Tata

September 23, 2009

Ford Reveals Small Car for India, Says Production of It to Start Early Next Year

Ford Motor Co. President and CEO Alan Mulally today revealed the American automaker's intent to produce a small, fuel-efficient car in India.

Called the Ford Figo, the car was unveiled at a press event in Delhi as a major addition to the Ford India brand portfolio.

Mulally's visit underscored the strategic importance of India in Ford's future plans. He stated the Figo is designed and engineered to compete in the heart of the domestic India car market.

In a statement issued today, Ford said the Figo will be manufactured at Ford's manufacturing facility near Chennai, which is undergoing a $500 million transformation to double to 200,000 the number of small cars that can be made at the plant annually.

"Our exciting new Ford Figo shows how serious we are about India," Mulally said. "It reflects our commitment to compete with great products in all segments of this car market. We are confident the Ford Figo will be a product that Indian consumers really want and value."

Those are bold words, coming as they did only months after Indian automaker Tata began selling the four-seat, $2,000, 47-miles-per-gallon Nano in India.

Ford is hoping the Figo will be competitive in India's small-car segment, which accounts for more than 70 percent of the new vehicle market. The automaker intends to leverage Ford's small-car platform architecture, sharing underlying technology with the Ford Fiesta, which is already familiar to Indian drivers.

If you're wondering about the name, Figo is colloquial Italian for "cool." If you're wondering about Figo's fuel economy, acceleration and other performance characteristics, you'll have to wait. Ford is discussing them now.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); Scott Doggett September 23, 2009, 10:23 AM
Categories:: Emissions, Ford, Fuel Economy, India, Tata
Technorati Tags:: Ford Fiesta

September 21, 2009

India On the Move: U.K. Grants Tata Motors $16.3-Million Loan for EV Plant

08.tata.indica.act.r34.500.jpg Britain's first government loan under new program to help boost automotive production and manufacturing goes to India's Tata Motors, for an assembly plant for its new line of electric cars.

Tata, which is preparing to launch European sales of a battery-electric version of its 4-seat Indica hatchback (right), has said earlier this month that its first factory would be in Norway with a British plant to follow if a government loan could be obtained.

This week, Britain's business secretary, Peter Mandleson, said Tata would get a loan of 10 million pounds ($16.3 million), the first from the 2.3-billion ($3.7 billion) loan fund.

Tata hasn't announced a plant site for the Indica EV, but analysts at IHS Global Insight say it is expected to choose a locale in central Britain near its existing Tata European Technical Center at the University of Warwick.

Global Insight reports that the U.K. automotive assistance program is in funding talks with 17 other companies.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); John O'Dell September 21, 2009, 9:13 AM
Categories:: India, Plug-ins and Electric, Tata
Technorati Tags:: Electric cars

September 8, 2009

First Electric Car From India's Tata Motors Reportedly Nearing Launch - In Norway

08.tata.indica.act.r34.500.jpg India's Tata Motors reportedly is getting close to launching the battery-electric version of its Indica Vista four-seat hatchback (right) - an emissions-free car that's been in the works for several years.

But it won't be India's smog-choked cities that benefit from the Indica, which apparently is too expensive to be profitably marketed there. Instead, Tata (which also owns Land Rover and Jaguar) will roll out its first EV in Norway, with launches in other Scandinavian countries and, possibly, Britain, to follow.

According to a report in India's "Economic Times," Tata will build the Indica EV in Norway from component kits shipped from India.

Tata last year invested in a Norwegian EV component maker, Miljo Grenland/Innovasjon and has partnered with Norwegian battery maker Electrovaya to supply lithium-ion polymer batteries for the Indica EV.

Tata also is considering building the Indica EV in Britain for further European distribution if the government agrees to support development of the car there.

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Tata Chairman Ratan Tata (left) and Managing Director Ravi Kant with electric Indica prototype in 2008.
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Tata doesn't have present plans to build the car in India but said in a filing with the Indian government that it could charge its mind if it perceives a market.

The Economic Times article said the present specs for the Indica EV call for a top speed of 93 mph from an electric drive system capable of producing just under 74 horsepower and 140 lb-ft of torque.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); John O'Dell September 8, 2009, 6:00 AM
Categories:: Plug-ins and Electric, Tata
Technorati Tags:: EV

June 17, 2009

Tata Says It Again: Electric Nano and Hybrid Nano Both in the Works

Nano copy.jpeg Following up on what company officials told us (and we told you ) months ago, India's Tata Motors has told its management trainees that the company, indeed, plans to "use the Nano platform to build electric and hybrid cars."

