Commercial Vehicles

Subterms

    More stories

    • 175 Shares159 Views

      in Electric Cars

      Kinetic Safar Jumbo Is India’s First 1 Ton Electric Cargo 3 Wheeler – Launched

      by

      Kinetic Safar Jumbo Electric
      Kinetic Safar Jumbo is made for e-commerce and home delivery applications; with load 1 ton carrying capacity

      Kinetic Green Energy and Power Solutions Limited, has launched a high performance electric cargo three wheeler, Kinetic Safar Jumbo, designed at Kinetic’s DSIR recognized EV R&D lab, and packs in advanced tech features and wholly indigenous parts.
      Designed as a cost efficient and convenient solution for last mile delivery needs, Kinetic Safar Jumbo sits in the under L5 category. With GVW of over 1 ton, it features a specially developed cargo box with close to 150 sq ft cubit capacity, and a payload of 500 kg.
      With relevance across many segment uses, Safar Jumbo can be used in the e-commerce segment for home delivery. The same is true for distribution of gas cylinders and water, waste collection and management, delivery of FMCG goods from whole-sellers to retailers, home delivery of white goods, and special applications like ‘sabzi or meals on wheels’ etc.
      Electric Kinetic Safar Jumbo
      Being a 100 percent electric vehicle means it’s emission and noise free, and running/operating cost is as low as 50 paise per km as against. This is about Rs 3 per km for diesel engine based cargo three wheelers. Kinetic Safar Jumbo touches top speed of 55 kmph, and gradeability of 10 degrees, and has been designed keeping in mind Indian road conditions in mind.

      Designed as a full steel body for durability and safety, the EV cargo 3W features a CED coated steel chassis, digital cluster, dynamic SOC, CAN based controller with interactive Kinetic Konnect APP and GPS, independent rear suspension, hydraulic brakes, and a unique gear box designed by Kinetic Engineering.
      The advanced Lithium ion battery pack is capable of 120 kms on a single charge. The vehicle will be available on Swappable Battery Platform, and qualifies for FAME II subsidy. It’s available with warranty of 3 years.
      Sulajja Firodia Motwani, Founder and CEO, Kinetic Green Energy and Power Solutions Ltd. said, “We are extremely proud to bring this game changer E3W to Indian market. Its high performance and large load carrying capacity makes it a strong contender to lead the home delivery revolution in India!”
      E-Commerce cargo requirements
      With massive growth in e-commerce segment in India in recent years, and an increase in home delivery tickets, Safar Jumbo is specially designed to meet needs of e-commerce companies and their logistics partners as an effective last mile delivery solution that’s cost friendly.

      Kinetic Green Energy is already running pilots with several companies. Commercial supplies start in November, and the company expects to deliver over 5,000 vehicles in the next 6-7 months. Variants for different applications like gas cylinder distribution, waste collection, etc, will be rolled out in phases.
      Kinetic Mobility will also offer its e-cargo fleet to select customers on lease. Vehicles will reach its dealership network of around 175 dealers across India over the next few weeks. Kinetic Green manufacturing facility at Ahmednagar, Maharashtra has an assembly capacity of 6,000 electric 3-wheelers per month. A high-speed passenger variant on same tech platform is planned for launch over the next few months. More

    • 138 Shares99 Views

      in Electric Cars

      Etrio Touro Max Mini Electric Three Wheelers Launched In Cargo Segment

      by

      Etrio Electric Three Wheeler
      Etrio Touro Max and Mini electric three-wheelers in cargo segment cater to intracity logistics

