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      in Bike

      Bajaj Chetak Electric Scooter To Tata Nexon EV To Get Cheaper As Govt Proposes No Registration Fees

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      Bajaj Chetak Electric ScooterThe draft notification proposed by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) is open for comments from public and stakeholders within 30 days
      Government of India has been vigorously pushing towards adoption of electric vehicles in the country over the last few months. From concession on road tax for consumers and added concessions for local battery and components manufacturers in India, the Central Government has been pushing hard to adopt cleaner sources of power in automobiles.
      As per the latest development, the government has drafted a proposal that exempts all battery-powered vehicles from registration charges in a bid to promote electric mobility in the country. This development comes at a time when demand for electric vehicles and transition to cleaner sources of mobility is slowly gathering momentum in India.
      More Details
      While issuing a draft notification, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has proposed to exempt all Battery Operated Vehicles (BOV) from payment of fees for registration of a new vehicle as well as renewal of registration.
      It also mentions exemption of fees for the assignment of a new registration mark. A copy of the above notification draft has been uploaded on the road and transport ministry’s official Twitter handle.
      Tata Nexon EV.
      The notification further stated that comments from the general public and all stakeholders have been sought within 30 days from the date of issuance. The draft proposes an amendment to Rule number 81 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989 which states the various fees chargeable to consumers including issue and renewal of trade certificate for vehicles, issue of registration certificates, transfer of ownership and more.
      Speaking of registration of EVs, India sees higher cases of registration of vehicles running on three wheels, although two-wheelers have also gained prominence ever since new EV brands have come into picture.
      If this proposal is implemented, more customers will be drawn into buying EVs. This will help increase the demand for EVs in India which will, in turn, prompt manufacturers to make batteries in India thereby reducing the cost of battery manufacturing.
      EVs in India
      At present, building batteries requires huge capital for all manufacturers which forms the bulk of the final cost of an EV. Two wheeler segment is led by the likes of Okinawa, Ampere, Hero Electric, Ather, Bajaj Chetak, TVS iQube and many others. The passenger vehicle segment in India, as of now, has very few options when it comes to cleaner sources of power. Tata Motors has two in the form of Tigor EV and Nexon EV which serve as entry-level models.
      Going higher in the segment, there Hyundai Kona electric and MG ZS EV, both electric crossovers which are locally assembled in India. Apart from this luxury marques such as Mercedes Benz and Jaguar have launched their EV lineup with EQC and I-Pace respectively. Other makers such Audi and Volvo will also be launching new EVs in India in the coming few months. More

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      in Electric Cars

      Ford EV Plans For Future Revealed – Bronco Electric Could Be A Possibility

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      Ford EcoSport Electric In Bronco Styling – RenderThe upcoming lineup of Ford EVs will comprise battery-powered versions of Explorer, Aviator and maybe Bronco as well
      With future of the global automotive industry heavily dependent on battery-powered solutions, automakers worldwide have started planning their future ahead accordingly. One of the largest auto manufacturers Ford recently held a Capital Markets Day presentation which was mostly dedicated to future electric vehicles to be rolled out by the company.
      The American carmaker announced that it will be launching new dedicated electric vehicle platforms and will develop new IonBoost batteries for future EVs. The company estimated that almost 40 percent of its global sales will be EVs by the year 2030. Laying the groundwork for its next decade of vehicle production teased several new products and services.
      Future EV Platforms
      The Blue Oval brand announced that it will be spending more than USD 30 billion on electrification of vehicles by 2025. The company had previously committed USD 22 billion toward electrification.
      Furthermore, it went on to add that it currently possesses five global vehicle platforms but with EVs coming into picture, these architectures need to be reimagined to meet required conditions. Cars based on these new platforms will be able to share motors, gearboxes, battery packs and battery management systems across the lineup.
      Ford Electric Platform
      This is in addition to other cross vehicle technologies which will enable Ford to share up to 80% of a vehicle’s components across its portfolio. The company also previewed its upcoming RWD / AWD BEV Flexible Architecture which will underpin several new generation models of high-volume battery-powered vehicles between now and 2030 including some ‘rugged SUVs’.
      Prospective Ford EV Lineup
      While Ford didn’t dive into specifics, it confirmed that the upcoming platform will be available in two derivatives- one for 2- and 3-row crossovers, cars and SUVs and the other mid-size and full-size pickup trucks. The former category will comprise models such as electric versions of Explorer and Lincoln Aviator. Although the American carmaker didn’t specifically mention it, we also expect an electrified Bronco underpinned by the same architecture in future.
      The second derivative will underpin the F-series pickup trucks for example the next-gen F-150 Lightning which could arrive as early as 2025. The first-gen model made its debut a few days back and is expected to go on sale in the coming months, it is also expected to form bases for electric versions of Expedition and Navigator.
      Ford Electric Platform
      The electrification of the pickup segment is critical for Ford since it expects about 1/3rd of full-size pickup trucks to be fully electric by 2030. This would mean around 800,000 electric pickup trucks will be produced annually.
      Battery Development
      Ford also shed light on its battery manufacturing segment and revealed that the BlueOvalSK joint venture will develop battery packs and arrays at two different facilities in the US. The next generation of batteries from Ford will be called IonBoost+.
      The company also unveiled its plans would include development of IonBoost lithium-ion batteries, IonBoost Pro lithium iron phosphate batteries (for commercial vehicles), and long-range, low-cost solid-state batteries. The carmaker finally added that it will be expanding its commercial vehicle business by nearly double to $45 billion by 2025. More

