More stories

  • in

    Tata Nexon Electric Wishes Happy Birthday To Owner Via Instrument Cluster

    Tata Nexon Electric
    Tata Nexon EV has also been made available at subscription rates in limited places

    While the electric vehicle (EV) segment might still not be booming in India, it has definitely grown leaps and bounds, especially in the last few months. Several new products from this segment have been lined up for launch in the near future which should make things a little interesting in the automotive industry.
    Currently, among the limited options, Tata Nexon EV is by far the highest-selling electric car in India. It is much affordable than its nearest rivals MG ZS EV and Hyundai Kona and, therefore, has the most value for money proposition. With Tata Motors expanding the sales network of Nexon EV soon, we could definitely see more of it on roads in future.
    Nexon EV’s Birthday Wish
    Barring the powertrain, Nexon EV gets the identical specifications and equipment list as its IC engine counterpart. We have extensively discussed its features on previous occasions, however, there is one new feature that has come up recently and is sure to take many Nexon EV owners by surprise.
    When Mr. Siva N Rai stepped onto his Nexon EV, he received a surprising and the most unusual wish on his birthday from his car. The message read “Happy Birthday” with the visuals of a cake and balloons on its instrument cluster.
    Tata Nexon EV wishes Happy Birthday to Owner
    The owner was extremely surprised and happy to receive this birthday wish from his Nexon EV in the morning. He believes that someone at Tata Motors’ dealership took the effort to integrate details of his KYC done at the time of the purchase to the telematics system. This is probably the first time something like this has been offered in an Indian made car.
    A personalised touch like this can go a long way in creating a loyal customer base and it seems Tata Motors is certainly enjoying a fruitful run in market in the last couple of years. The homegrown brand is currently the third-largest passenger vehicle manufacturer in India as far as sales volumes are concerned.
    Nexon EV Details
    Coming to Nexon EV, it was launched earlier this year in January and is offered in three variants- XM, XZ+ and XZ+ LUX. Its prices start at Rs 13.99 lakh and go upto Rs 16.25 lakh (both prices ex-showroom). Standard features across the range include projector headlamps, automatic climate control, LED DRLs, keyless entry, push-button start, electric tailgate and lots more.
    Nexon EV is based on the brand’s Ziptron powertrain technology which consists of an electric motor powered by a 30.2kWh lithium-ion battery. This setup provides a claimed range of 312 km on a single charge and an output of 129 PS and 245 Nm. More

  • in

    2021 Hyundai Kona Electric Facelift Debuts – To Go On Sale Next Year

    2021 Hyundai Kona Electric
    Hyundai Kona Electric carries on with the same set of powertrains offered in the pre-facelift model

    Electric cars have taken a sizeable portion of the passenger vehicle segment in global markets over recent years. With EV-related technology evolving at a rapid pace, we are seeing more and more electric cars come up in recent times. We have also witnessed demands for EVs rising due to their cheap running cost and powerful performances.
    Hyundai is one such brand that has found success globally with EV offering Kona Electric over the last couple of years. The Korean automaker has given a mid-life facelift to its most popular electric crossover for 2021 and is scheduled to go on sale in the United Kingdom early next year.

    Exterior Styling Updates
    2021 Kona Electric comes with a healthy dose of cosmetic upgrades both inside and outside its cabin and a host of technological updates as well. Its exterior witnesses the highest number of updates, the most dramatic of them being the revised front nose.
    The new grille gets a smooth nose cone which is starkly different from the radiator grille on the petrol-powered Kona thus distinguishing itself from the latter. This also lends a slight aerodynamic update over the pre-facelifted model.

    New Kona Electric also gets a redefined front bumper which receives a pair of vertical inlets that reduce the amount of turbulent air in the front wheel arches to minimise drag. This is complemented by fresh LED DRLs and a pair of redesigned LED headlights.
    The rear end is very much similar except for slightly reconfigured tail lamps. Black claddings on the old car are now colour-coded. In addition to five colours offered on the electric crossover, another five new paint schemes have been added to its palette.
    Interior & Feature Updates
    Interiors of 2021 Kona electric have seen a fair share of updates including a new 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system carried from the new-gen i20 and Tucson.

    The new infotainment system is compatible with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and Hyundai’s connected tech BlueLink which offers features such as Voice Activated Commands, remote climate control to preheat/precool the cabin and remote charging to benefit from off-peak energy rates.
    In addition, it receives new ambient lighting which complements the two-tone interior colour. Safety equipment too receives enhancements such as rear cross-traffic assistance, safe exit warning, blindspot assistance and eCall which in the event of an accident automatically alerts emergency services.