      Electric vehicle start-up Etrio is keen on intracity logistics, and has expanded its portfolio with the launch of Touro for cargo segment. Both Touro variants are designed for intra-city logistics, especially in last-mile delivery applications. Touro three-wheeler passenger variants will be launched soon.
      Having raised funding of $3 million last month helped facilitate the new product launches. Touro derives its name from the Portuguese word Toro, which means ‘a bull’. This is because the product builds on strong stability, power, and load carrying capacity. The inspiration doesn’t end there, and Touro features bull inspired signature front grille, and Etrio manufactured brake drums.
      Etrio Electric Three Wheeler
      Etrio Touro range is completely localized, which means the products are eligible for central and state government subsidy. Deepak MV, Co-founder & CEO, Etrio said, “With the launch of Touro, we now have added new electric vehicles to our portfolio of retrofitted products. We are on a mission to electrify Intra-City logistics and bring the widest range of electric vehicles tailor-made for this segment.”
      Etrio Touro value proposition
      For customers, Touro’s value proposition builds on operational cost savings of about 70 percent, and driver comfort owing to a gearless, smokeless and noiseless ride. Top range performance, and volumetric capacity comes with safety and stability standards. Battery and power train warranty guarantee makes for a hassle-free ownership experience.

      Etrio Touro features hydraulic brakes with regenerative braking, independent suspension, and cloud-based vehicle tracking through a driver mobile app. The vehicle’s success relies on its Lithium-Ion battery tech. Etrio also offers a certified product range with lead-acid for end-users.
      With electrification being a focus area for e-commerce company logistics, and the need for valuable Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) over diesel rickshaws, Tuoro has it’s sight set on modern day requirements and mandates. The company also has a comprehensive driver training and certification programme.
      It’s tech prowess means logistics and e-commerce operators can access the nitty gritty on vehicle usage, and monitor real-time status of each vehicle in a fleet. Notifications for vehicle charging level, fleet management and maintenance can be optimised for optimised performance.
      Preventive maintenance lets fleet operators stay on top of things, and situation in a line work that’s demanding on a daily basis. Monitoring can help fleet owners deal with any instance of rash driving patterns, and corrective countermeasures can be implemented to ensure top notch fleet management at all times.
      Etrio Touro Max and Mini
      A fixed price isn’t announced for Touro Max, and Mini as all products are customised to meet specific e-commerce requirements. This ranges based on battery chemistry, payload required, cubic capacity, and number daily kilometres. Touro Max and Mini are available for outright sale, and lease. Touro lease options are available to leading e-commerce companies that place an order for over 50 vehicles on a 3-year contract period.
      Current production capacity stands at 500 units per month. Pilot runs are being held in Hyderabad, Delhi, and Bangalore. Opportunity is rife as an industry estimate puts the electrified three-wheeler segment at 50 percent by 2024. More

    • 138 Shares129 Views

      in Electric Cars

      Mahindra Treo Becomes First Electric Rickshaw To Cross 5k Sales Milestone

      by

      Mahindra Treo electric rickshaw range is priced from about Rs 3.5 lakhs, ex-sh

      Mahindra Electric Mobility has announced a milestone for its lithium-ion battery powered electric 3-wheeler, Treo. The E-SCV has surpassed the 5,000 units sales target. Cumulative drive time of all units sold have breached the 35 Million+ kms (3.5 crore kms) mark on Indian roads. Putting that in perspective, it’s the same as as a two-way journey between earth and moon 45 times.
      Mahindra Treo value proposition
      Drive by Wire tech helps with ease of driving, and has found takers in women drivers too. Treo range relies on advanced Lithium-ion Battery tech with a life of 1.50 lakh+ kilometres. Maximum power is reported at 8kW, and peak torque of 42 Nm. Longest wheelbase in its segment means the cabin is spacious. Gradeablity of 12.7 eases slope climbs. Standard warranty on offer is of 3 years/ 80,000 kms, with option of an Extended Warranty of 2 years/ 1,00,000 Kms.
      When it comes to electric vehicles, it’s the range of electric rickshaws that people are most familiar with, that too in the unorganised market. A field that relies on flatpack vehicles that are quickly reconstructed, and a range of mechanics who have easily learnt just how to keep the vehicles in working condition.
      With the organised sector now pushing back, this market can be expected to gain from the umbrella of organisation, akin to growth being observed in the electric two-wheeler market. Mahindra Treo could very well establish segment maturity owing to its wide range of benefits.

