camera, 8 way manually adjustable driver’s seat and a 6 way adjustable passenger seat. Safety is via dual front airbags, child seat anchor points, seat belt warning and hill hold and hill descent control.
      More recently, the company added new alloy wheels to the Nexon EV replacing the older V-Shaped alloy wheels. Wheel size remains the same at 16 inches and have been made available on the top of the line XZ+ and XZ Lux variants. The base XM variant sees no change in its wheel designs and continues to sport steel wheels.
      Drive Range
      Tata Nexon EV receives a 30.2 kWh lithium ion battery pack along with an electric motor which is capable of 129 hp power and 245 Nm torque. It gets regenerative braking and two modes of Drive and Sport. Braking is via disc brake in the front and drum brake at the rear and independent MacPherson strut with coil spring suspension in front and twist beam with dual path strut at the rear. Charging via a 3.3 kW AC home charger is possible upto 100 percent in 8 hours while a fast charger offers upto 80 percent charge in 60 minutes to offer a claimed range of 312 kms.
      Tata Motors has 10 new EVs planned for launch by 2025. These will include the Altroz EV and HBX EV, etc, while the company plans to boost charging infrastructure in the country. Tata Motors is also focusing on souring battery packs and scouting for partners both in Indian and global markets. More

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      in Electric Cars

      Audi e-tron Electric SUV Launch Price From Rs 1 Cr – Range 264 To 484 Kms

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      Audi e-tron electric SUV India launchAudi E-Tron will lock its horns with Mercedes Benz EQC and the upcoming Jaguar I-Pace
      Audi has launched the company’s first ever fully electric vehicle- E-Tron SUV in India. A total of 3 electric SUVs are on offer under the e-tron range. These are e-tron 50, e-tron 55 and e-tron Sportback 55. Price starts from Rs 1 crore and goes all the way to Rs 1.17 crore. All prices are ex-sh.
      These SUVs are currently being manufactured at the company’s facility in Brussels, Belgium and will be made available in India as a CBU product. Below are the detailed prices of the new Audi electric SUVs for India.

      Audi e-tron Electric
      Price (ex-sh)

      e-tron 50
      Rs 99.99 Lakh

      e-tron 55
      Rs 1.16 Cr

      e-tron Sportback 55
      Rs 1.17 Cr

      Exterior Styling
      In the front is a blanked out single-frame octagonal-shaped front grille in gray colour with vertical slats. It receives a pair of LED headlamps with Audi’s Matrix LED technology which are flanked by integrated DRLs on both ends. The SUV rolls on 20-inch 5-spoke alloy wheels and gets a sloping roofline.
      The exterior wing mirrors are probably the highlight of the car’s exterior which displays the rear image on an OLED screen placed between the dashboard and door panel using a small camera. Its rear end flaunts a pair of LED taillights connected by an illuminated stripe across the boot lid. Other notable highlights include a roof-mounted spoiler, a chrome-embellished diffuser plate and a shark-fin antenna.
      Audi e-tron Specs
      Interior & Features On Offer
      Interiors of the cabin are offered in multiple shades such as black, grey, beige and brown and expected to boast a plethora of technologies. The central console will feature two big digital display screens which house an infotainment system as well as wireless connectivity and a voice control system.
      Audi e-tron Specs
      Other notable features on offer include a 4-spoke steering wheel, a digital instrument cluster, a Bang & Olufsen audio system, ambient lighting, a 360-degree surround-view camera, four-zone climate control and a panoramic sunroof to mention a few.
      Performance & Specifications
      Being a fully electric powertrain, there is no shortage of performance in E-Tron. The base variant power output is 313 hp and 540 Nm. Mid and top variant delivers 408 hp and 664 Nm. Driving range is from 264 kms to 484 kms, depending on the variant.
      Audi e-tron Features
      Using a 15 kW DC fast charger, the battery could be replenished up to 80 percent in just 30 minutes. While regular home chargers of could take 8.5 hours and 4.5 hours respectively.
      Audi e-tron Features
      Mr. Balbir Singh Dhillon, Head of Audi India, said, “To ease the transition to electric mobility – we are offering several benefits and packages including after-sales, charging and ownership. To take it a step forward, we are also offering a best-in-class 3 year buyback. This is just the start of Audi India’s electric journey and you will hear from us very, very shortly on our next EV offering.” More

