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    2021 Tata Nano Electric Spied With Digital Speedometer – Jayem Neo

    Tata Nano Electric – Jayem Neo
    The Tata Nano EV with standard airbag and ABS would be an interesting proposition in the current scenario

    Back in November 2017, Tata Motors and its long-standing collaborator Jayem Automotives announced a partnership to introduce electric version of the Tata Nano under the Jayem Neo brand. The Neo was originally supposed to be inducted into Ola Electric’s fleet with a reported order size of 400 units.
    After a delay of almost 2 years, in mid-2019, it was reported that Ola Electric secured a debt fund of INR 40 cr from Tata Motors Finance to purchase Jayem Neo EV as city taxi. Now, a 2021 Tata Nano electric test mule has been spotted in Akurdi, Pune.
    Tata Nano EV / Jayem Neo yet to see the light of day
    It’s been over three years since the first announcement but the Tata Nano EV a.k.a. Jayem Neo has neither been introduced as an urban taxi nor as a private vehicle. However, it seems Tata and Jayem haven’t completely ditched the project as evident from the recent spotting of an undisguised Neo test mule. Spy shots are credit to Pravin Nair, who shared the images on Rushlane Spylane Facebook Group.
    As far as design is concerned, the Jayem Neo is identical to the now-defunct Tata Nano but it does not feature Tata branding anywhere. This particular mule features black bumper to keep the costs low. Closer observation reveals that the Neo EV is equipped with a fully digital instrument display which is mounted above the center console.
    [embedded content]
    Specifications
    Based on the spy video from Smiley Tamilian Tech above, the Tata Nano EV is powered by a 17.7 kW, 48V (23 hp) electric motor supplied by Electra EV, which also supplies electric powertrain to Tiago and Tigor. According to the original arrangement made 3 years ago, Tata Motors was supposed supply Jayem with complete body panels of the car and the Coimbatore-based company was supposed to install the electric powertrain and retail it.
    Tata Motors discontinued the Nano as the poor demand did not justify re-engineering the vehicle to meet the latest vehicle safety norms. However, if the company still hopes to leverage the small car’s untapped potential in the emerging electric vehicle market, then a comprehensive safety update is necessary.
    Tata Nano Electric Specs
    Launch Plans
    Whether it is going to be marketed as Tata Nano EV or Jayem Neo, the urban runabout would have to be fitted with driver airbag, ABS, front passenger seat belt reminder and reverse parking sensor as standard. Top speed will be 85 kmph. It is also FAME II certified.
    The Tata Nano Electric will have a maximum range of 203 km. With AC on and 4 adults on board, the vehicle should return a range of around 140 km. We think that, with a silent powertrain and appropriate marketing strategy, the Tata Nano EV could be an interesting proposition as both urban taxi and a private vehicle. More

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    Tata Nexon Electric Mileage Rally For Owners – Bangalore To Nandi Hills

    Tata Nexon EV Mileage Rally
    Tata Motors and Dealers Adishakti Cars in Bangalore organized a mileage rally for the Nexon EV from the showroom to Nandi Hills

    Nexon EV owners congregated at Adishakti Cars, a Tata Motors Dealership in Bengaluru to put their cars to the test. A total of 12 Nexon electric cars lined up in a straight line and after a full charge, a complete check of each car, battery percentage and remaining range, the cars set off across the open road to test the range and performance of this electric vehicle launched earlier this year.
    All the drivers decided on switching off the AC as the weather in Bengaluru was pleasant. The cars, with their green and white number plates, caused some excitement on the roads among general public as it is not everyday that you get to see so many electric cars together.
    Nexon EV Mileage Rally
    The electric cars headed towards Nandi Hills across the National Highway, stopping at the first toll for all the cars to assemble and set off again together. Despite the fact that the local police had made sufficient parking space for the 12 Nexon EVs at the top of Nandi Hills, they could not proceed to the top due to the road being blocked.
    After a 64 km drive, a final stop at Nandi Upachar restaurant for a complimentary breakfast saw the winners being announced. Mr Jaysurya of Nexon EV Dept, Tata Motors announced the winner and runner up. The entire event was documented on video by Youtube channel Auto Town.
    [embedded content]
    Mr Shriram was announced as the Runner Up. He completed the 64 km drive with a 290 kms range remaining. His Nexon EV had consumed 22 percent of the battery power. The winner of the Tata Nexon EV Rally was Mr Arun Somyaji with the 304 kms range remaining and consuming just 21 percent of battery power.
    Tata Nexon EV Specs
    The Nexon EV, launched around 11 months back in January 2020 noted sales of 2,200 units as of November. The company claims a growing interest among buyers in the country. Tata Motors claims that the Nexon EV is the best selling electric car in India, leading the segment with as 74 percent market share.
    The Nexon EV offers outstanding performance, a connected drive experience, zero emissions and comes in at an attractive price while it also offers lower operating cost. Priced from Rs.13.99-16.25 lakhs, the Nexon EV is presented in three variants of XM, XZ+ and XZ+ LUX.
    This electrified vehicle gets its power via an electric motor with output rating at 129 hp and 245 Nm. It receives two driving modes of Drive and Sport and claims a range of 312 kms on a full charge of its 30.2 kWh battery pack. This battery can be charged from 0 to 80 percent in 1 hour via a DC fast charger.
    The Nexon EV is also available on a subscription basis in select cities and while it currently competes with the MG ZS EV and Hyundai Kona Electric, it will soon get a third rival in the form of the Mahindra XUV300 electric set to go on sale in early 2021. More