      Mahindra Treo electric rickshaw features
      Mahindra views the organised 3-wheeler market as being ‘economically, environmentally and socially sustainable’. From a customer standpoint, there are those who have clocked up to 265 kilometres in a single day, aided my convenience of charging, and well-planned charging breaks.
      Mahindra Treo is currently sold in over 400 districts across India. It’s operational cost enables a Treo customer to save up to Rs 45,000 a year. Treo’s value proposition gets further boost for being a ‘smart first and last mile mobility’ choice.
      Mahesh Babu, MD and CEO, Mahindra Electric said, “Cumulatively, the Treo has travelled a distance of over 35 Million kms on Indian roads, saving 1,925 metric tonnes of CO2 tailpipe emissions, equivalent to planting 87,500 trees to absorb the same emissions.”
      Post FAME subsidies, Mahindra Treo E3W costs Rs 2.7 lakhs. With top speed of 55 kmph speed, going from 0-20 kmph takes about 2.3 seconds. A single charge affords drive range of 130 kms. The fearless offering features automatic transmission, and is clutch-less and presented as vibration-free. Available with a portable charger, Treo can be fully charged with a 15 A socket. More

    • 100 Shares189 Views

      in Electric Cars

      Volta Reveals 16-Tonne Electric Truck For Cargo Deliveries

      by

      Volta plans to go into production by 2022 in the UK, with trails planned with some of the biggest cargo movers in Europe by early 2021
      As time goes by, we will get to read and learn more about electric mobility solutions. With two-wheelers and passenger vehicle cars already manufactured at mass scales, it is time that the commercial vehicle segment goes through an electrification process as well. While we recently saw the example of Hyundai developing an electric bus, now we get to see an electric truck.

      Swedish electric auto startup Volta Trucks has unveiled its first product and it is called ‘Zero’ which signifies zero emission. This 16-tonne electric truck is specifically designed for freight and parcel deliveries within city limits. The company expects to start production in the UK by 2022 and aims to have 500 units of Zero by the end of that year. Volta has forged many valuable partnerships that might help shape its future as an electric mobility solutions provider.
      Performance and Range
      The Volta will be powered by a 160-200 kWh Lithium Iron Phosphate battery pack which will give a range of 150-200km. Its Swedish counterpart Volvo has also developed an electric truck that gives a much better range of up to 300km. It can attain a top speed of 90 kmph. It offers a space of 37.3 cubic meters and a maximum payload capacity of 8.6 tonnes.

      The company can also employ an innovative e-Axle to send power to the rear wheels instead of a traditional driveshaft setup and electric motor. To be specific, the transmission, axle and electric motor are contained within a single lightweight unit thus making it more efficient.
      Exterior body panels and some interior of the cabin are made from biodegradable resins and flax fibers. Inside the cabin, the driver sits in the middle on a swivel chair far lower than conventional trucks at about 1.8 metre (6 ft.). This makes it easier for the driver to communicate to the ones around the truck outside like pedestrians, cyclists, motorists etc.
      Features

      There are two touchscreens on each side of the driver instrument cluster which gives out information such as route planning, navigation, climate control, in-cab media, communication and more. The driver gets a 220-degree view thanks to the large windows which have been designed for reducing blind spots and optimum visibility. For making easier ingress and egress, the Volta Zero gets fast opening sliding doors on each side of the cabin.
      Instead of traditional side mirrors, Volta has used rear-view cameras. A 360-degree camera detects objects near the periphery at blindspots. Other notable safety features include reverse parking assist, active steering, lane assist and lane watch camera among many more. There’s also the AI-monitoring system which will enable fleet operators to run their vehicles on road for a longer duration.
      Driver is seated in the center
      Volta is planning to begin trails with some of the biggest parcel delivery and logistics companies in Europe in early 2021. The prototype vehicle features in the photos was built by UK-based company Prodrive Advanced Technology. Volta hasn’t yet revealed its price. More

    • 150 Shares99 Views

      Electric two wheelers and three wheelers can be sold without a battery

      by

      MoRTH now permits sale and registration of Electric Vehicles without the battery
      While it seems absurd at first, the move is in fact a clever one. If one moves beyond comparing an EV to a mobile phone, then the battery conundrum is clearer to understand. The battery cost from hereon is to be compared with potential fuel expense over a comparable period. What this does is makes the EV more affordable, and at a comparable price to ICE vehicles.