The statement was contained in a report the company printed up for its Tata Management Training Center, according to the Economic Times business newspaper.

Like most countries these days, India is pushing to clean up its air and reduce its carbon footprint and Tata, its largest automaker, is under tremendous pressure to lead the way with cleaner, greener motor vehicles,

The company already is preparing an electric version of its Indica sedan, a much larger car than the bare-bones, $2,300-$3,300 Nano (the electric Indica will first be sold in Norway which actually has a charging infrastructure for EVs).

Tata also is working on stop-start, or micro-hybrid" systems for its one-ton Ace delivery truck and for the Nano, as well as on a clean diesel engine for the Nano and, possibly, a low-speed Nano variation using a compressed-air engine.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (2); John O'Dell June 17, 2009, 10:36 AM
Categories:: Hybrid, India, Plug-ins and Electric, Tata
Technorati Tags:: Electric Nano

June 16, 2009

Jaguar Reportedly Developing Volt-Like Extended-Range Hybrid Sports Car

The global economic crisis may force Jaguar to postpone production of its XE two-seat roadster beyond its hoped-for 2011 Geneva show debut, but the sports car will be fitted with a Chevy Volt-like powerplant when it does make an appearance.

That according to a report by Motor Trend, which says an electric motor with an extended-range three-cylinder gas engine is being engineered for the new-age E-Type.

Whether that powerplant would be in addition to Jaguar's conventional 5.0-liter and supercharged 5.0-liter V8s is unknown, as is whether the extended-range XE will make it beyond the concept stage.

Also unclear is whether the electric XE would be in addition to an extended-range electric XJ said to be scheduled for introduction in late 2011 (a year after the conventional XJ's release).

Ratan Tata, whose company bought Jaguar and Land Rover from Ford Motor Company, is said to support the XE's development. His father once owned a Jaguar XK120, and Tata told Autocar earlier this year, "We need to emerge with something shiny and new, which is why we are reprioritizing the roadster right now."

In addition to the Volt, an extended-range electric XJ would likely give the Fisker Karma some competition.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); Scott Doggett June 16, 2009, 1:19 PM
Categories:: Auto Shows, Chevrolet, Emissions, Fisker, Ford, Fuel Economy, Hybrid, Land Rover, Plug-ins and Electric, Tata
Technorati Tags:: Chevrolet Volt

June 8, 2009

Despite Reports, Tata Did Not Promise a U.S. Version of the Nano by 2011

What a difference a word makes.

Tata Motors Chairman Ratan Tata told reporters last week that he "hopes" his company will have a version of the ultra-cheap car ready for the U.S. by 2011.

That's what we reported Friday as we pondered the difficulties the $2,300 car sold in India would have translating to the U.S. market.

This morning, though, the Web is full of reports saying, variously, that Tata "plans" to have a U.S. car by 2011, "confirmed they will sell" the car here by 2011 and that the Nano "will travel American roads...in two years' time."

Word of the Day: Maybe

"Hopes" is a conditional word. If Tata hopes to make it here by 2011 but doesn't, there's no harm, no foul.

But by changing "hopes" to the more positive "plans" or the absolutely positive "will," reporters and bloggers are setting the company up to be unfairly criticized for not keeping a promise if 2011 comes and goes without a Nano for the U.S.

Worse, such reports give false hope to many Americans who now are expecting a cheap four-seater to definitely be available in two years.

MPG Mess

Additionally, the original report on Ratan Tata's remarks, which were made in a speech at Cornell University last week, quoted him saying the Nano gets 65 miles per gallon.

What that and most subsequent reports didn't say is that mpg estimates vary from country to country depending on the test cycle used to determine the figure and whether it is city, highway or combined mileage being cited.

In Tata's case, it appears the chairman was citing the official Indian test cycle number for highway mileage. The overall Nano fuel-economy number, converted from liters per kilometer to to U.S. gallons per mile, is 55 mpg, but our contributor Nick Kurczewski, who drove the car in India in March, says his real-world average was 47 mpg.

That's still impressive mileage, but not nearly so impressive as 65 miles a gallon many reports are now citing as gospel, his setting people up for another disappointment if the Nano does make it to the U.S.

John O'Dell, Senior Editor

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); John O'Dell June 8, 2009, 8:57 AM
Categories:: Fuel Economy, Tata
Technorati Tags:: Nano Coming to U.S.

June 5, 2009

Tata Chairman Says World's Cheapest Car Could Go On Sale in U.S. by 2011

Here's another we won't be holding our breath for.