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    Toyota C+Pod Small Electric Car Debuts – Price 1.65m Yen (Rs 11.7 L)

    Toyota C+Pod Electric Car
    Toyota has launched an all new micro electric vehicle, named C+Pod in Japan

    It happens to be an ‘Ultra Compact’ electric vehicle with a seating capacity for 2 adults. To begin with, sales will be restricted to local government bodies, corporate users and other organizations which are planning to include electric vehicles in their fleets. A full-scale launch for the masses is scheduled to take place in 2022.
    Specifications
    The Toyota C+Pod measures just 2,490 mm in length, 1,550 mm in height and 1,290 mm in width. Thanks to its compact dimensions, it has a turning radius of just 3.9 meters making it a perfect choice for heavily packed cities like Tokyo.
    It derives power from a 9.06 kWh lithium ion battery which has been mounted under the floor. The battery powers an electric motor which has been installed on the rear axle and delivers a total output of 12 hp and 56 Nm of peak torque.
    As per Toyota’s claims, the C+Pod has a range of 150 km (as per WLTC Class 1 mode testing conditions) and can be charged to its full capacity in 5 hours on a 200V/16A power supply. On the standard 100V/6A power supply, the charging time goes up to 16 hours.
    Toyota C+Pod Electric Car
    Pricing and Trims 
    The C+Pod has been launched in 2 variants, X and G. The X trim is priced at 1.65 million Yen (approx INR 11.75 lakhs) while the G trim is priced at 1.71 million Yen (approx INR 12.15 lakhs). The X trim weighs 670 kg while the G trim lands up weighing 690 kgs. The light weight of the vehicle can be attributed to the exterior panels which have been made out of plastic.

    Toyota has designed the structure of C+Pod in such a way that it absorbs impact and offers pedestrian protection too. The pre-collision system which has been installed on the C+Pod ensures that the chances of a collision with other cyclists, pedestrians, vehicles are lowered to the maximum extent possible.

    C+Pod and Indian Market
    Currently in India, Toyota has been selling more rebadged Maruti cars than cars from its very own product portfolio. In the last 1-1.5 years, we have seen the Indian EV market slowly maturing with good practical models like Nexon EV, ZS EV and Kona Electric getting launched in the last 18 months or so.

    Brining in the C+Pod or an iteration of it could work well for Toyota as currently there is no such model available in the Indian EV market. A model like the C+Pod could work well for last-mile mobility and even for environmentally conscious regular commuters looking for their second or third car/vehicle which can be used for short trips around the town.

    Its size and compactness could help the vehicle to become popular, however, we don’t think Toyota currently has any such plans to bring in an ultra compact EV to India. But, such a product, if priced aptly could help Toyota with some healthy sales numbers in the future. MG Motor India had showcased a similar small sized 2 seater electric car at the 2020 Auto Expo – called the MG e200. More

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    Pravaig Extinction Electric Car First Look Walkaround – Exteriors, Interiors, Features

    Pravaig Electric Car
    Pravaig claims that this is their first gen concept, which is now 2 years old