      A green signal from Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) means one can register a new EV without the cost of pre-fitted batteries factored in. A letter to Transport Secretaries outlines sale of EVs without batteries. Registration of the same is guided by type approval certificate issued by the Test Agency.
      Furthermore, for the purpose of registration, there’s no requirement to specify Make/Type or any other battery details. While such specifications are not mandated. what is required is type approved products by test Agencies specified under Rule 126 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989.

      Bajaj Chetak electric scooter. Image for reference.
      Which means, the prototype of the electric vehicle, and the battery (regular battery or the swappable battery) need to be type approved. The policy expands on making EVs accessible to one and all, and needs to be supported with dependable EV infra that lets EV owners charge and swap batteries as required.
      Announcements in the recent past has outlined vehicle electrification goals but blueprints on how these targets are to be achieved are difficult to access, and thereby understand. Across the EV spectrum, especially where two wheelers and scooters are concerned, the presence of new manufacturers piques interest, but electric two-wheeler sales remain limited.
      DELHI EV Policy 2020
      The recently announced Delhi EV policy on paper appears to be a push in the right direction. The state is committed to creating a special arm to make decisions regarding EVs, and also fund such projects. Delhi will approve subsidies and waivers for all EV purchases, and look into charging infra development among other aspects that can help ease EV adaption.
      There’s a notion that EV adaption will help reduce vehicular pollution, and will have far reaching effects in environment protection. The oil import bill will also benefit with reduction of oil imports. To reach such a goal, it’s imperative that the fledgeling Indian EV industry gathers steam. To promote and encourage use of electrical two-wheelers and three-wheeler vehicles, delinking cost of battery is a new approach.
      MoRTH takes into account the fact that 30-40 percent of total vehicle cost is in reality battery cost. With vehicles now permitted to be sold without the battery, the Ministry perceives that upfront cost of electric 2 wheelers (2W) and 3 wheelers (3W) would be lower than ICE 2W and 3W retail price. Of course, the battery will most likely be purchased or rented from the OEM separately, or as proposed, by the energy service provider. More

    • 125 Shares189 Views

      in Electric Cars

      Ampere buys 74% stake in Noida based electric rickshaw company

      by

      Noida based Bestway Agencies Pvt. Ltd. (BAPL) sells affordable electric rickshaws under ELE brand Ampere Vehicles is acquiring Noida based E-3Wheeler company, Bestway Agencies Pvt. Ltd. (BAPL), which sells e-Rickshaws under the ELE brand. Ampere will have 74 percent stake in the company, subject to customary closing conditions. With this acquisition, Ampere expands its presence […] More

    • 113 Shares119 Views

      in Bike

      Auto Manufacturing Not In The List Of Allowed Activities

      by

      This has been revealed in the new list of activities published by the Ministry of Home Affairs. Many players in the auto industry were hopeful that auto manufacturing will be allowed to commence once the 1st lockdown ends on April 14. But the lockdown has now been extended to 3rd May 2020. From 20th April, […] More

    • 125 Shares189 Views

      in Bike

      Automobile Dealers Association FADA writes letter to PM Narendra Modi

      by

      PM Narendra Modi. File Photo. The current COVID-19 pandemic in the country that has affected human life and the entire economy across the world. Federation of Automobile Dealers Association (FADA) has written to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi citing some challenges faced by the auto industry in India and seeking some favors to help the […] More