Tata and Chrysler to Collaborate on Making Electric Vehicles
by Jeremy Elton Jacquot, Los Angeles on 01.24.08
Image courtesy of DjohEnInde via flickr
Having just unveiled its $2,500 Nano to much fanfare, India's top carmaker, Tata Motors, is already setting its sights on the U.S. market; Reuters' Rina Chandran and The Hindu Business Line's Alka Kshirsagar are reporting that the Indian company has just signed a development contract with Chrysler - specifically its Global Electric Motorcars (GEM) unit - to bring an electric version of its Ace mini truck stateside.
Kshirsagar's industry sources informed him that the vehicle has already "passed required safety and reliability tests," and that the prototype is now "ready for production." The fully built Ace units Tata plans on sending GEM will lack an engine or gearbox; the American company will be tasked with equipping the units with motors and controllers.
The electric vehicles GEM has helped build run on 72 V electrolyte or gel batteries; have a range of 30-40 miles on a single charge; and can go up to 25 mph.
The Indian carmaker hopes to begin exporting around 10,000 units by year's end, with production expected to ramp up to 50,000 units soon thereafter. In addition to bringing an electric version of the Ace to the U.S. market, Tata is studying the feasibility of launching it in its domestic market; the Ace is currently manufactured at its two plants in Pune and Pant Nagar.
Via ::Reuters: Tata to make electric vehicles with Chrysler: report (news website), ::The Hindu Business Line: Tata Motors inks deal with Chrysler electric vehicle unit (newspaper)
See also: ::The Tata Nano Unveiled, ::Israel Says Shalom to Electric Cars
Alas, another NEV. It is going to be a long battle.
Aye, but it will like have a price tag five times the price in India. =(
WOW! Now we'll have another opportunity to buy an NEV which will be allowed to go up to 25 mph in a 35 mph zone. Sort of a cross between a "rolling road block" and a "road rage encouragement" device. I'll bet buyers are lining up now in blissful anticipation.
Sure, 25 mph is too slow for most people in the western world. But, in many big cities with lots of congestion then the actual average speed is only 6-9 mph...
The biggest hurdle is that 25mph is max speed so it will probably take a max speed of 40-45 mph before it becomes a commercial main stream success.
But still - this car looks like a real car - and, it has shaved off all un-needed weight. So, whereever electric cars will become successful then this one should be the first one for obvious reasons.
A) it is very low cost and therefore the expected extra cost for making is electric will still make the car cost less than a regular car.
B) Due to its already low weight then whatever batteries and motor is needs is so much less than a "regular car turned into an electric car".
Yes, That car will need some improvements that will probably make it cost $500 more but it is going to be a de facto car anyway for electric cars.
The picture above is not the vehicle in question. The picture looks like a Tata Nano. The article is about an Ace, a small 2 seat truck. Market for the electric Ace is probably urban delivery vehicles that will likely only see the 6-9 mph that bulgarien mentioned.
Too bad it's just another NEV, neighborhood electric vehicle. The 25 MPH limit is just not good enough for most American communities.
I would like to own a BEV, but never a NEV. If I wanted to go
I am sick on NEV's also, Thanks Mark for the great comments.
You know, it is possible to make conventional electric cars that look normal and drive normal.
Prior to 2003 I could have purchased:
A RAV4 EV conventional body, 55 mph top speed, 5 seats
A Think City car 35 mph, 2 seats plus storage,
A Sparrow, 55 + mph, 1 seat
A EV1
Now what can I get, A golf cart..............
http://www.greencarcongress.com/2007/05/california_arb_.html
When will the Tara Tiny be available in the US?