    Powertrain
    Speaking of its powertrain, there is no change in this department. The facelifted model still receives two powertrain options- 39.2kWh battery pack paired with a 134 bhp motor and a larger 64kWh battery pack mated to a 201 bhp electric motor.
    The former claims a single-charge range of 189 miles and a top speed of 154.5 kmph while the latter claims a range of 300 miles and 167 kmph of top speed. The company will provide a 100kW fast-charger which could juice up the battery by 80 percent in just 47 minutes. More

  • in

    Jaguar Electric SUV Bookings Open – Ties Up With Tata Power For EV Charging Network

    Jaguar I-Pace
    Jaguar I-Pace will be powered by a 90kWh battery that generates 394.5 bhp and offers a driving range of 470 km/charge

    Jaguar Land Rover, the British luxury carmaker owned by India’s Tata Motors plans to launch the new i-Pace electric SUV in India. With launch date scheduled for sometime early next year and deliveries to commence from March 2021, the company has opened bookings of its first all electric SUV from today.
    Jaguar i-Pace will be presented in three variants of S, SE and HSE in India. It will come in powered by a 90 kWh lithium ion battery that offers 400 hp power via its twin electric motors. The setup allows the I-Pace to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.8 seconds and a top speed of 200 kmph.
    These batteries can be charged via a 7.4 kW AC wall charger and the company is offering a 5 year service package along with 5 year road side assistance along with the standard 8 years or 1,60,000 km battery warranty.
    For charging facilities, Jaguar has entered into a partnership with Tata Power to offer home/office charging facilities to its I-Pace customers. Customers will also be able to charge the I-Pace via the Tata Power network comprising 200+ charging points across 23 cities in India.
    Tata Power Fast Charging Network is located in 23+ cities of India
    Jaguar I-Pace Accolades and Awards
    The Jaguar I-Pace sets off the company’s electric journey in India but has received much attention in global markets. It has been the winner of over 80 global awards among which were the 2019 World Car of the Year, World Car Design of the Year and World Green Car. The Jaguar I-Pace was also the first recipient of all three World Car titles simultaneously.
    The Jaguar I-Pace is already listed on the company’s India website. Onboard features include LED headlamps and tail lamps, In-Control connected car technology and 19 inch diamond cut alloy wheels. Jaguar I-Pace S will see a Pivi Pro infotainment system with 12 speakers, 380 W Meridian sound system and dual touchscreen infotainment with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Its interiors will sport semi powered front seats, screen based dials and dual zone climate controls along with connected car features, standard driver assistance with 3D surround camera and cruise control.
    Jaguar I-Pace SE variant will receive advanced projector LED headlamps, DRLs and interiors with 12 way power adjustable, heated sports seats with memory function and done up in leather upholstery. This variant also receives power folding mirrors with memory.
    The top of the line Jaguar I-Pace HSE will receive Matrix LED headlamps, 16 way power adjustable sports seats done up in Windsor leather, hands free boot release and head up display system. In terms of infotainment, it will get a 16 speaker 825W Meridian sound system while safety features will include adaptive cruise control.
    Once launched in India, the Jaguar I-Pace will compete against the Mercedes-Benz EQC and Audi e-tron and is likely to carry a price tag of over Rs.1 crore, ex-sh. More

  • in

    Mahindra Treo Zor Electric Cargo Three Wheeler Launch Price Rs 2.73 L

    Mahindra Treo Zor Electric
    The Mahindra Treo Zor has a best-in-class payload capacity of 550 kg and can go 125 km on a full charge

