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      MG ZS Electric Launched In 10 New Cities – 127 Units Sold In Sep

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      MG Motor had launched its electric SUV- ZS EV in January this year, with initial availability limited to only five cities
      MG Motor has begun with its next phase of expansion of ZS EV with the electric crossover being launched in ten more cities across India. With the addition of these ten new cities, total availability of ZS EV has risen to 21 cities.
      New Cities On List

      The newly added cities to the list are Kolkata, Lucknow, Ludhiana, Coimbatore, Dehradun, Nagpur, Agra, Aurangabad, Indore and Vishakapatnam. The electric car was launched in January this year in eleven cities at a starting price of Rs 20.88 lakh (ex-showroom) which remains untouched yet.
      ZS EV is offered in two variants– Excite and Exclusive, the latter is offered at an ex-showroom price of Rs 23.58 lakh. Deliveries of ZS EV began in January this year across five cities- Delhi/NCR, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad and Bangalore. Those who booked the electric crossover on or before 17 January 2020 had to pay around Rs 1.0 lakh less than the actual marked price.
      MG ZS EV Sales in FY 2020
      Sales have been slowly picking up. Now, with the addition of 10 more cities, MG is expected to increase sales of ZS EV even further. In Sep 2020, 127 units were sold. For a hassle-free ownership experience, the manufacturer has launched MG eShield, a free-of-charge 5-year manufacturer warranty for unlimited kilometres on the car and 8 years/150,000 km warranty on the battery. In addition to this, MG offers 24×7 roadside assistance (RSA) for 5 years along with 5 no-cost services.
      Powertrain
      ZS EV is powered through a 44.5 kWh battery pack which supplies power to a motor mounted on the front axle. This electric motor produces an output of 141 bhp and 353 Nm of peak torque. All that torque is instantly available which helps it breach the 100 kmph mark in just 8.5 seconds while top speed has been capped at 140 kmph. MG offers a claimed range of 340 km on a single charge.
      Features
      Just like other MG offerings, ZS EV comes very well kitted. The equipment list consists of an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, iSmart connectivity tech, an inbuilt air purifier, a panoramic sunroof, automatic projector LED headlamps, keyless entry and lots more. It is also heavily loaded with safety tech which includes six airbags, ABS with EBD, rear parking sensors, hill descent control, hill start assist, brake assist and ESC.
      Charging Infrastructure By MG Motor
      For owners to overcome range anxiety issues MG Motor has installed ten DC fast chargers across dealerships in India. The company has teamed up with Fortum Charge & Drive India to install these chargers in showrooms across five cities in India where ZS EV was first made available. We can expect MG Motor to expand its charging infrastructure further with the expansion of availability of ZS EV. More

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      Nissan Leaf Electric Modified As A Disaster Recovery Vehicle – Named ReLeaf

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      Nissan Re-Leaf is based on Leaf electric and has been modified to provide emergency power in case of a calamity
      Electric Vehicles (EVs) are the future of mobility. While many countries have already accepted this fact, some are still in the process of accepting. Over the past few years, many automotive manufacturers have been working in developing better and more sound EV technologies and have made serious progress in this respect.

      Access to an electric car is still limited in a country like India since infrastructure to support such vehicles is sparse. However, many other countries have moved way ahead in this respect and hence manufacturers are thinking of future EVs as more than just personal mobility solutions.
      Nissan Leaf is one of the most popular electric cars in passenger vehicle segment and is also the first electric car to be mass-produced. While it has been honoured with several accolades in the past, its latest transformation is truly praiseworthy. Response vehicles play a crucial role during an emergency and natural calamity. This new transformed Leaf happens to serve the same purpose.
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      What is this ‘Re-Leaf’?
      Dubbed as ‘Re-Leaf’, this e-vehicle has been designed to serve as an emergency response vehicle which is capable of supplying power during relief efforts. Prefix ‘Re’ refers to three major elements of disaster preparedness – response, recovery, and resilience. The Japanese automaker claims that Re-Leaf has been designed in such a way that it is able to drive straight into the centre of a disaster zone to provide a fully mobile and reliable power supply to aid in the recovery process.
      Technologies offered in Re-Leaf
      Nissan Re-Leaf comes with weatherproof plug sockets mounted directly on the exterior which enables 110 to 230-volt devices to be powered from the car’s high capacity lithium-ion battery. Mobile power supply can be very critical during emergency situations as it has a wide range of applications such as communications, heating, medical, lighting and other essential equipment.

