Tata Motors European Technical Centre PLC (TMETC) has added yet another feather to its cap. The proverbial feather comes to life through research and product development of electric vehicles (EVs). Tata Tiago electric vehicle concept launch was held at the Cenex Low Carbon Vehicle (LCV) event at Millbrook.
Tata Tiago hatchback was launched in India in April 2016. Built on a new gen platform, Tiago is Tata Motors‘ bestseller since launch. In under 18 months, Tiago sales crossed the 7,000 units sales mark for the first time in August 2017. Available in petrol and diesel engine variants, Tata Tiago EV concept widens the vehicle’s potential.
Tata Tiago Electric – Engine & Specs
The battery-electric variant uses a liquid-cooled 85 kW drive motor for 200 Nm of torque. The Front wheel drive (FWD) Tiago EV drives through a single speed gearbox. Energy storage capacity and design of the refrigerant-cooled lithium ion battery pack is developed for minimal disruption to the donor vehicle package.
Tata Tiago EV specifications are as follows. The vehicle goes from 0-60 mph (0 to 100 km/h ) is less than 11 seconds in sport mode. The electric hatchback has a range of over 100 kms on a single charge. Top speed is pegged at 135 km/hr. Vehicle weight stands at 1040 kgs.Tata Tiago EV is optimised for convenient recharging at domestic electrical charging stations available in target markets. This clearly puts India out of the equation as the country is only just beginning serious electric vehicle dialogues that promise an outcome at a future date. An alternative would be for Tata Motors to initiate electric vehicle charging infrastructure, an altogether new field of work.
Tata Tiago Electric – Design, Research and Development
Tata Tiago EV is the fourth gen of compact electric vehicle developed by the R&D team at Coventry in a decade. The work entailed learning derived from half a million kilometres of real-world driving. The brains behind the Tata Tiago electric vehicle concept span a diverse pool of packaging experts, battery design and safety specialists, and e-drive system engineers. Experts were present at LCV 2017 Millbrook,UK to demonstrate and discuss the Tata Tiago EV concept.
In 2009, twenty-five Tata Vista EVs were provided for CABLED fleet trial in the West Midlands. The fleet afforded data on behaviour and durability of key components and systems in UK conditions. Bolt BEV concept was showcased in the 2016 LCV event. This year’s Tata Tiago electric vehicle concept launch extends possibilities through in-market data collection of other regions. The knowledge gained accedes preparedness to adapt to the growing shift towards cleaner fuels and electric vehicles globally.
Development of Tata Motors EV and hybrid capabilities will continue unabated as it moves to the National Automotive Innovation Centre (NAIC) in early 2018. Located on the University of Warwick campus, NAIC brings together three industry-leading companies – Tata Motors European Technical Centre PLC (TMETC), Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), and Warwick Manufacturing Group. Tata Tiago electric vehicle concept is likely to be showcased at the Delhi Auto Expo 2018. TMETC provides research and development for parent company Tata Motors, and selected automotive industry partners. TMETC’s engineering departments scopes all vehicle engineering aspects, and are up to dtae and relevant through training and development programmes. TMETC design studio, is one of three the auto manufacturer commands, and is crucial to design concept creations for future Tata Motors passenger vehicles.
Indian Electric Vehicle Scene
At its 57th Annual Convention, Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), government reps assured help to the Indian automotive industry. The ‘Building the Nation, Responsibly’ convention was designed to discuss global challenges and enhance R&D to introduce cleaner fuel, electric cars.
Through Society of Manufacturers of Electric Vehicles (SMEV), EV industry leaders, and DHI and NITI Aayog reps discussed possibilities to empower adoption of electric vehicles in a quicker and inclusive manner.
Acting as a guide, the ongoing FAME India (Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (hybrid &) Electric vehicles in India) scheme is operational until 2020. The six year plan supports development of the Indian hybrid/electric vehicles market.
FAME India focuses on four core areas – technology development, demand creation, pilot projects, and charging infrastructure. Phase-I was implemented for 2 years (FY 2015-16 and FY 2016-17), and consequently extended for a further period of 6 months till 30th September, 2017. FAME India Scheme incentivises all vehicle segments. This includes hyrid & electric tech, including mild hybrid, strong hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and battery electric vehicles. Through FY 2015-16, Rs. 75 crore was allocated to scheme, and was almost fully utilised. For FY 2016-17, Rs. 122.90 crore was allocated.
FAME India Scheme isn’t applicable PAN-India so the dept depends on data from vehicles sold under Demand Creation focus area. Under the scheme, 1,50,550 electric/hybrid vehicles were incentivised as on 26th July, 2017.
No auto manufacturer, government body or PPP entity in India has as of yet initiated full-fledged EV infra development. A crucial dependency on dedicated infrastructure and the lack of it, and absence of well defined policy has effectively reduced the Indian electric vehicle market to a negligible size. The EV market remains restricted in growth, and as a result, continues to bounce in a perpetual state of nascency.
Photo credit to Sony Thompson of TTRAK.