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      in Electric Cars

      Maruti Suzuki Electric Car Launch In FY 2025 – Price Range Rs 10 Lakh

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      Maruti Suzuki Electric Car RenderSuzuki will be launching its first EV for the commercial mass market by FY 2025 – Interestingly, the EV will make its global debut in the Indian market
      News of a Maruti Suzuki EV coming to India have been in the market for the last few years now. Speculation and spyshots had suggested that the first EV from Maruti would be the Electric WagonR, which was spotted testing in multiple locations across the country.
      However, later Maruti had clarified that there were no immediate plans to launch the Wagon R EV. With increasing push and support from the Indian Government, most OEMs in India have started taking their initial steps towards venturing into the Indian 4-wheeler EV market, which is still in its preliminary stage.
      New Maruti Electric Car – Suzuki’s First
      Tata, MG Motor, Hyundai and Mahindra already have/have had some kind of EV offering for the Indian market. Maruti, being the largest automaker in the country certainly doesn’t want to be left behind.
      New report now confirms that Suzuki will be releasing its first all-electric vehicle for the mass markets by FY 2025. The vehicle will be making its debut in India and will be later introduced in the European and Japanese markets. After taking into account the Government subsidies, the EV is expected to be priced around the $13,700 mark, which would roughly translate into INR 10 lakhs.
      Maruti Suzuki Electric Car Render
      Maruti WagonR EV which is currently on test in India, comes with updated styling. It receives revised bumpers and side profile. It also gets a new front fascia, sports LED lighting at the front and rear, gets fog lamps and vertically stacked tail lamps. It borrows 15 inch alloy wheel design from the Ignis. Other features also include a high mounted stop lamp, body coloured door handles and black cladding on windows and rear bumper.
      Challenges Ahead
      Till date, Maruti’s dominances in the Indian market has been majorly due to its heavy market share in the small car segment. While models from its NEXA range do command a premium over their Arena counterparts, Maruti is still associated as a budget-friendly car manufacturer.
      Venturing into the EV market could be difficult as the entry-level price tag would fall around the INR 10 lakhs+ mark. Also, Maruti would have to ensure that it is able to crack the code on improving the overall range per charge, without compromising on the space and Value For Money quotient.
      Governmental Policies
      The Indian Government had set itself a target of ensuring that around 30% of the new cars which are purchased in 2030, are electric. To further push the customer preferences, the Government had rolled out multiple incentives on purchase of EVs, which summed up to INR 100 Billion. The initial plan for the support was for a 3 year period which started in 2019. However, due to a muted response and the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, the Government decided to extend the incentive policy by additional 2 years.
      Source More