    Mahindra has augmented its fast growing Treo electric three wheeler brand with a cargo variant. Called the Treo Zor, the zero emissions goods carrier is priced at INR 2.73 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi) which includes the FAME 2 and state subsidies.
    Mahindra Treo Zor
    The Mahindra Treo Zor electric three wheeler is available in pickup, delivery van and flat bed variants. The vehicle will be retailed through Mahindra’s SCV dealerships in select cities with deliveries commencing in December 2020.
    [embedded content]
    With a best-in-class payload capacity of 550 kg, the Treo Zor is suitable for last mile transport and is claimed to offer savings of around INR 60,000 per year (fuel cost saving of INR 2.10/km) compared to a diesel model. The goods carrier is claimed to have a maintenance cost of 40 paise per km. The certified driving range on a full charge stands at 125 km.
    Specifications
    The electric motor is good for 8 kW (10.7 hp) of power and 42 Nm of torque, and it is equipped with a Boost mode to handle challenging situations. The lithium ion battery pack comes with a 3 year / 80,000 km warranty. Mahindra says that the IP67-rated battery pack has a life of 1.5 lakh km. The battery can be charged using a regular 15 A socket. Of course, the transmission is automatic.
    Mahindra Treo Zor
    Specs
    Power
    8 kW / 10.8 bhp
    Torque
    42 Nm
    Transmission
    Automatic
    Payload capacity
    550 kgs
    Drive range
    125 kms
    Maintenance Cost
    40 Paise / Km
    Wheelbase
    2216mm
    Tray loading height
    675mm
    Battery Life
    1.5+ lakh kms
    Charging
    Via any 15 AMP socket
    Warranty
    3 yrs / 80,000 kms
    The highlights include a wheelbase of 2,216 mm which is longest in the industry and tyre dia of 30.48 cm which is largest in the industry. The tray loading height of 675 mm is claimed to be the best in segment as well.
    Features and benefits
    The Mahindra Treo Zor benefits from NEMO mobility program, a cloud based fleet management service which allows the owners to remotely monitor the vehicle status such as range, speed, location and so on.
    Mahindra Treo Zor Electric
    The rust free modular SMC body panels, finished in white-blue dual-tone color theme, are claimed to have long life and easy to repair and replace. The electric three-wheeler also comes with windscreen wiper, telematic unit with GPS, Economy and Boost driving models, 12V socket, 15 A off-board charger, Hazard indicator, reverse buzzer and spare wheel provision.
    The Mahindra Treo Zor will benefit from a after sales service network of over 140 touch points across the country. The Tro passenger rickshaw recently became the first of its kind to cross 5k sales milestone in India. The cargo variant, with its impressive performance parameters, is expected to boost the brand’s overall sales volume significantly in the coming months.

    Mahindra Treo Zor Electric

    Mahindra Treo Zor Electric

    Mahindra Treo Zor Electric More

  • in

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

    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

  • in

    Hummer Electric Detailed Walkaround And Battery Tech – Explained

    Image – JerryRigEverything
    Hummer EV will be offered in both configurations- a pickup truck and an SUV with the same electric powertrain

    The Hummer EV Super Truck finally made its official appearance a couple of days ago. It has nothing in common with its previous gen internal combustion (IC) engine counterpart; except for the fact that both are huge. The super truck from GMC was revealed in its entire form which showed the American auto giant had been up to all this time.
    What makes this project even more monumental is that it is an EV attached to the name of a Hummer. EVs are known to be the future of mobility solutions since they are environment friendly and the Hummer moniker isn’t known to be very friendly to nature. However, it seems GMC has taken the bulls by its horns and managed to surprise everyone.
    In a detailed video uploaded by JerryRigEverything on YouTube, the vlogger explains every little detail of Hummer EV and why it is so special. While Hummer has always been known for its gigantic presence and enormous power, the Hummer EV delivers on both accounts emphatically.
    Design
    Starting with its design and aesthetics, the new Hummer Electric takes most of its inspiration from Hummer H2 and the military Humvees. It is to be noted that Hummer presented now is in the form of a pick-up truck but an SUV configuration of the same is also under development and will be revealed at a later stage. The Hummer EV in discussion here is the top-spec Edition 1 variant is expected to go on sale in a year’s time.
    [embedded content]
    Design highlights include the center LED headlights with each letter of ‘HUMMER’ engrossed in individual panels. Edition 1 Hummer Electric comes with huge chunks of 35-inch alloy wheels with the option of adding 37-inchers just as the military Humvees. Another highlight is that each roof panel on top can come out to give the on-boarders a feel of open air. All panels from the roof can be stuffed neatly inside the trunk provided at front. Interestingly, the huge front windshield gets three wipers.
    There are many ‘Hummer EV’ badgings all around which distinguishes itself as an electric pickup truck. The LED tail lamps at rear are in ‘H’ shape denoting the behemoth off-roader. The rear gets a 5-foot bed which is very useful since it is a lifestyle utility vehicle. It also gets a body-armour underneath to protect it from all sorts of damages it set to concur when it traverses to extreme off-roading conditions.
    Functionalities on offer
    GMC has retained Hummer’s robustness and added a load of modern and useful features to make it much more sophisticated. Yet its overall design remains very much utilitarian. However, it is still more about how it performs than how it looks.
    Coming to its functionalities, new Hummer EV gets fully adjustable air suspension units which can lift up the chassis up to 152mm which increases its ground clearance up to a massive 406mm. The suspension travel is so much that the lay-shaft also had to expand and contract accordingly. It is equipped with four-wheel steering which allows the rear wheels to turn in the same or opposite directions of front wheels thus improving its maneuverability and reducing its turning radius. When the rear wheels point at the same direction as the front wheels it moves diagonally called ‘Crab Mode’.
    Powertrain
    GMC has equipped the Hummer Electric with two motors on front axle with each motor powering one wheel. Thus in case of a wheel losing traction one motor can be switched off and the other motor can draw all its power from the battery to supply it to the wheel having traction. The battery pack itself is placed at the bottom of the frame and is double stacked which improves its center of gravity.
    Above mentioned functionalities help improve its off-tarmac capabilities to great extent. Hummer Electric is powered by a three-motor setup which derives its energy from General Motors’ all-new Ultium batteries. The powertrain generates a humongous 1000 bhp and a massive 15,600 Nm of torque. Hummer EV Edition 1 goes on sale late next year while rest of the lineup will hit showrooms in 2022. It will go up against the ambitious Tesla Cybertruck which is slated to launch around the same time. More

