Tata Motors set to launch electric Indica, Ace in Europe

INTRODUCTION
 Environmental impact due to pollution and peak oil has led to renewed interest in an electric transportation infrastructure.  The electricity can be stored on board the vehicle using a battery, flywheel, or super capacitors.  Advantage of electric vehicles is regenerative braking and suspension; their ability to recover energy

Tata Motors Ltd

 It is a multinational corporation headquartered in Mumbai, India. Part of the Tata Group, it was formerly known as TELCO  Tata Motors is India s largest automobile company, with consolidated revenues of USD 20 billion in 2009-10.  Tata Motors has products in the compact, midsize car and utility vehicle segments.

 The company is the world's fourth largest truck manufacturer, the world's second largest bus manufacturer, and has 19 companies across UK.  1st vehicle rolled out in 1954, Tata Motors has produced and sold over 4 million vehicles in India.  Tata Motors is a dual-listed company traded on both the Bombay Stock Exchange, as well as on the New York Stock Exchange.

 Tata Motors in 2005, was ranked among the top 10 corporations in India with an annual revenue exceeding INR 320 billion.  In 2010, Tata Motors surpassed Reliance to win the coveted title of 'India's most valuable brand' in an annual survey conducted by Finance and The Economic Times.  International market sales for 2010-11 was 412460 units  Domestic market sales for 2010-11 was 667847 units

Tata Indica
 Hatchback automobile range  It is the first passenger car from Tata Motors and is also considered India's first indigenously developed passenger car.  As of August 2008, more than 910,000 Indicas were produced. The annual sales of Indica has been as high as 144,690 units in 2006-07.  Current monthly sales of Indica is around 8000 units. The models have also been exported to Europe, Africa and other countries since late in 2004.

Tata Indica Vista

 The Indica Vista was unveiled at the 9th Auto Expo in New Delhi. The Indica Vista was built on a completely new platform and shares nothing with the existing Indica.  The version is bigger than the previous Indica, it is 3,795 mm (149.4 in) long with a wheelbase of 2,470 mm (97.2 in).  The Indica Vista has two new engines, a 1.3 L Quadra Jet common rail direct injection diesel and a 1.2 L Safire MPFI VVT petrol engine.  It is also available with the 1.4L TDi(Turbo Diesel).

Tata Indica Vista EV

 Electric versions of the Indica Vista by the name Indica Vista EV (Electric Vehicle) is scheduled for launch in UK in 2011. The electric vehicle will be based on the Indica Vista.  Once charged, the car can travel up to 177 kilometers on its full electric motor. It can attain a maximum speed of 110kph.  It accelerates from zero to 60 in 9 seconds. The car is powered by a 55kw Permanent-magnet electric motor and a 26.5 kwh Lithium Polymer battery.

 Tata EV will have power windows, power steering, air conditioning and central locking.  TMETC s designers packaged the Indica Vista electric drive system within the envelope of an ICE base vehicle  They have packaged the battery in a way that minimises loss of interior space in a car.

Indica Vista EV Specification

 Body type: Hatchback  Number of seats: 4  Max. Speed: 65mph (104kmh)  Estimated Max Range: 100 miles (European combined drive cycle)  Time to charge from flat to 100%: Approximately 8 hours  Insurance group: Insurance included in rental cost

 Drive system: Front wheel drive, Permanent magnet synchronous motor and drive

Vehicle Dimensions  Length: 3,795 mm  Width: 1,695mm  Height: 1,550mm  Luggage capacity (Litres): 200 litres  Vehicle Weight: 1,291Kg  Motor & Batteries  Motor -Max power: 50kW  Motor- Max Torque: 157 Nm

 Gears (if applicable): Single speed e-drive  Battery type: Super Polymer Lithium-ion  Battery total energy capacity: 26.5kWh

 Tata Motors European Technical Centre had received a 10million loan to develop the Indica Vista EV in the UK.  The electric vehicle projects have key inputs from the Miljo Grenland in which (TMETC) has a 72 per cent stake.  The cars will be shipped from India as gliders and fitted with TM4 drivetrains and SuperPolymer lithium batteries made under license from Electrovaya.

 Motors supplied by TM4 (Hydro-Quebec)  The motor has maximum power output of 120kW (37kW continuous) and 170Nm peak torque (60Nm continuous).  The unit weighs 26kg, and has a maximum 4.6kW/kg power-to-weight ratio. The motor has a target of 96% efficiency at normal speed.  The Indica Vista complete electric drive system has an integrated power distribution unit and motor controller, and weighs 71kg.

 The Vista EV used only 36 percent of its battery power for a 60 mile route.  The energy cost of the Vista EV was just 1.35 as compared to petrol or diesel version of the car which costs 6.17 or 4.80 .  The success at the 2010 RAC Brighton to London Future Car Challenge.