      Nissan further highlights some of the emergency equipment that can be powered by Re-Leaf. This includes pressure ventilation fans, a 100-watt LED floodlight, an electric jackhammer and an intensive care medical ventilator. Apart from all the nitty-gritty tech available on this electric car, it has been equipped with a set of all-terrain tyres to navigate through all possible pathways.
      Currently, Nissan Leaf allows customers to draw power from its battery to charge and supply power back to the grid through V2G (Vehicle-to-Grid) technology and also directly to electronic devices through V2X (Vehicle-to-everything) technology. Latest generation Nissan Leaf e+ comes equipped with a fully charged 62 kilowatt-hour (kWh) battery which is enough to provide power to an average European household for six days. The same is likely to have been installed in Re-Leaf.

      Re-Leaf concept has already proven to be effective. Nissan has already been using the Leaf to provide transportation and emergency power post natural disasters since 2011. The Japanese brand has formed partnerships with over 60 local governments to support disaster management activities. Nissan Re-Leaf could be recharged once power in the affected area has been restored or from a nearby available source. More

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      Maruti Patents Invicto, Plazeria, Excursio – Future Electric Car Names?

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      Maruti has recently filed trademarks for 6 new names which may or may not materialize as commercial nameplates
      It is not uncommon for automakers to file several trademark applications to protect their prospective new car nameplates. Just last week, news about three new Maruti trademarks – Libertas, Espaco and Solido – came out. The automaker seems to be on a spree as three more trademark filings have emerged online now.
      Maruti Invicto, Plazeria, Excursio

      Maruti Invicto, Plazeria and Excursio are the latest names that were trademarked by the OEM. While the names alone don’t mean there will be corresponding products lined up, they make for interesting speculations. Usually, OEMs explore different nameplates for a single product and eventually arrive at a final choice after several rounds of shortlisting processes which sometimes include customer survey as well.
      The name Invicto sounds like something that would suit an SUV while Excursio has a MUV vibe. Associating Plazeria to a body style is tricky but we think it could be adopted by a small car or a sedan. Or these could be variant names of their future electric cars. It is also very possible that none of these brand names will graduate to being commercial nameplates.

      Or, these names could simply be some kind of new dealership experience. For example, the name Nexa was also registered in a similar filing. And we know that Nexa was not used to name a car by Maruti, but to launch an entirely new dealership network. Similarly, it is too early to say for sure if these new names could be used for naming new cars, or something else from Maruti Suzuki.
      Upcoming Maruti cars
      Maruti Suzuki is currently working on a range of new products most of which will likely retain the existing nameplates. For example, the heavily updated Alto and the next generation Celerio which are currently under advanced stages of testing are not likely to adopt new branding. The Maruti Wagon R EV is not expected to be rebranded either since the existing moniker enjoys one of the strongest brand recall in the small car segment.

      However, few of the newly registered trademarks could be used for variant extensions. Moreover, going by Maruti’s history of numerous special edition variants, we won’t be surprised if these trademarks are used for upcoming editions.
      Festive season push
      With festive season inching closer, Maruti Suzuki is gearing up to cater to the increased demand. The Indian automobile market is showing signs of recovery post lockdown as dealers are reporting strong re-start to the business. The collective hope is, the increased preference for private transport would help the market recover not just to pre-pandmic levels but also post positive YoY growth.