  • in

    Hummer Electric Global Debut – Launch In 2021 At $ 112k (Approx Rs 83 L)

    Hummer Electric
    After teasing for months, GMC has finally taken wraps off its all new Hummer electric pickup truck today

    After a long wait, GM has finally launched the much awaited Hummer electric Pick-up. This happens to be one of its kind beast which will have some unparalleled offroading capability along with the benefits of being an EV. Here is the first look TVC.
    [embedded content]
    Some Facts & Figures
    The new Hummer EV comes along with performance figures, which clearly showcase that it is a next generation vehicle. Under the hood, well there is no engine for obvious reasons, but there are 3 electric motors which help to dish out 1,000 hp and 11,500 lb ft (15,600 Nm) of max torque.
    GMC Hummer Electric
    The power developed is enough for the pick-up to do a 0-60 mph in less than 3 seconds (equivalent of 0-100 kmph). The battery pack supports 800 volt fast charging and can add a range of 100 miles (160 kms) in just 10 minutes. As per GM, the overall range of the Hummer EV happens to be 350 miles+, which roughly translates into more than 560 kms!
    Design Highlights
    The Hummer EV looks like an all new futuristic vehicle which you would expect to come across in a Sci-Fi flick. However, the 6-slat grille from the fossil-fuel powered model adds a bit of nostalgic touch.

    Overall, the Hummer looks bold, massive, intimidating and most importantly, unlike anything we have come across in the recent past. The grille which we talked about too has been done innovatively as it is now basically Hummer badging embedded in an LED strip.
    GMC Hummer Electric
    Other highlight in the design happens to be its infinity roof, which can basically provide a complete open-air experience. The Hummer EV rides on massive 35-inch tyres, which can further be upgraded to upto 37-inch units (after-market). It also gets a 4-wheel steering system, which helps with manoeuvrability and a reduced turning radius.
    Additionally, GM has added an adaptive air suspension which helps the Hummer to raise its height by 6-inches and make it even more off-road friendly than it already is. GM calls this function as ‘Extract Mode’. Talking about modes, GM has also included a Crab Mode, which as the name suggests, will be good to crawl across difficult off-roading terrain.

    The Hummer EV is a fully loaded product in terms of tech updates as well. It gets 18-camera views for improved understanding of its surroundings, including feeds from under the belly. The Super Cruise functionality helps with autonomous changing of lanes on compatible roads.
    Price and Variants
    Production of the Hummer EV will start later in 2021. Prices of the Hummer will commence at the $112,595 mark (around Rs 83 lakh, excluding taxes). This is the top of the line variant. Bookings are now open at $100.
    Lower priced variants are planned for launch in 2022, 2023 and 2024. In 2022, Hummer EV 3X will be launched with 800 hp / 12,880 Nm motor at price of $99,995. Range will be down to 300+ miles (483+ km). In 2023, Hummer EV 2X will be launched for $89,995. This is rated to deliver 625 hp / 10,033 Nm. Range will be same as Hummer 3x. And finally, in 2024, base model, Hummer EV will launch at $79,995. It will have same motors as the Hummer 2x, but range will be lower at 250+ miles (402+ km). More

  • in

    Etrio Touro Max Mini Electric Three Wheelers Launched In Cargo Segment

    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