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      in Electric Cars

      Maruti WagonR Electric Car To Be Sold As Rebadged Toyota Hyryder ?

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      Maruti WagonR Electric Toyota Hyryder SpiedToyota is expected to launch a hatchback based on Maruti WagonR which will be battery-powered
      Maruti Suzuki has been contemplating on bringing an electric vehicle to India for a very long time. The most likely possibility is an entry-level battery-powered car based on WagonR. However, since reports of the car’s development began, there has been no concrete evidence of an eventual launch.
      The Indo-Japanese carmaker is still susceptible to the fact that EVs are still at a very nascent stage in the Indian automotive market and have not reached a stage where they could penetrate into a mass market. In fact, a few months ago, reports surfaced on the internet that Maruti has altogether scrapped the plans of launching an electric derivative of Wagon R.
      Until a few days ago, there were no new developments regarding an electric version of the tallboy hatch when a test mule of the same appeared out of nowhere.
      However, the most interesting attribute noticed about the prototype was that it was wearing a Toyota logo on its face and wheel caps. This could mean that Maruti Suzuki will likely share WagonR EV with its alliance partner in India. Another set of spy shots have surfaced on the internet giving us a peek into the electric hatch.
      Maruti WagonR Electric Toyota Hyryder Spied
      Exterior Design
      Like the previous spy video, this unit also resembled the regular petrol-driven WagonR with the same overall design. However, it comes with subtle variations to its exterior styling including new bumpers, a revised side profile, and a completely redesigned front face. The prototype receives all-LED lighting with a sharp-looking split headlamp design at the front.
      Other exterior styling highlights include black claddings on front and rear bumpers, black pillars and a blacked-out front grille. Another interesting visual is the larger 15-inch alloy wheels which look similar to the ones seen in Maruti Ignis. The current petrol-powered WagonR rides on 14-inch steel rims with wheel caps. Rest of the car looks identical to its regular sibling.
      Maruti Rebadged models as Toyota
      If such a vehicle is indeed being planned to be launched as a Toyota, it does not make sense for Maruti to develop the car and not release it under its own brand name. Hence, it is expected to launch as a Toyota only after it has been launched under its home brand. Toyota has recently registered a new name – HYRYDER, likely to be pronounced as hi-rider. Could this Maruti WagonR Electric version’s rebadge variant be named Toyota Hyryder?
      Maruti WagonR Electric Toyota Hyryder Spied
      Currently, there is a lot of ambiguity regarding the development of this product and an official word from Maruti or Toyota will only clear the air. As of now, Toyota retails two models namely Glanza and Urban Cruiser which are rebadged Maruti models Baleno and Vitara Brezza respectively. The Japanese company will also launch a rebadged Maruti Ciaz under its own brand name Belta. There is also speculation of Toyota’s MPV which is said to be based on Ertiga.