 Electrovaya joined hands with TMETC and Milj Grenland to manufacture lithium-ion SuperPolymer batteries for the Indica EV.  Tata lined up a second supplier, Korean company Energy Innovation Group (EIG) to deal with immediate battery needs.  The EIG contract envisions supply of up to 2 million large formats cells and associated parts and services between 2010 and 2012.

 Tata Motors is conducting feasibility study to determine demand for EVs in the domestic market.  Norway, Denmark,UK and Sweden are inclined towards electric vehicles where infrastructure is already in place.  The company s has not taken a decision for domestic market since infrastructure is not enough.  The car will be launched in Norway, Denmark and the UK within few months.

 Tata selected Norway and Denmark for EV marketing because the tax on ICE vehicle is as same as EV price.  For the Indian market, the most likely influence on Tata s launch decision is price.  The Indian market is price sensitive and EVs come with a price tag as twice the ICE price due to the cost of the EV's expensive batteries.

 The price is 25,862 , subsidised down to 24,000 by the government.  The company is keen on an UK due to Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Grant Programme by government  Tata is supplying 25 of the 110 vehicles in the UK's largest trial of low emission vehicles, the CABLED Project. The project is to collect usage data on the cars.

 To make the product attractive enough for a customer to purchase, this depends upon the chosen mission for the product.  In this case benchmarking may need to be against unconventional benchmarks such as alternative transport.  Another issue which Tata s EV designers are taking into account (and which applies to all EVs) is the capability of the electric motor.

 Tata Motors said that a total of 12 units will be launched on European streets in the year 2011.  The company will produce only 100 units of this car in year 2011, with a team of only 25 experts and workers.  It will ramp-up its manufacturing capacity to up to 1,500 cars per year.  The electric car has won two awards . One for the Most Economic Small Passenger EV and the second for Most economical and environment friendly small passenger EV .

Tata Ace
 The Tata Ace, India's first indigenously developed sub-one ton mini-truck, was launched in May 2005.  It created a new market segment termed the small commercial vehicle (SCV) segment.  Ace rapidly emerged as the first choice for transporters and single truck owners for city and rural transport.  By October 2005, LCV sales of Tata Motors had grown by 36.6 percent to 28,537 units due to the rising demand for Ace.

 The Ace was built with a load body produced by Autoline Industries.  By 2005, Autoline was producing 300 load bodies per day for Tata Motors. Tata Ace ( Apka Pyaara Chota Hathi )  Ace is still a top seller for TML with 5 lakh units sold to date (June 2010). The new vehicle was a big hit selling 100,000 in just 20 months.  Ace has been exported to European, South American and African countries and all-electric models are sold through Chrysler's Global Electric Motorcars division.

Tata Ace EV
 The Tata Ace EV boasts to be the first electric mini truck in the world.  Ace EV is the second electric vehicle to be launched in U.K. Market by Tata Motors.  The Tata Ace EV offers the real practicality of a small halfton chassis cab, with the benefits of a low-cost, highlyefficient all electric drivetrain.

 The Tata Ace EV will be assembled in the UK Midlands and comply with U.K. Construction and Use Regulations.  The electric motor in the vehicle produces 25 kW of maximum power and 75 Nm of maximum torque.  The Ace EV is powered by a 85 Ah battery that takes 8 hours for a full charge. With a top speed of 40kph and a range of 72km.

Ace EV Mini Truck Specification

Body Type  All Steel Chassis Cab with customer specified flat bed drop Side / tipper / box van load body options  Number of Seats: 2  Maximum Speed: (mph and km/h) 25 mph (40 km/h) electronically limited Estimated Maximum Range  25 miles (40 km) European Combined Drive Cycle  30 miles (50 km) Constant 20mph (32 km/h)

 Overall Length x Width x Height: 3,800 x 1,500 x 1,830 mm  Load bed Dimensions Length x Width: 2,200 x 1,500 mm  Payload: 500 kg  GVW: 1550 kg  Motor Maximum Power (10 sec) 25 kW  Motor Maximum Torque 75 Nm

Drive System
 Rear wheel drive  Permanent Magnet DC Motor and Drive

 Gears: Single Speed e-Drive  Battery Type 10 x 8 Volt Gel filled Lead Acid  Battery Total Energy Capacity 85 Ah @ 75 A  Time to Charge from Flat to 100%: Approximately 8 hour

 The electric versions of the Ace pick-up are at advanced stage of development and has been displayed at Zaragosa in 2008.  Tata Motors is planning to launch the Ace EV (Electric Vehicle) in the U.K. market.  The Tata Ace electric will be approximately in the range of 13,000-14,000 when it will be launched.

 Ace is targeted for small goods transportation only in the local or nearby area.  Tata Ace will be mainly used in universities campus, parks and other companies that require shifting or carrying materials .  Tata Ace will reduce the CO2 by almost 50 percent in contrast to other gas powered similar vehicles from other manufacturers