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      in Electric Cars

      2021 Tata Tigor Electric XPres T EV Launch Price Rs 9.75 L – Delivery Starts

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      2021 Tata Tigor Electric Facelift Xpres-T EV delivery starts
      Xpres-T EV is a facelifted Tigor EV is now available to fleet consumers in two trims- XM+ and XT+
      Tata Motors recently unveiled its new sub-brand focused on electric vehicles (EV) called Xpres which will cater to the demand of fleet consumers exclusively. The homegrown auto company has now launched its first model under this new sub-brand called Xpres-T EV which is based on the facelifted battery-powered Tigor.
      The electric sedan is now available for booking at selected dealerships across the country. Deliveries have now started with first batch delivered to Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd., in Kolkata. Price starts from Rs 9.75 lakhs for the XM+ variant and goes to Rs 9.9 lakh for the XT+ variant. All prices are ex-sh.
      The new Xpres branding on the car’s body panels will distinguish itself from the Tigor EV sold for private buyers. The new Xpres T-EV carries a set of visual updates over the current Tigor EV whose test mules were spotted on multiple occasions recently.
      Exterior highlights
      Xpres-T EV flaunts an updated front face with a new headlight setup along with a new sharper nose featuring a glossy black grille consisting of tri-arrow patterns on each side. The front grille is contoured with a blue-coloured strip underneath. Additionally, the charging socket is now housed in the front grille itself. Other exterior styling highlights include projector LED headlights, LED DRLs and redesigned fog lamp housings. It also gets a revised bumper with a wider air intake.
      2021 Tata Tigor Electric Facelift Xpres-T EV delivery starts
      Interior Highlights
      Interiors of Xpres-T EV will be in line with the standard IC engine-powered Tigor barring the blue highlights which remind us of its electric powertrain underneath. The air-con vents are surrounded by similar blue highlights. Features added to the latest iteration of the electric compact sedan are a larger touchscreen infotainment unit, a digital instrument display and a multi-functional steering wheel.
      Specifications
      Coming to its specification, Xpres-T EV will be offered in two derivatives depending on battery configuration- standard and extended. The former is available with a 16.5kWh high energy density battery which delivers an acclaimed range of 165km (ARAI) on a single charge. Whereas the latter is equipped with a 21.5kWh battery pack rated to return a claimed range of 213km (ARAI) on a single charge.
      Both variants are powered by a 70V three-phase induction motor which has been tuned to deliver an output of 40 bhp and 105 Nm of peak torque, identical figures to the pre-facelift Tigor EV. Using a standard AC wall charger, the battery could be replenished 0-100 percent in eight hours and 11.5 hours for 16.5kWh and 21.5kWh battery packs respectively.
      While using a 15kW DC fast charger, the battery packs could be charged 0-80 percent in 90 minutes and 110 minutes respectively. The facelifted Tigor EV for private buyers is also expected to be available for bookings after some time. More

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      in Electric Cars

      Ford EcoSport Copycat Electric SUV Debuts In China

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      Image – China PEV
      Ford is currently testing a new facelifted version of EcoSport in India expected to make its debut by end of this year
      Some automakers are quite notorious for ripping off designs from models retailed in international markets. This time it is Ford EcoSport which has been the ‘inspiration’ behind Yuan Pro EV manufactured by BYD. One glance at the compact all-electric SUV and you can easily conclude that it is yet again a cheap knock-off of a famous car.
      Yuan Pro EV has been positioned as a budget electric vehicle for less affluent consumers. However, it isn’t all cheap when you get to know what it offers. For its low price, Yuan Pro Ev is extremely well-kitted and practical. It has been designed on the lines of what the company terms as ‘Dragon Face 3.0’ philosophy.
      External Design
      The overall external appearance of Yuan Pro, barring a few details, shares an uncanny resemblance with the subcompact crossover from the American brand. When viewed from its side profile or rear, readers are bound to mistake it for EcoSport. It gets a similar shoulder line with roof rails, character lines, black body claddings and alloy wheel designs.
      The electric car even flaunts a similar tailgate-mounted spare wheel just as EcoSport. The crossover, however, distinguishes itself with an EV-specific closed-off grille and sleeker headlamps at front. At 4.37 metres, Yuan Pro EV is more than 400mm longer than its inspiration. It also offers a longer wheelbase of 2,535mm.
      Ford EcoSport Copycat Electric SUV
      Interior Design & Features
      Step inside the cabin and one would realise it is not a complete knock-off with a distinct interior layout. It also offers a decently equipped cabin which is not cheap by any stretch of imagination.
      The SUV gets a pleasant dual-tone interior theme with an all-black dashboard and off-white upholstery. The cabin looks minimalistic yet very functional. It gets a similar shaped 10.1-inch touchscreen unit slightly larger in size.
      It also gets an 8-inch digital instrument display and rear parking camera housed inside the spare wheel mounted at rear. Top-spec trims are offered with safety features such as ABS with EBD, Electronic brake assist, Electronic safety program, traction control and more.
      EV Specs
      Yuan Pro EV is available in three variants and two battery options. The base trim is offered with a smaller 38.9kWh battery which claims a delivery range of 301km (NDEC) on a single charge. Other two variants are equipped with a larger 50.1 kWh battery that promises a range of 401km (NDEC) on a single charge. The battery feeds energy to an electric motor mounted on the front axle which delivers an output of 136 bhp and 210 Nm of peak torque. More