India's Tata Motors hopes to bring its ultra-cheap Nano to the U.S., by 2011, the company's chairman said in remarks this week at a Cornell University sustainable enterprise panel covered by Reuters news service.

The tiny four-seat car, which sells for about $2,000 in India and is slated to make its European debut in 2011, was designed to provide all-weather transportation for India's poor.

It is intended to help replace the ubiquitous motorbikes that provide many low-income Indians cheap but highly polluting and dangerous transportation, and for that and the car's fuel economy -- estimated at 65 miles a gallon in India, but closer to 47 mpg using U.S. standards, Tata deserves applause.

But the very features -- or lack of them -- that make the car affordable in India work against its acceptance in the U.S.

Nor would the rock-bottom price hold up for a U.S.-bound Nano, which would require significant engineering upgrades to meet U.S. safety requirements, and engine and exhaust system upgrades to meet federal emissions standards.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (3); John O'Dell June 5, 2009, 3:26 PM
Categories:: India, Tata
Technorati Tags:: Tata Nano

April 13, 2009

Jaguar Reportedly Planning Extended-Range Electric XJ Sedan for 2011

We know that the norm in the car world is for expensive new technologies to come out first on high-dollar models and then work their way down the food chain until they get into our price range, but we wish someone would work on an extended range plug-in hybrid that we could seriously consider for the personal fleet.

One thing we now know is that it's not going to come from India's Tata Motors, at least not right away.

Instead, Tata, which owns Jaguar and Land Rover, reportedly is planning to launch an extended-range hybrid version of the luxo-boat Jaguar XJ (above) in 2011, about a year after the next generation of the car comes out.

If the report is accurate, the XJ E-REV would likely compete with the $80,000 Fisker Karma extended-range electric sport sedan.

Britain's AutoCar magazine reports that the four-door, long-wheelbase Jag will use an all-electric drive system, with power coming first from a rechargeable lithium-ion battery pack and then, when the charge is depleted, from power generated by a small internal combustion engine that will serve as a generator (can you say Chevy Volt?).

Jaguar is hoping for 30 miles of "pure" electric range before the gas engine/generator kicks in, and overall fuel economy of nearly 50 miles a gallon, with a top speed of 112 miles an hour (those are all U.S. figures, translated from the British).

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); John O'Dell April 13, 2009, 3:56 PM
Categories:: Jaguar, Land Rover, Plug-ins and Electric, Tata
Technorati Tags:: Jaguar

March 30, 2009

It's Cheap, But Is India's Tata Nano Eco-Friendly Or An Enviro-Disaster?

The 2010 Tata Nano is the world's cheapest car: Four-wheeled driving pared down to the bare essentials.

With the $2,000 Tata Nano, capable of providing affordable all-weather transportation to those who might otherwise have never been able to afford a car, Tata Motors has created a completely new, ultra-low-cost vehicle segment. Ratan Tata, chairman of the Tata Group, says the decision to build the car came from seeing Indian families perched precariously on two-wheelers.

But have Tata's engineers skimped on environmental matters in their quest to pare down the price of India's "People's Car?"

Green Car Advisor sent Paris-based contributor Nick Kurczewski to India for the launch of the highly anticipated 2010 Nano last week to find out whether the car represents both an affordable and greener automotive future, or just a cheap set of wheels.

Here's his report:

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Less is more (environmentally speaking)

One thing working to the advantage ofthe Tata Nano is that there is simply much less stuff that goes into it. There are fewer options, a tiny engine, less standard equipment and much less curb-weight.

This means fewer raw materials are needed to build it, and there's less stuff to fill landfills or foul the environment when its life is over.

A base model Nano does not have air-conditioning, air-bags, power brakes, power steering, ABS or even a radio. Inside the cabin are two gauges, for fuel level and speed.

The Nano has a 35-horsepower 624-cc 2-cylinder engine mounted in the rear. Developed exclusively for the Nano, the all-aluminum multi-point fuel-injected engine averages around 47 mpg in a mix of city and highway driving, according to Tata Motors.

The tiny engine works because, with a curb-weight of only 1,320 lbs, the steel-bodied Nano is less than half the weight of many economy cars and much easier to propel with just 35 horses.

Emissions

Although every Nano uses the same engine - no performance options here -photochemical and toxic emissions levels vary slightly depending on options.