    Pravaig Extinction electric car, from Bengaluru based Pravaig Dynamics, has been officially unveiled in India. It has been in the news for making some really tall claims, from offering 5 star tank-like safety to fast charging like Tesla, and comfort like Mercedes Benz S Class.
    Now, a detailed walkaround review video has been posted by YouTube channel Namaste Car. Thanks to this, new details about the exteriors, interiors, features, etc have now been revealed.
    Exterior Design
    Pravaig Extinction MK1 gets a two door, coupe styling with a low slung profile, sloping roof, a sleek front end, projector LED head lamps connected by a thin LED strip and an LED bar of lights across its rear end. Prominent at the rear is distinct ‘Pravaig’ lettering while the electric car sits on blacked out multi spoke alloy wheels for a sportier appeal.
    Though it has made its debut just a few days back, the CEO says that this is a 2 year old concept. The production variant is due for Nov 2021. That will be offered as a 4 door sedan, production spec Pravaig electric car will measure 4,820mm length, 1,934mm width and 1,448mm height with a 3,038 mm long wheelbase.
    [embedded content]
    From this video above, it is clear that the car above is really far from production. There are too many things that need to be handled, even before the car can actually go into production. It remains to be seen if the company can reveal the actual production car next year or not. Below are some of the features, that the company claims will be on offer with the production spec-model.

    Lounge Like Interiors
    The upcoming Pravaig luxury electric car will boast of state of the art interiors for which Pravaig has roped in architects, fashion designers and interior design specialists. It will see a lounge like cabin with extended leg room, reclining seats and ambient lighting.

    The left rear passenger seat will recline to around 165 degrees while where its premium audio system is concerned, the company has tied up with France based Devialet audio technology company. Though nothing of this sort is seen in the interiors as of now.

    Specs
    Pravaig Extinction will be powered by a 96 kWh battery pack that would generate around 201 hp power. This engine will allow for acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.4 seconds and a top speed of 196 km/h. The car will support fast charging with 0-80 percent charge in 30 minutes. This is a huge claim. The fastest charger available now is about 250 kW, and it can do 250 km at best in 30 mins. Most EV chargers in Europe are about 50 kW.

    Pravaig claims a driving range of approximately 504 kms on a single charge. It will also offer autonomous driving system. The company claims that the current battery pack can offer a life span of upto 10 lakh kilometers. The list of claims is endless. But the car is yet to be tested by independent bodies for the claims it has made.

    Sales
    If the features list above surprised you, sales targets are even more surprising. Pravaig Dynamics plans to produce around 2,500 units of the EV annually. Though, they will not offer you to own one. Pravaig Extinction electric sedan will be offered exclusively as a lease model with the company also set to introduce chauffeur services. Pravaig electric car services will first be offered in Bangalore and Delhi. More

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    Maruti Omni Electric MPV Imagined In New Render By Design Student

    New Gen Maruti Omni Electric – Render
    Maruti Omni was discontinued last year after being in 35 years in the market due to outdated safety norms

    At the last Auto Expo held earlier this year in February, many manufacturers showcased concepts of their older generation models as future electric cars. The most prominent of all was seen in Tata Motors’ pavilion in the form of Sierra EV based on Tata Sierra which was a popular SUV back in the 1990s.
    It generated quite a bit of buzz and trended on the internet as well. Similar to that in recent months, more than one case of Maruti 800 has been digitally rendered as an electric vehicle, some of them even nailing the micro hatchback’s design. In a similar instance, a designer has rendered the image of the next-gen Maruti Omni as an EV.
    Maruti Omni, although discontinued, continues to be part of many livelihoods, especially those who carry out small businesses. It has also been actively used as a ferrying machine to drop children to and from their homes and schools.
    Even though it has been infamously described as a kidnapping machine, thanks to multiple bollywood movies using the car for kidnapping scenes! But truth be told, it was a perfect utility van for people on a strict budget. Although it had its fair share of drawbacks it was surely one piece of a reliable machine.
    New Gen Maruti Omni Electric – Render
    Exterior Design
    Automobile design student, Shashank Shekhar (@shekhar_design01) has reimagined a new generation Omni with an electric powertrain. Like the IC engine-powered model, this rendered Omni also adopts a boxy design. However, here it features a semi-bonnet package, as opposed to the discontinued model’s cab-over format. In real-world, this could lead to slightly better performance due to improved aerodynamic design. Overall, this would lead to enhanced safety as well.
    At the front end, it gets similar rectangular headlamps with C-shaped and straight-line LED inserts that are smoked. This makes it look very premium and futuristic. The bonnet and front bumper have a clean contour with uninterrupted surfacing giving a very low profile look.

    Further down, it is laced with horizontal LED fog lamps. On sides, it features squarish wheel arches, alloy wheels along chunky wing mirrors. The black underbody claddings and a high ground clearance give it a more rugged look.
    Door handles of the conventional front door and sliding rear doors are placed together and form a single unit. It also gets a side turn indicator on its B-pillar which complements the ones integrated on the side ORVMs.