      The company which has ditched diesel engine altogether has floated a marketing campaign to promote its petrol-only by encouraging the prospective customers to calculate the cost-benefit balance between petrol and diesel engines based on their usage patterns. More

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      Hyundai Kona Electric Rally Spec To Produce An Insane 800 bhp

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      Paddon Rallysport’s champion rally driver Hayden Paddon has said that the Hyundai Kona Electric for the race track should be ready in the coming months
      The company plans to develop one prototype for the race-specific model and make it operational by next month. If everything goes as per plan, it will undergo complete public evaluation and development by December this year. The ultimate goal of the company is to make use of this high-performance fully electrified Kona for the New Zealand rally Championship next year and other races henceforth.
      Details of the Project

      The project was announced last year by Paddon in order to give New Zealand’s motorsport community a global reach. The Kona Electric Rally spec is being developed jointly by Hyundai New Zealand and Paddon Rallysport with assistance from Yes Power, University of Canterbury and STARD, which is an Austrian motorsport team working on electric rallycross vehicles and part of the Stohl Group.
      Paddon Rallysport recently unveiled the aftermarket suspension setup to be used in this Kona Electric rally version. The company had partnered with Italian aftermarket automotive manufacturer- Extreme Racing Shox in developing the custom made suspension setup. Thanks to this new suspension, the rally-spec Kona Electric sits very low as compared to the standard road-specific model. It also is heavier than the regular model.

      At the start of manufacturing the rally-spec Kona Electric, the car was dismantled to its last bit and later reassembled to form an electric car. The process saw a big delay in April and May this year when the Covid-19 pandemic hit hard and was at its peak in New Zealand.
      This made them cut their budget so that no member had to be dropped from their team due to this crisis. The team is back on track and is confident of completing the prototype ahead of next year’s New Zealand Rally Championship although they are likely to miss the first few rounds.
      Mechanical Details
      By June this year, the cage and chassis were almost ready with the transmission and motors to be incorporated next. The battery arrived at its expected time in July when most of the car was ready. As for the body-kit, Haydon had revealed that they will be using carbon to manufacture it. By early 2021, the team expects the custom Kona Electric to be doing hill ascents and short sprints.
      A total of four motors can be packed on the rally car, each of them capable of generating around 300 PS of power. In the rally though, a twin motor setup will be employed which would be generating nearly 600 bhp of power. However, for the short runs and hill ascents, all four battery packs could be used to give a power of around 800 bhp. Paddon is also expected to get behind the wheels of the Kona Electric during the rallies. More

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      Tata Nexon Electric Subscription Plan Prices Cut by Rs 7k – Now At Rs 35k PM

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      Whether or not subscription plans take off in India is yet to be seen but for now more and more manufacturers are ensuring that such an option is being offered to consumers
      Tata Motors had also announced subscription plans for Nexon Electric. This was first announced last month. Prices revealed that time, started from Rs 41,900 per month. Now, about a month later, Tata has revealed prices of subscription plan has been slashed by Rs 7,000.

      Today, Tata has revealed a subscription offer on Nexon EV, at an all-inclusive fixed rental starting at only Rs. 34,900/- per month. This is a limited period offer, and is only valid till till 30th November 2020. The offer duration coincides with the ongoing festive season, and is quite limited in availability.
      This isn’t unexpected since EV sales are right now low compared the the vehicle market size in India. The subscription offer can be availed by the first 100 subscribers only, and does away with commitments that are tied to traditional vehicle ownership, including road tax and registration, insurance renewals, servicing and maintenance.