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    • 150 Shares199 Views

      in Electric Cars

      Tata Motors Bags Rs 44 Crore Contract For 300 New Electric Cars

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      Tata Nexon EV. Image for reference.Tata Motors is also expected to launch a mild facelift version of Tigor EV soon
      When it comes to fully electric vehicles in the passenger vehicle segment, there are only a handful of options. The choices get further streamlined if you are looking for an EV that has been locally manufactured. Tata Motors with two offerings in the form of Tigor EV and Nexon EV enjoys the status of the highest EV seller in the country.
      Unsurprisingly, the homegrown automaker has been able to bag such a large order from Convergence Energy Services Ltd (CESL) which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Energy Efficiency Services Ltd (EESL). Under this order, Tata Motors will supply 300 units of electric cars with a warranty of three years to CESL.
      More Details
      The total cost of this contract is worth Rs 44 crore and is a part of the Scaling up Demand Side Energy Efficiency Sector Project which is being financed by the Asian Development Bank line of credit to CESL. The letter of award forwarded by CESL to Tata Motors states that these 300 four-wheeler electric cars will have a length of less than 4 metres and a single-charge range equal to or more than 250km.
      While both Nexon EV and Tigor fulfil the size criteria, the sedan falls slightly short in terms of its range at 213km. It is also to be noted that Tata is working on launching an updated Tigor very soon. This facelifted Tigor Electric could come with a larger battery pack, which will result in increased range.
      Tata Tigor electric facelift spied
      The said tender will be implemented in two phases. The first phase will consist of procurement of 300 vehicles with a three-year warranty at a base price of Rs 14.33 lakh per unit, exclusive of GST. The second phase will involve inland transportation including loading, unloading, transfer to a designated location, transit insurance, and other costs liable to delivery of vehicles. This phase will incur a cost of Rs 21,000 per unit.
      Commenting on this development, Shailesh Chandra, President, Passenger Vehicle Business Unit, Tata Motors, said, “Tata Motors is committed to supporting the Government’s vision of actively embracing e-mobility and we are delighted to partner with CESL once again. Purposeful collaboration amongst stakeholders is key to accelerate the mass adoption of environmentally-friendly solutions.”
      Nexon EV Specs
      Nexon EV is powered by a three-phase permanent magnet synchronous motor which is paired with a 30.2kWh lithium-ion and a liquid-cooled battery pack. This powertrain combination returns an output of 127 bhp and 245 Nm of peak torque.
      The battery pack comes with IP67 certification and the company claims a single-charge range of 312km. The car is bundled with a 3.3kW charger which could charge 20-100 percent in eight hours. It is also provided with a 25kW fast charger which could rejuvenate the battery in just 60 minutes. More

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      in Electric Cars

      Ford F-150 Lightning Electric Pickup Debuts – Range Up To 482 Kms

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      Ford F-150 Lightning ElectricUpon its launch by mid-2022, Ford F-150 Lightning will be directly pitted against GMC Hummer EV Pickup and Tesla Cyber Truck
      Ford has officially revealed its upcoming F-series electric pickup truck called F-150 Lightning ahead of its launch next year. Before this, the upcoming electric pickup was also spotted in its full production-spec model in a separate event attended by the US President, Joe Biden when he visited the automaker’s Rouge-based facility in Dearborn.
      US President Takes It For A Spin
      While giving a speech at the manufacturing plant, a brand new Ford F-150 Lightning prototype wrapped in silver paint sans any camouflage was spotted in the background. In all likelihood, this prototype was placed purposefully so that the carmaker is able to generate enough excitement ahead of its official unveiling.’
      Ford F-150 Lightning Electric
      If that wasn’t enough to create a buzz, the President took a spin on one of the prototypes at the end of the event, this one though was wrapped under covers. Biden is well known for his love for automobiles and he couldn’t help but get his hands on the steering wheel of the upcoming electric F-150.
      Exterior Design
      Coming to its exterior design, F-150 Lightning appears to have the same body as the standard F-150. However, it sports notable differences to distinguish itself from its IC engine-powered sibling.
      Ford F-150 Lightning Electric
      For starters, the electric pickup truck gets a completely redesigned front end with distinctive LED headlights and an LED light bar stretching across the width of the fascia. The face is dominated by a faux grille wrapped in gloss black with a prominent Blue Oval badge carved in the centre.
      Ford F-150 Lightning Electric
      Other notable highlights such as the front bumper, raked windshield and squarish ORVMs wear a familiar look to the standard F-150. The freshly designed six-spoke alloy wheels are another attractive highlight. The images going around in social media appear to be of a crew cab version with a twin layout cabin which means it is expected to get a luggage bed measuring less than 1,676mm in length.
      Specs and Range
      New Ford F-150 Lightning Electric Pickup will be available in two battery options – both powered by lithium ion. The entry level gets a range of 230 miles / 370 kms while the other one gets 300 miles / 482 kms range. Depending on the variant, the charger will be different. The entry level will get 11.3 kW single charger while top variants with larger batter get 19.2 kW dual charger.
      Ford F-150 Lightning Electric
      Thanks to the dual charger, via fast charging, owners will be able to charge the F-150 Lightning from 15% to 80% in under 45 minutes. Via home charger, full charging of the battery is achieved in upto 19 hours. Ford has also equipped the F-150 Lightning with a system that in case of a power outage, you can use the car’s battery to power your house.
      Price of the new F-150 Lightning starts from $39,974 MSRP (Rs 29.25 lakh) and goes all the way to $90,000 (Rs 65.87 lakh). Bookings are now open. You can register your interest via Ford website with a deposit of $100. Deliveries expected to start by mid 2022. More