A Nano fits into one of two Indian emissions categories - Bharat Stage (BS) II or the stricter BSIII that is, generally speaking, equal to European regulations of 3 or 4 years ago. With Europe set to move from Euro IV to Euro V emissions requirements, India is similarly preparing to move from BSIII to BSIV standards.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (1); John O'Dell March 30, 2009, 3:00 AM
Categories:: Emissions, Fuel Economy, India, Tata
Technorati Tags:: 2010 Tata Nano

February 25, 2009

2009 Geneva Auto Show: A Lot of Green for Snowy Swiss Venue

Opel Ampera plug-in hybrid is among the green stars of the upcoming Geneva auto show.

By Nick Kurczewski, Contributor

When the Geneva auto show opens its doors to the media March 3, the exhibition halls will be jammed with a wider range of smaller, smarter and more fuel-efficient cars than ever before.

Green vehicles were once a sideshow, with headline-grabbing debuts of outrageous supercars and luxury sedans in the main ring at Geneva. But like easy credit and cheap gasoline, those days are gone.

Intelligently designed, fuel-efficient, low-emission vehicles are now the key to survival for the world's car manufacturers.

Even high-end manufacturers like Bentley Motors are getting in on the act. Rather than its usual lineup of sport-tuned touring cars that gulp gasoline the way a band of rugby fans down lager at a pre-game fest, the English luxury brand will unveil a bio-fueled concept -- albeit one with more than 600 horsepower.

Other stars of the show will include the Opel Ampera, the European version of the Chevrolet Volt; Mitsubishi's i-MiEV Sport Air, an electric sports car concept; and the shape-shifting Rinspeed iChange electric vehicle.

Green Car Advisor offers an advance look at these and other soon-to-be-unveiled eco-stars of the Geneva show.

Opel Ampera

As General Motor's European subsidiary, it makes sense that Opel would get a version of Chevrolet's much-hyped Volt hybrid.

Luckily for Opel, the Ampera also seems to have gotten the good looks in the GM family tree. While the Volt has been criticized for a somewhat bland exterior, the Ampera has a more aggressive and modern design that better lives up to the promise of the state-of-the-art drivetrain.

Like the Chevrolet Volt, the Ampera will be capable of running up to 40 miles on electric power alone, before switching to a small internal combustion engine that recharges the battery pack.

Opel says that the Ampera's lithium-ion battery pack can be charged from a standard European 230-volt outlet.

The Volt slated to arrive in U.S. showrooms near the end of next year, so expect the Ampera to make its European debut in 2011.

Mitsubishi i-MiEVs

Mitsubishi will debut a European version of the i-MiEV electric car it expects to launch in Japan later this year. Both are based on the Japanese company's tiny "i" city car.

The i-MiEV uses a 47-kilowatt (62-horsepower) electric motor that draws power from a 330-volt lithium ion battery pack. Range is estimated at 100 miles.

The European model will be slightly wider than the Japanese model, and perhaps a bit more powerful -- to cope with European safety standards and higher speed limits.

A U.S. version of the i-MiEV, if we get one -- and we think we will -- is likely to be based on the Euro model.

A sport version of the i-MiEV will also break cover in Geneva.

Very little is known about the concept, called the Sport Air, though we expect it likely will be a closer-to-production version of the huggable-cute i-MiEV Sport concept seen at the Tokyo auto show in 2007.

Chevrolet Spark

Not every important green car in Geneva will have an electric motor or hybrid power plant under its hood.

At first glance, the Chevrolet Spark looks like another sharply styled little Euro-hatch.

That's the point.

Frugal and attractive small cars like the Spark are key to the survival of General Motors -- and to weaning many American car buyers from opting for the super-size option in their dealers' showrooms.

The five-door Spark hatchback first appeared as the Beat concept car during the New York auto show in 2007.

The production version looks almost identical to that concept. When it goes on sale in Europe in early 2010, the Spark will feature a choice of economical 1.0- and 1.2-liter 16-valve engines.

U.S. sales are to follow in 2011.

Tata E-Nano?

A spokesman for India's Tata Motors told us to expect a surprise in Geneva.

Known for basic and cheap economy cars, Tata -- India's largest auto manufacturer -- is unlikely to pull a dust cover off some supercar.

Our guess: the top-secret news is the unveiling of an electric-powered version of the company's subcompact Indica hatchback, or the Nano city car (left).

Tata Motors has been working hard on developing electric versions of its current lineup for the European market. The company last year bought a majority stake in Miljo Grenland Innovasjon, a Norwegian company specializing in electric car technology.

The collapse of the global auto industry has hit Tata Motors hard, especially now that it owns struggling British luxury brands Jaguar and Land Rover, but we're not counting it out of the electric car sweepstakes.

