Tata Motors had another news for the electric car industry when it announced at the recènt Environment Friendly Vehicle Conference that it was looking forward to launch an electric version of its Indica hatchback in the overseas markets of Denmark, UK and Norway in the next 12-14 months.

TM4, a subsidiary of Hydro Quebec, will be providing the permanent magnet motor and inverter for the electric Indica. Tata Motors continues its innovative approach with the Indica Vista EV too, using super polymer lithium ion batteries which have superior energy density to conventional batteries. Tata Motors’ electric vehicles will be produced in association with Miljo Grenland/Innovasjon, Norway. Tata Motors’ UK subsidiary, Tata Motors European Technical Centre plc, has a 70 per cent stake in Miljo. The first such vehicle to be developed by the company is the Indica EV, which had undergone extensive tests in Europe earlier. The company had showcased the electric Indica at SIAM (Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers) annual convention in 2008, followed by its preview at Geneva Motor show this year.

According to Prakash M. Telang, managing director, Tata Motors (India operation) “The electric Indica will be launched in Norway, followed by Denmark and UK as they have the necessary infrastructure in place to run electric cars which India lacks. He also said that its mild hybrid Indica launch may make its entry soon as it would not require any specific infrastructure that supports electric or hybrid vehicles. We will begin a feasibility study by next year for introducing the product in the domestic market.”

According to well-informed sources, Tata's EV employs high capacity lithium ion batteries featuring what the brand calls super polymer cells. With these advanced power supplies, the small four-passenger car can travel 200 km (124 miles) on a single eight hour charge and can hit 60 mph in a claimed less than 10 sec. Tata Motors wants to make a name for itself as an electric car manufacturer, in the European market. After launching the Indica EV in Norway, Tata Motors plans to launch this vehicle elsewhere in Europe – perhaps by 2011 – and then also in the US. With 160 horsepower and 170Nm of torque from its all-electric powerplant, the Indica EV is likely to offer adequate power and performance for European and North American markets. However, due to its high cost, the car is not expected to be launched in India in the next few years.

Asked if the company has initiated the market study, he said, "not at the moment ". We will start (the feasibility study) closer to when we have the product ready. We will do it from next year." Telang said its introduction in the domestic market would depend on the cost factor since India was a price-sensitive market. “We have to look into the cost equation here. We have to see the market demand as it will be an expensive vehicle. Electric vehicles are generally 70-150 per cent more expensive then regular ones depending on the choice of batteries,” he added. Responding to sales outlook for the remaining half of the fiscal, Mr Telang said that the shift from Bharat Stage III emission norms to Bharat Stage IV in April, may lead to good sales in the fourth quarter.

“There is optimism – I see good sales in the fourth quarter. In commercial vehicles (CVs), there may be pre-buying because of the change in emission norms. Even passenger cars may see better volumes, but not as much as CVs since price escalation will not be as much in them. This has been the experience in most countries across the globe,” he said. When asked about the status of the Nano’s Sanand plant, Telang said that the company is producing around 3,000-4,000 units of the ultra-cheap car a month at the Pantnagar facility and it will start the trial production at Sanand by the fourth quarter of the fiscal. The Sanand plant will have an initial annual capacity of 2.5 lakh units a year, which will later be increased to 3.5 lakh units. The Pantnagar plant mainly produces the light commercial vehicle (LCV) Ace. “We’re striving between the Ace requirement and the Nano. The plant has a capacity to produce 1.5 lakh Ace LCVs a year,” he said.

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