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      in Electric Cars

      Suzuki Misano Concept Electric Car Inspired From Track Motorcycles

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      Suzuki Misano Concept
      Suzuki Misano Concept is a futuristic electric two-seat roadster with superbike inspired design language built only for design study purpose
      Not always do we come across a design that is meant purely to showcase one’s talents. The latest Suzuki Misano Concept is one such design that is a culmination of the Japanese automaker’s two souls- car making and bike making. The design concept is a result of hard work of 24 master’s students at Istituto Europeo di Design (IED) in Turin, Italy in collaboration with Suzuki.
      Superbike Inspired Design
      The name ‘Misano’ has been derived from a motorcycle racing track called Misano World Circuit in Italy. The electric sports car takes plenty of inspiration from a track-focussed motorcycle for instance its aerodynamic design and its two-seat layout in tandem format on the left-hand side of the car.
      Suzuki Misano Concept
      Misano Concept sports a classic barchetta (boat-like) silhouette that embodies the contrasting essence of driving and riding an automobile with a futuristic twist. The IED students have managed to keep the dimensions of the car fairly compact. The car measures around 4 metres in length and only a metre tall while the design comprises a mix of curves and hard edges.
      Design highlights
      Upfront, it flaunts S-shaped headlights integrated on the front grille which resemble the Suzuki emblem. Copper accents have been added to the roll hoop behind the rear passenger and alloy wheels in order to give a contrasting touch to an all-black theme of the car.
      Suzuki Misano Concept
      While the left side has been occupied by front and rear seats, the right-hand side has been utilised for carving out a luggage space as well as space for keeping the battery pack. It comes with a single door on the left side of the car featuring a glass panel that makes the driver feel closer to the road.
      Suzuki Misano Concept
      The rear of Misano Concept has been designed with emphasis laid on enhancing aerodynamic qualities. The motorcycle – car connection goes further deeper as it employs a control stick instead of a traditional steering wheel and pedals.
      A small windscreen up front is another element taking inspiration from a motorbike. The designing team from IED comprises students from various countries including India.
      Misano Concept has been created simply as a design study and is highly doubtful to reach the production stage as there are no powertrain details attached to this prototype. It will, however, be displayed to the public at Mauto, the Italian national automotive museum in Turin, on 15 and 16 June this year. More

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      in Electric Cars

      Huawei SERES Electric Hybrid Car Launched In China At CNY 217k (Rs 25 L)