The four-door Nano hatchback will be the cheapest car in the world, priced at roughly $2,000 when it goes on sale in India later this year.

A low-speed battery-electric version suitable for urban centers or gated communities could be just what Tata needs to get its toe into the European or U.S. markets.

Rinspeed iChange

Rinspeed's annual dream machines in Geneva have been capable of hovering above land and water, tilting, running on bio-waste, and adapting the cabin environment to match a driver's state of mind.

The wacky Swiss company is now ready to debut its latest crazy creation, a shape-changing electric car called the iChange. Power comes from a 130-kilowatt electric motor.

This concept car's most intriguing feature is the adaptable seating arrangement. The iChange has what Rinspeed refers to as "1, 2, 3 seating," courtesy of an "electronic trick tail."

The exterior body-panels of the iChange can be reconfigured depending on how many passengers are on board.

Rinspeed says the result is not only a zero-emission car, but one whose ultra-low aerodynamic drag helps reduce power consumption from the electric motor to give it more range. Details to come at the show, we hope.

Bentley BioFuel Car

Bentley couldn't simply unleash a bio-fuel car onto the world. It had to make it the fastest Bentley ever.

We can live with that, considering the speed and grace of this strangely alluring yet contradictory concept. Sneak preview photos provided by Bentley show a car very much resembling its current gas-powered Continental GT.

Larger lower intakes and outlets in the hood now feed extra air to the W12 engine, reconfigured to run on a mix of gasoline and ethanol.

Oomph is estimated to be well in excess of 600 horsepower.

Ethanol helps raise the octane level of the fuel, which boosts power and gives this bruiser Bentley the performance credentials needed to keep its blue-blood clientele happy.

If the ethanol comes from biowaste instead of valuable food crops, those Bentley bluebloods may even be able to claim they are turning blue-green.

EDAG Light Car Open Source Concept

German engineering firm EDAG will display a high-tech car that is completely recyclable, electric powered and featuring state-of-the-art LED technology.

From the sneak peeks of the car we've seen, the finished product looks great. Too bad EDAG slapped a painfully awkward name onto this otherwise very promising concept car.

The body of the Light Car is constructed of lightweight basalt fiber. As strong as pricey carbon fiber commonly used in race-car construction, the basalt-fiber platform is cheaper to produce, provides high levels of occupant safety, and is entirely recyclable.

Power for the Light Car is provided by small electric motors located in each wheel.

The car's headlight and taillight housings aren't real hardware but instead are projected onto the exterior using LEDs. According to EDAG, owners can customize the shape and size of the lights (though there was no word as to the legalities of this clever option). Here's a company video animation that explains how it would work.

LEDs in the tail provide vehicles that are following the Light Car with information that could include driving tips like the Rinspeed's braking force (back off, I'm hitting the brakes HARD) and public service info like real-time traffic updates.

Peugeot 3008 Hybrid

French automaker Peugeot will show its new 3008 MPV, a small crossover that employs a 2.0-liter diesel-electric hybrid powertrain and four-wheel drive. The system should be available in European models of the 3008 by 2011.

Sized to compete with small sport-utes like the Nissan Rogue, the 3008 hybrid will combine 36-hp electric motor with the diesel engine. The electric motor will provide power to the rear while the engine drives the front wheels.

Peugeot has no sales presence in the States, but we wouldn't be shocked if the 3008's hybrid system shows up here in another automaker's cars someday.

Keep in mind, the standard gas-powered version of the 3008 (above, left) uses the same 1.6-liter motor as the BMW Mini Cooper. A hybrid/all-wheel-drive version of the Mini Crossover Concept (a Mini-based sport-ute shown at last year's Paris auto show) sure makes sense to us.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); John O'Dell February 25, 2009, 3:00 AM
Categories:: Auto Shows, Bentley, Biofuels, Chevrolet, Diesel, Ethanol, Flex-Fuel, General Motors, Green Vehicles, Hybrid, MINI, Mitsubishi, Peugeot, Plug-ins and Electric, Tata
Technorati Tags:: Green Cars at Geneva Auto Show

February 19, 2009

Tata Motors Says Electric and Air-Powered Nano Models Coming

By Nick Kurczewski, Contributor

Tata Motors, the Indian automaker that rocked the industry with its announcement last year of a $2,000 car -- the Nano (left) -- said that work on electric and air-powered versions of the soon-to-debut mini hatchback continues despite the company's woes (Tata reported a $52 million loss for its last quarter).

The work is going on track," Ravi Kant, Tata's managing director, said during a recent press conference in Mumbai.