      Pankaj Jhunja, Head- Mobility Services, Tata Motors said, “It is ideal for customers preferring ‘usership’ over ownership amidst the rapidly growing phenomenon of shared economy.” Tata Nexon limited-period subscription offer is available for a tenure of a minimum period of 12 months, to 24, and 36 months. The service is on offer in Delhi/NCR, Mumbai, Pune, Hyderabad and Bengaluru.
      What is included
      Available as part of a partnership with Orix Auto, the subscription package includes comprehensive insurance coverage, on-call 24×7 roadside assistance plus free maintenance with periodic servicing, and doorstep delivery. A complimentary personal EV charger will be offered for home or office installation.
      Once subscription tenure concludes, customers can either extend subscription, or return the vehicle. The offer is customised, and suited for corporates inclined to lease, those with frequent inter-city job transfers, and expatriates in the country, who are here on fixed tenure, among others. A number of such jobs entail a company car, which would mean companies themselves would need to make a shift to EV procurement for their top employees for such offers to be successful.
      Also Read – Tata Nexon EV Owner Does 250+ kms
      Designed to offer flexibility to customers who already know they would require a vehicle for a fixed period, it’s difficult to imagine other customers making a beeline for subscription offers. For the current financial year, Nexon EV sales has already reached the thousand mark. This includes an order of 150 units from EESL.
      No doubt Tata Nexon EV is on top, but sales volume is noticeably small. A further boost in EV sales can be expected as and when state governments step in to build EV infrastructure and offer benefits for those who adapt. For now, the onus lies on those who are considered to be more environmentally conscious. The current subscription plan is designed to be smarter, affordable and convenient, and to make EVs even more accessible. More

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      Tata Nexon Electric Joins Kerala Motor Vehicle Department

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      Tata Motors also bagged order of 150 Nexon EVs from EESL earlier this month
      The Motor Vehicle Department (MVD) of Kerala had placed an order of 65 units of the Nexon EV earlier this year. Now we can confirm that the deliveries of the Nexon EVs have commenced from Tata Motors’ end.

      The photos show Nexon Electric SUVs in white colour, in the top end XZ+ trim.These EVs will be part of the ‘Safe Kerala’ project (launched in order to ensure better enforcement of the Motor Vehicle Act) and will be used for law enforcement duties in the coastal state.
      The electric SUVs in the photo come along with heavy MVD branding. The MVD logo can be seen on the side and even on the bonnet. Additionally, some more livery can be seen on the side of the car.

      It isn’t clear if these EVs got any additional equipment over the standard Nexon EV. Most MVD vehicles get a dedicated radio, strobes, cameras and radar speed sensors and it is highly likely that these units would have also got the same. However, it is difficult to figure out any additional details on the equipment list from the photos alone.
      Tata Nexon EV EESL Order
      The procurement of EVs for various government offices is being led by the ESSL (Energy Efficiency Services Ltd) which is a department under the Ministry of Power. In the early days, Tata and Mahindra were leading the EV bids and almost had a duopoly.
      However, with more electric vehicles coming in, even vehicles like Hyundai Kona EV are getting additional orders from the ESSL. The procured vehicles for the MVD will be maintained by the ESSL which will also be installing electric charging stations at all offices where these Nexon EVs will be stationed.

      The Nexon EV is one of the most cost effective full-sized electric vehicle on sale in India. It is sold in 3 different trim levels and has its pricing starting at INR 13.99 lakhs. All variants draw power from a 30.2 kWh lithium ion battery pack.
      Total power output of the EV stands at 129 bhp and 245 Nm of peak torque, which it extracts out of its electric motor. ARAI claimed drive range stands at 312 km on a single charge and if driven judiciously, real-life customers also have managed to get a drive of 250+ kms on single charge.
      Competition of the Nexon EV are currently limited, which just include the ZS EV from MG Motors and Kona EV from Hyundai. However, going ahead in the future, Nexon EV might face considerable challenge from upcoming competitors. Speaking of sales, Nexon EV is the best selling EV currently, with over 60% market share this fiscal year. More

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      Hummer Electric Massive Tyres, Alloys Revealed in New Teaser Video

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      The fully electrified Hummer was earlier slated to be unveiled in May but GMC had to defer the plans due to the Covid-19 pandemic
      General Motors Company (GMC) had earlier this year shared the first teaser of electric Hummer. At the announcement of this project, GMC managed to make everyone take notice of this beast. To enter production next year, it will be offered in the form of an SUV as well as a pick-up truck.