    The rear of Omni EV gets familiar combination lamps but with LED light guides and are connected by a full-width LED stripe on its tailgate. From this profile, Omni appears to be wider. It also gets additional goodies such as rear wipers, defoggers and fog lamps. It is also offered in a dual-tone colour scheme.
    Dimensions
    The designer further elaborates on his design that his version of Omni EV will measure 4,000mm in length; 1,735mm in width and 1,860mm in height. In retrospect, the older Omni measured 3,370 mm in length, 1,410 mm in width and 1,640 mm in height therefore clearly this rendered model is bigger than its predecessor. This rendered Omni EV if at all make it to market will cost between Rs 5-7 lakh (ex-showroom).
    Via More

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    Sonalika Tiger Electric Tractor India Launch Price Rs 5.99 Lakh

    Sonalika Tiger Electric Tractor
    Tiger Electric gets its power via a IP67 compliant 25.5 kW natural cooling battery – To be fully charged via home charging point in 10 hours

    Sonalika Tractors has launched the field ready Tiger electric tractor in India. Designed in Europe, this tractor boasts of the latest in global technology solutions and comes across at the first electric tractor in the country. This endeavour is a part of the Government of India’s ‘Make-in-India’ initiative and target to move towards electric vehicles by the year 2030.
    Launched on ‘Farmer’s Day’
    Sonalika’s Tiger Electric tractor is launched in ‘Farmer’s Day’ (23rd Dec). It delivers seamless power, is capable of zero carbon footprint and offers Indian farmers noiseless farming. Its facility for easy charging via a home charger in a matter of 10 hours is also a part of its convenience features and reduces the trips to fuel stations for refills. The company is also offering fast charging facility option, via which you can charge 100% in 4 hours.
    Tiger Electric is produced from the Sonalika manufacturing unit in Hoshiarpur in Punjab. This plant is powered by robotics and automation and is capable of rolling out a new tractor every 2 minutes.
    Introductory Pricing
    Launched at an introductory price of Rs.5,99,000, this new electric tractor from Sonalika is open for bookings at all company showrooms across the country. It receives the same global technology that is offered to American and European farmers.
    Sonalika Tiger Electric Tractor
    Sonalika Tiger Electric Tractor is powered by a IP67 compliant, 25.5 kW natural cooling compact battery that offers 1/4th running cost of a diesel powered tractor. The motor offers high power density and high peak torque with zero rpm drop for efficient performance and this high torque relates to faster pick up across any load conditions.
    Tiger Electric is capable of a top speed of 24.93 km/h with battery backup of 8 hours while operating with a 2 tonne trolley. It is built for better comfort for farmers as there is no heat transferred from the engine while it is made up of fewer parts that vastly reduces vibration. This also relates to less production down time and practically zero maintenance costs.
    Sonalika Tiger Electric Tractor – Features
    Sonalika In India
    Raman Mittal, Executive Director, Sonalika Group, has commented that the Tiger Electric tractor is the company’s commitment to accelerate India towards a greener future and is in line with the Government of India’s plan for introducing electric vehicles by 2030.
    Sonalika Tractors leads industrial growth with November 2020. The company reported 71 percent growth in the past month with sales at 11,478 units, its third highest monthly sales in FY21. The company offers customized tractors and implements helping the farmer to increase productivity which makes the company’s products the first choice for farmers in the country. More

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    Apple Electric Car Launch Planned For 2024 – Hey Siri, Will It Rival Tesla?

    Apple electric car render by carwow
    Apple will develop its own battery technology that could reduce cost and to offer an extend vehicle range