The Nano will become the world's cheapest car when it goes on sale later this year in India with a base price of roughly $2,000 before taxes and shipping fees.

But price isn't enough to enable Tata to penetrate Western European and, potentially, North American markets. To do that, Tata needs to be able to field super fuel-efficient alternative-energy models of the Nano.

To help speed things up, the company last year acquired a majority stake in Miljo Grenland Innovasjon, a Norwegian company specializing in electric car technology.

Tata also is working with French air-car impresario Guy Negre's MDI Enterprises on a compressed-air engine for the Nano.

A battery-electric Nano, sold as a speed-restricted vehicle suitable for urban centers or gated communities, would help Tata breach Western markets without boosting the price the Spartan little car.

In its present form, the Nano does without airbags, ABS, or electronic stability control -- though Tata Motors representatives have said such items could be fitted. But safety features cost money and low speed vehicles in Europe and the U.S. do not need to meet the same stringent safety standards that apply to regular automobiles.

A compressed air version of the Nano also would likely be a low-speed vehicle. It also is probably a long way off. "Developments are ongoing with MDI, but it remains a very long-term plan," said Kant.

MDI has already developed several small and lightweight vehicles using air power. The system uses high-tech carbon-fiber tanks, which feed carefully measured doses of pressurized air to a piston engine specially adapted to run on air power. The result is a zero-emission vehicle that MDI insists is a viable option to electric vehicles.

Standard models of the Nano will be powered by a tiny 623cc two-cylinder gasoline engine, capable of delivering 32 horsepower and fuel economy of around 50 miles per gallon. A diesel version with a fuel economy increase of 20 percent or more is expected to arrive by the end of this year.

Debasis Ray, spokesman for Tata Motors, confirmed that sales of the conventionally powered Nano will commence sometime before April this year to enable the company to benefit from the global economic meltdown and resulting demand for inexpensive transportation.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); John O'Dell February 19, 2009, 3:00 AM
Categories:: Alternative Fuels, India, Plug-ins and Electric, Tata
Technorati Tags:: Air Car

October 14, 2008

Tata Motors Says It Will Launch Electric Vehicles in Europe Beginning Next Year

Right, Tata Motors Chairman Ratan Tata and Managing Director Ravi Kant with the electric Indica last month.

Tata Motors has bought a 50.3 percent holding in electric vehicle technology firm MiljÃ¸ Grenland/Innovasjon of Norway and plans to launch an electric Indica hatchback in Europe next year.

MiljÃ¸ will produce electric vehicles based on Tata Motors' products, alongside polymer lithium-ion batteries and its ongoing development of related technologies.

"Tata Motors believes that this investment in Miljo will help the company realize its strategy to develop convenient, affordable and sustainable mobility solutions through electric and hybrid vehicles," Tata said in a statement today.

The first electric vehicle to be developed by Tata will be the Indica EV, scheduled for launch in Europe during 2009.

"Unlike existing electric vehicles, Indica EV will be a more practicable option for the consumer: capable of carrying four people, adequate luggage space, with a predicted range of up to 120 miles," Tata said.

The move comes just days after Indian EV maker Reva announced that it had expanded sales and distribution of its low-speed city cars into continental Europe after selling more than 1,000 in London under the "G-Wiz" brand name over the past few years.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); Scott Doggett October 14, 2008, 11:59 AM
Categories:: Batteries, Fuel Economy, Plug-ins and Electric, Tata
Technorati Tags:: Electric Vehicles

October 3, 2008

Bail-Out Passes, Includes Plug-In hybrid Tax Credits. Now Bring On the Cars!

In case you've been in a deep, dank cave with no wireless connection for the past few hours, the news du jour is that the House has approved the Wall Street rescue measure that includes the original $700-billion in bail-out bucks plus wads of cash for renewable energy, biofuels and energy-efficiency programs.

The $17 billion energy package also includes a plug-in hybrids tax credit plan with an estimated price tag of $1 billion. It won't expire until the auto industry has, collectively, sold 250,000 plug-in cars and trucks that run at least part of the time on all-electric drive from energy stored in rechargeable, on-board batteries.

While none of the major automakers has yet to offer a plug-in, just about all (Honda Motor Co. is a notable exception) are working on them, with General Motor Corp.'s Chevrolet Volt perhaps the best known of the bunch.