      Now, the American auto giant has teased us with the electric pick-up truck once again with a rather peculiar functionality. The upcoming Hummer EV pick-up will be revealed in its full-form on October 20 with a special ‘Crab Mode’ function, something unheard till now.
      What’s this ‘Crab Mode’?
      This new Crab mode lets the vehicle move in a diagonal direction with the help of rear-wheel steering. This exclusive feature helps to turn all four wheels in the same direction so that the vehicle can move sideways. Apparently, this functionality enhances its already impressive off-roading credentials.
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      GMC says that this particular function will increase the manoeuvrability of the vehicle. It will be interesting to see whether this one of a kind feature could come to use in parallel parking, given Hummer’s huge size. Also, as a bonus, the video also reveals the massive tyres and alloys design that will be on offer with production spec Hummer EV.
      Design
      The Hummer moniker has always been loved for its robust demeanor and enormous size. Many design elements of the IC engine Hummer will be carried forward to the Hummer EV. For instance the six slat vertical grille which gives an imposing figure to the Hummer EV. In the video, you can also see the EV with a removable roof. The interiors of the cabin haven’t been revealed yet but are expected to go a few notches higher in terms of quality of materials and features on offer.
      Performance
      Coming to its performance, the Hummer EV will be powered by the next generation 200kWh Ultium battery setup. This battery pack is expected to generate a humongous power of 1000 bhp and a mind-boggling torque of 15,592 Nm. Those are insane output figures. This heavy SUV/pick-up truck would take only 3 seconds for its 0-96 kmph sprint which easily puts it into the supercar vicinity.
      The Hummer EV pick-up truck will be revealed next month, almost a year ahead of its official launch. The SUV configuration of Hummer EV is also expected to be unveiled sometime soon. Upon its launch, Hummer EV pick-up will lock its horn against the Tesla Cybertruck which is also scheduled to be launched sometime next year. More

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      Kia to Launch 7 New Electric Cars, SUVs by 2027 – Lineup teased

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      The first dedicated Kia electric vehicle codenamed CV will be launched next year in several international markets
      Kia Motors has just announced a battery electric vehicle blitzkrieg that will see the company introduce 7 new products globally by 2027. The South Korean automaker has teased its future BEV range via an image and from the looks of it, majority of them are going to be crossovers.
      Kia’s EV strategy

      The future Kia electric vehicle range will consist of products of different size and configuration to cater to a varied customer base. The company has also revealed that it will partner with several charging companies across the world.
      Since the introduction of its first electric vehicle in 2011, the Kia Ray EV, the company has sold over 100,000 EVs worldwide. With increased push for electrification, Kia is predicting that 25% of its total sales by 2029 will be accounted for by electric vehicles. In advanced markets like Korea, North America and Europe, the automaker is expecting EVs to contribute to 20% of total sales by 2025.
      Kia teases 7 new Electric Cars
      Seven new BEVs
      Of the seven new Battery Electric Vehicles teased, the first is set to be unveiled in 2021. Codenamed Kia CV, it will be the brand’s first dedicated BEV and it will be sold in several international markets. The new range of vehicles will be based on Kia’s new Electric-Global Modular Platform (E-GMP) which is claimed to offer best-in-class interior space.
      When it comes to body style, the new Kia electric vehicle range seems to comprise of at least 4 crossover SUVs of various sizes, a sportcars of sorts and a pair of compact hatchbacks/fastbacks. No further details have been furnished at this stage.
      Retail model
      In addition to launching new BEVs, Kia is also preparing to introduce new sales practices aimed at offering its EV customers diversified options. A new subscription model will be introduced apart from EV battery leasing and rental schemes. The company is also looking into ‘second-life’ battery related businesses to promote circular economy.
      Kia teases 7 new Electric Cars
      A marketing push for EVs of this magnitude will also warrant strengthening of after sales service operations to suit the new-age powertrains. To this end, Kia has announced that it will significantly increase the EV service bays at its dealerships across the world in the coming years in addition to developing its own service training programs.
      Will Kia BEVs come to India?
      With electric vehicle market slowly picking up in India, Kia would certainly be interested in bringing its future BEVs to our market. The key to success will be a rapid growth in the nation’s EV charging infrastructure. Meanwhile, the Kia Seltos and Sonet are expected to build a solid base for the brand in India. More