    • 138 Shares169 Views

      in Electric Cars

      2021 Tata Dark Editions Launched – Nexon, Altroz, Harrier, Nexon Electric

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      Tata Nexon EV DarkApart from launching new Dark Edition models of Nexon, Nexon EV and Altroz, Tata Motors has updated the existing Harrier Dark Edition model
      After witnessing an immense success of Harrier Dark Edition, Tata Motors has now introduced similar Dark Edition models of Nexon, Nexon EV and Altroz. All these models sport a similar all-black exterior theme as the flagship trim of the midsize trim.
      Bookings of the cars have already commenced and units of the special edition model have started reaching dealerships across the country. Like Harrier, Dark Edition models of Altroz, Nexon and Nexon EV have been painted in a black colour scheme with a glossy treatment and have been offered at starting prices of Rs. 8.71 lakh, Rs 10.40 lakh and Rs 15.99 lakh respectively (ex-showroom).
      Tata Nexon Dark
      Exterior Updates
      Nexon and Altroz are both highest-selling models for Tata Motors and strong sellers in their respective segments of subcompact UV and premium hatchback. Nexon EV is currently the best-selling electric car in India.
      The glossy black finish on the exterior body panels help enhance the premium appeal of Dark Edition models. On all these models, the front radiator grille and air intake vents on the lower bumper also receive a blacked-out treatment with dark grey inserts.
      [embedded content]
      These dark grey inserts could also be found on the boot and below window line. A contrast grey finish is further added to the front and rear bash plates giving it a sporty appeal. Similar to Harrier, Dark Edition trims of models mentioned above flaunt a chrome badge with the letters ‘DARK’ on front fenders. In addition, all cars get bold chrome lettering spread wide across their tailgates.
      Tata Altroz Dark
      Premium appeal of the car is further accentuated by 16-inch gloss black alloy wheels. Nexon EV also carries forward a similar exterior theme but retains some of the blue coloured elements seen on the regular variants.
      Interior Updates
      Like the exterior, the interior of the cabin of all Dark Edition models wear a Granite Black interior theme with a glossy black finish for the centre applique. The leatherette upholstery with deep Blue Tri-arrow perforations and deco blue stitching further add a nice contrast to the cabin. The front headrests feature Dark embroidery whereas the mid-panel of the dashboard gets a piano black finish. The centre console now houses a darkened branding unlike the chrome version in the regular variants.
      Tata Harrier Dark
      Updated Harrier Dark Edition
      Along with the new additions, Harrier Dark Edition has also been updated. The special variant of the mid-size SUV wears a new Oberon black colour with a tinge of deep blue on its exterior. It rolls on larger 18-inch Blackstone Alloys which complement its sporty stance. Rest of the cosmetic updates in Harrier Dark Edition are in line with its smaller Dark Edition siblings. The all-black Harrier is now offered at a starting price of Rs 18.04 lakh (ex-showroom).
      Harrier Dark Edition has been made available in three trims XT+, XZ+ and XZA+ whereas Nexon Dark Edition is offered in XZ+, XZA+, XZ+(O) & XZA+(O) variant of both in both petrol & diesel fuel options. All-black models of Atroz and Nexon EV are available in XZ+ and XZ+ Lux variants. More