Reporters walking the floor of the Paris Auto Show this week, however, are seeing a lot more as European car makers seem to have embraced the idea of electric cars and gas- and diesel-electric hybrids with a fervor usually associated with revival meeting preachers.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); John O'Dell October 3, 2008, 12:47 PM
Categories:: Chevrolet, Fuels & Technologies, General Motors, Green Vehicles, Honda, Legislation, Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Opinion, Plug-ins and Electric, Renault, Smart, Subaru, Tata, Toyota

August 29, 2008

The New Competitors: India's Three-Pronged Approach To The Electric Car Market

By Nick Kurczewski, Contributor

Unwilling to leave the potentially lucrative electric vehicle market to Japanese, European and - maybe - AmericanÂ carmakers, Indian auto companies are rushing to develop EVs of their own.

The impetus is twofold: To combat gridlock and air pollution at home, and to cash in on global demand for cleaner, eco-friendly vehicles.

The Indian firms will be joining a rapidly growing field of manufacturers looking to market environmentally-focused vehicles.

Industry heavy-weights like General Motors, Toyota, Honda, Mitsubishi, Renault-Nissan and Daimler all have promised to bring plug-in hybrids or battery-electric vehicles to market within the next three-to-five years.

Some of their upstart Indian competitors, however, say they will hit the market with their electric vehicles as early as the end of this year.

To find out what's on tap, Green Car Advisor took a look at three of the main players in the burgeoning Indian electric vehicle market.

Reva

Reva Electric Car Co. is the minnow of the bunch. And no, we're not referring to the 102 inch length of the company's cartoonish-looking two-door hatchback (right) -- four inches shorter than a Smart Fortwo.

Based in Bangalore, Reva is a small family-owned company that happens to be one of the most established electric car manufacturers in the world, with a vehicle that initially went on sale seven years ago.

A Reva offers room for two adults plus two children in the rear, and a top speed of 50 miles per hour.

Since retail sales began in July 2001, some 2,600 Revas have found homes. Chetan Maini, Reva's deputy chairman and chief technical officer, says the majority have been sold in Bangalore and London, where it's called the "G-Wiz."

Maini explains that Reva's intention was to begin with "one Indian city and one European city," and build the business from there.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (1); John O'Dell August 29, 2008, 2:45 AM
Categories:: Alternative Fuels, Fuels & Technologies, India, Mahindra, Plug-ins and Electric, Reva, Tata
Technorati Tags:: Electric Vehicles

August 27, 2008

With 120-Plus Teams In The Wings, Automotive X Prize Officially Opens Registration

Organizers of the Progressive Insurance Automotive X Prize opened the official registration process this week - the first step in qualifying for the fuel efficieny competition's $10 million in prizes - after receiving letters of intent form more than 120 teams.

The prospective entrants are from 17 countries, with most coming from the U.S. - 28 states are represented on the initial list.

The contest challenges entrants to design, build and operate a production-capable vehicle that can deliver, at minimum, the equivalent of 100 miles per gallon fuel economy.

Prospective entrants range from Indian automaker Tata Motors to a high school team from West Philadelphia.

Missing from the preliminary list are all of the major U.S., European and Asian automakers, but a few celebrities apparently will be on hand, among them Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Neil Young, who has said he intends to enter his 1960 Lincoln Continental - converted to a plug-in hybrid running on biodiesel..

Registration closes January 1, 2009, and entrants then will have about eight months to prepare for a series of competitions that will start in New York in September and take the vehicles to as many as nine major U.S. urban areas through early 2010.

Winning teams must deliver vehicles that achieve at least 100 miles per gallon-equivalent fuel economy and meet stringent emissions standards. the teams also must present compelling business cases for their vehicles.

Click here for more information about the competition, the prize and the entry process.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); John O'Dell August 27, 2008, 12:54 PM
Categories:: Alternative Fuels, Biofuels, Emissions, Fuel Economy, Fuels & Technologies, Green Vehicles, Hybrid, Plug-ins and Electric, Tata
Technorati Tags:: $10 million X Prize

July 30, 2008

Volkswagen Overtakes Ford as No. 3 Automaker Worldwide

Ford Motor Co. started taking large steps away from gas guzzlers and toward a fuel-efficient lineup earlier this month, but the efforts came too late to prevent Volkswagen from overtaking it for the No. 3 spot among automakers by global sales volume.

The change reflects sales figures the two automakers recently provided for the first half of this year. If sales trends hold true through the remainder of this year, the new world order among automotive giants will be Toyota in the No. 1 position, followed by General Motors, Volkswagen and Ford, respectively.

Toyota led GM at the half by about 278,000 vehicles, while VW saw a global sales increase of 7.2 percent to 3.31 million vehicles and Ford watched its sales fall 11 percent to 3.09 million vehicles.