    Apple, the makers of the iPhones, iPads, Macbooks and multiple accessories to support their tech products; has been reportedly eyeing to enter the automotive industry. The company will build self driving cars and is targeting launch sometime in 2024 as per a Reuters report.
    For this purpose, Apple is developing its own battery technology. The batteries will not only be more economical but will also extend vehicle range by a significant extent. Not much is known about their car battery and its optimization.
    But knowing Apple and their optimization levels, one can expect it to be surprisingly good. Apple recently shocked the tech world, when they doubled their laptop battery life per full charge, just with the introduction of M1 chip. Cars are completely different. But still, Apple is one of the leaders in battery optimization today.
    2024 Target
    The endeavour of Apple to enter the self driving car arena dates back to 2014 with ‘Project Titan’. The company designed its own vehicle from scratch but had to withdraw efforts to focus on software with the project being brought to a standstill in 2017. The aim is now to build a vehicle for consumer and produce self driving car technology and is targeting 2024 to introduce the passenger vehicle with its own breakthrough in battery technology.
    Tesla Model 3 – Apple electric car could rival Tesla
    With Apple not being any car manufacturer, there is a possibility that the company will rely on a manufacturing partner to build the Apple Car or it might just build the software and intelligence for the Apple self driving car and license this technology to partners more well versed with the automotive industry. With a target to introduce this autonomous vehicle by 2024, the current pandemic situation could push production operations to 2025 or even a few years ahead.
    Making an autonomous vehicle could even pose a problem to a company like Apple. While they have sound knowledge in electronics, the company has never ventured into the automobile arena and it even took someone like Tesla’s Elon Musk 17 years to gain sustainable profit making cars.
    Lidar Sensors and Monocell Design
    Apple is currently in talks with lidar (Light Detection and Ranging) sensor suppliers, apart from the ones which already supply lidar sensors for their new iPhone released this year. Lidar sensors will deliver real time, accurate 3-D view of the world around their car. This will help the car execute multiple autonomous functions. Apple is also developing its own lidar sensors and related technology.
    The company is also mulling the chemistry for a battery called LFP – Lithium Iron Phosphate which is less likely to overheat and will hence be safer as against other types of lithium ion batteries. Also if Apple plans to use a monocell design, it will help to free up space inside the battery pack thus eliminating pouches and modules that hold individual battery material.
    The Apple self driving car project is being overseen by the team engineers headed by John Giannandrea, Apple Head of Artificial Intelligence who also oversees voice based digital assistant ‘Siri’.
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    Ola Electric Rickshaw Patent Leaks – Gets Solar Panels To Increase Range

    Ola Electric Rickshaw Patent Filed
    Ride hailing firm Ola seeks to double its current headcount of 2,000 employees in its EV business segment over the next 6 months

    The electric vehicle scenario in India is going from strength to strength. Every automaker, be it two, three or four wheeler, is making a bee line for this segment, which reports suggest could be a Rs.50,000 crore opportunity in India by 2025.
    Along with cars and two wheelers, the e-rickshaw has also emerged as a forerunner in the country and this market could shift to lithium ion batteries by as much as 40 percent over the next 4-5 years.Ola Electric, apart from planning launch of a new electric scooter in India as early as next year, is also scheduled to mark its entry into the e-rickshaw segment in India.
    Auto rickshaws form a major part of transportation in India and having a ride hailing service with zero tail pipe emissions could appeal to a larger set of customers. Mahindra has launched an all-electric e-Alfa Mini rickshaw while there are many startups that have electric 3 wheeler offerings in the country.
    Ola Electric Rickshaw Patent Leaked
    Ola has long been mulling entry into the two and three wheeler electric vehicle segment following the acquisition of Etergo BV of Netherlands earlier this year. The company recently announced an electric scooter range for New Zealand as a part of the Govt. of New Zealand’s target of around 64,000 new electric vehicles in the country by 2021.
    Ola Electric Rickshaw Patent Filed
    The company along with planning its e-scooter range in India and plans to set up the largest scooter factory in India is also set to enter the three wheeler EV segment as a recent patent image has revealed. The image show off the Ola electric three wheeler in similar proportion to the Mahindra Treo.
    It gets a raked windshield with wipers, circular shaped headlamps, roof rails and a flat roof so as to accommodate the solar panels. These solar panels will help charge the battery on the go, and will also increase the drive range. There is a bench for three occupants at the rear and a spacious area for the driver.
    Launch plans are set for sometime in 2021 for the cab sector and ride hailing services in the country as an extension of its taxi hailing service which Ola currently offers with cabs in the micro, mini, premium sedan, prime play and premium SUV and LUX segments.
    Ola E-Rickshaws
    The new Ola e-rickshaws will get a maintenance free lithium ion battery pack with long range while owners will be assured of a hassle free ownership along with low cost of maintenance and better rider and passenger comforts. Ola targets around 10,000 two and three wheeler electric vehicles along with electric four wheelers that will form a part of its ride hailing business.
    Earlier this week, Ola announced to invest Rs 2,400 crore to setup world’s largest scooter plant in Tamil Nadu, which will have production capacity of 20 lakh units per year. It will create 10,000 jobs. The electric rickshaw from Ola is also expected to be produced at the same plant. More