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      Huawei Electric Hybrid CarIf required, SF5 can also act as a battery that could be used to power or recharge other devices like television, etc.
      The latest edition of the ongoing Shanghai Auto Show has been an exhibition of many exciting new vehicles that have been trending online. One of them is Huawei SF5 electric SUV which has been revealed in its final production-spec model. This officially marks the Chinese technology giant’s debut in the automotive world.
      SF5 is a mid-size electric crossover with a unique plug-in hybrid powertrain that has been co-developed in partnership with California-based company Cyrus and will be retailed under the joint venture SERES brand. The entry of Huawei into the automotive sector is seen as the Chinese firm’s expansion policy of 1+8+N.
      Huawei Electric Hybrid Car
      The SUV has been launched at a starting price of CNY 216,800 that roughly translates to INR 25.20 lakh. Interested consumers can visit the website or Huawei’s Vmall e-commerce platform and book the electric crossover at a token amount of CNY 1000 (equivalent to INR 11,600). The car measures 4,700 mm long, 1,930 mm wide and 1,625 mm tall while it offers a wheelbase of 2,875 mm.
      Exterior Design
      In terms of its design, SF5 looks almost identical to its pre-production concept which made its maiden appearance in 2019. Although there are subtle differences in the production-spec model like additional ventilation holes on front bumper.
      Huawei Electric Hybrid Car
      The front end flaunts a mesh grille which is flanked by swept back and sleek LED headlamps along with L-shaped LED DRLs. At rear, it sports wraparound taillights connected by an LED light bar across the width. Other distinctive highlights include a wing-shaped window line, flush-mounted door handles and a sloping roofline.
      Huawei Electric Hybrid Car
      Interior Layout & Features on offer
      Inside the cabin too, the layout is similar to the pre-production concept which flaunts a minimalistic dashboard featuring a wide-width air vent. The dash gets two large screens- one is a central touchscreen infotainment display in a portrait format providing access to all vehicle-related information. The other is a digital instrument cluster. Centre console is devoid of any fancy tech wizardry and only features a storage compartment and a gear selector knob ahead of the centre armrest.
      Coming from Huawei, it is bound to be equipped with plenty of creature comforts such as Huawei’s Harmony OS-based HiCar system, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Huawei Sound system with 11 speakers, an inductive charging station for smartphones, voice control services and much more. SF5 is laced with radar-based sensors to enable Level 2 autonomous features such as adaptive cruise control, traffic jam assist, automatic emergency braking and lane-keeping assist to name a few.
      Huawei Electric Hybrid Car
      Powertrain Specs
      The most interesting highlight is its unique plug-in hybrid powertrain somewhat similar to the recently revealed 2022 Nissan X-Trail, the only difference the latter doesn’t offer a plug-in recharge. Under the hood of SF5, it features a 1.5 litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol motor that acts as a range extender to recharge the battery. The battery pack feeds power to SEP200 asynchronous electric motors that return a cumulative output of 543 bhp and 820 Nm of peak torque. There is no shortage of performance as it sprints zero to 100 kmph in just 4.7 seconds.
      Huawei has revealed an all-electric range of 180km while a cumulative range of 1000km using the range extender as per NEDC (New European Driving Cycle). Customers get the option of choosing from two variants of SF5- a single motor and a dual-motor setup. The latter is offered at a price of CNY 246,800 (equivalent to INR 28.67 lakh) More

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      in Electric Cars

      Mahindra e2o Electric Range Extended To 350 Kms By Northway Motorsport

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      Mahindra e2o Plus Electric
      Mahindra retailed e20 Plus electric hatch in three trims- P2, P4 and P6
      Mahindra was one of the first auto manufacturers in the private vehicle segment in India to venture into the electric mobility space. It developed two electric vehicle (EV) models namely eVerito and e20 Plus in sedan and hatchback body styles respectively.
      However, they were unable to gain any popularity among masses due to limited availability and lack of charging infrastructure and hence were discontinued. Range anxiety was another issue that led to the downfall of these vehicles, especially e20 that offered below par single-charge range.
      Additional battery backup results in 350km range
      The electric hatch was offered with two battery options- an 11kWh battery pack and a 15kWH battery pack. The former claimed a maximum range of 110km whereas the latter claimed a range of 140km on a single charge.
      In real-world situations, the range declined even further with the use of the air conditioner in a stop and go traffic. Northway Motorsport, based out of Pune, has managed to increase the single-charge range of the electric hatch.
      Mahindra e2o Plus Electric with range extender
      A video, courtesy of Hemank Dabhade, uploaded on YouTube shows a stock e20 Plus being installed with a 17kWh battery pack. This is in addition to the pre-existing 11kWH Lithion-ion battery which results in a total capacity of 28kWh.
      The additional 17kWh range extender pack has been placed in the car’s boot space. The purpose of making the video is to find out how much can the car travel on a full charge with additional battery backup.
      The drive was conducted in a real-world scenario, in a very cautious manner with the air conditioner being turned off during the entire journey. The car was driven with extreme care below 25 percent SOC to reduce power consumption even further. At the end of the drive, the upgraded e20 Plus resulted in a distance traveled around 350km before the battery was completely drained out.
      [embedded content]
      e20 Plus Features & Specs
      This is a remarkable figure considering the limited capacity of the power source. It was further aided by regenerative braking and additionally, 15-18 km of journey was covered in moderate downslopes. This helped e20 Plus attain a very impressive range which is hard to achieve by any EV on sale currently in the real world.
      The electric car was driven by a three-phase AC Induction Motor which returns a very modest output of 26 bhp at 3500rpm and 70 Nm at 1050rpm. It could clock a top speed of 80kmph while it could sprint 0-60 kmph in a yawning 14.1 seconds. It was offered with a standard 3kW single Phase 16 Amp charger which took 7hrs and 20 mins for the larger 15kWh battery pack to get charged while the smaller 12 kWh unit took 6 hours to juice up. More