Ford, which has been exceedingly slow to respond to the growing demand for fuel-efficient vehicles, ceded the No. 2 spot to Toyota in 2003.

Exacerbating the situation for Ford is the recent sale of Jaguar and Land Rover to Tata Motors. The two brands no longer contribute to Ford's overall sales tally. But with sales of the British luxury brands under 300,000 vehicles a year, they would not have contributed enough to enable Ford to retain its position among automakers.

Scott Doggett, Contributor

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (3); Scott Doggett July 30, 2008, 1:07 PM
Categories:: Emissions, Ford, Fuel Economy, General Motors, Jaguar, Range Rover, Tata, Toyota, Volkswagen
Technorati Tags:: Emissions

June 2, 2008

Tata-Chrysler Deal Could Bring Nano Minicar EV to U.S., Tata Also Confirms Low-speed Electric Truck Plans

Ace mini-truck may hit U.S. as low-speed electric vehicle in Tata-Chrysler deal.

By Nick Kurczewski, Contributor

In a move that could have strong implications for the arrival of the ultra-low-cost Tata Nano mini-car in the U.S. market, Tata Motors has announced that it’s teaming with Chrysler LLC to build mini-trucks in America, at least one model a low-speed electric vehicle.

Speaking with reporters in Mumbai last week, P.M. Telang, executive director at Tata Motors, confirmed a January report that the two manufacturers will develop battery-electric versions of the trucks. Tata Motors and Chrysler have given no specifics about the trucks themselves, and no production date or manufacturing site has been confirmed.

However, a glance at Tata’s current Indian market offerings shows that the most probable candidate is the company’s Ace mini-truck.

With prices starting at only $5,000, the Ace is a cut-price utility vehicle that can be had as either a small pickup or passenger van.

Rugged and cheap, the Ace could be a handy delivery vehicle for the American market – especially in crowded city centers. But its feeble17-horsepower two-cylinder diesel engine would have to go as it’s too under-powered for American roads.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (1); John O'Dell June 2, 2008, 3:01 AM
Categories:: Chrysler, India, Plug-ins and Electric, Tata

May 15, 2008

Nano Maker Tata to Compete in Automotive X-Prize

If a $2,500 car from India isn't enough for automakers to worry about, Tata Motors now says it will develop an all-electric vehicle to compete in the upcoming automotive X-Prize competition.

The contest, underwritten by Progressive Insurance, is offering a $10 million purse to contestants who can come up with a new car that is suitable for mass production and can achieve fuel economy equivalent to 100 miles per gallon or better. Entrants also have to have a business plan for making and marketing their vehicle.

Organizers hope the competition will showcase viable alternatives to the internal combustion engine as well as technologies that improve ICE performance and reduce emissions.

Tata, best known for the four-seat Nano "people's car" that it introduced at the New Dehli auto show earlier this year and has said will sell for the equivalent of $2,500, actually plans to enter two vehicles in the Progressive Insurance Automotive X-Prize competition, the Santa Monica-based X-Prize Foundation said this morning.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); John O'Dell May 15, 2008, 8:48 AM
Categories:: Alternative Fuels, Emissions, Plug-ins and Electric, Tata

February 11, 2008

Tata's $2,500 Car Slated for Europe in 2012

India's Tata Motors wants to bring the next generation of its super-affordable Nano car to the European market by 2012, the company's compact car projects director said in an interview with the German magazine Focus .

"We will develop a successor model in four years time, which will meet the Euro 5 emission regulations and the crash standards in Europe," Girish Wagh was quoted as saying in an advance abstract of the article published Sunday and reported by Reuters news service.

Tata unveiled the $2,500 Nano, the world's cheapest car, at the New Delhi auto show in January and said production of the four-seater would begin lateer this year fat the Tata factory in West Bengal.

Tata has said it will initially produce about 250,000 Nanos and expects eventual annual demand of 1 million units...

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); John O'Dell February 11, 2008, 12:00 PM
Categories:: India, Tata

January 23, 2008

Chrysler Reported in U.S. Electric Truck Deal With Tata

Tata Ace could be heading for U.S. as a low-speed electric truck.

Chrysler Corp. and India's Tata Motors reportedly have signed a development deal for Chrysler's neighborhood electric car unit to import and market a new vehicle based on the Tata Ace mini-truck.

While the 1-ton truck uses a 17 horsepower diesel motor in India, the U.S. version would use a battery-electric drivetrain from Chrysler's Global Electric Motors, according to a report this week in India's Business Line magazine.