[TusharK]

According to a media report, Mahindra & Mahindra is working on electric versions of the Scorpio and XUV500. The company is planning to invest Rs. 300-400 crore in converting existing models in to electric vehicles (EVs).



The report states that the company is spending an additional Rs. 500 crore to develop new technologies and to create capacity for electric vehicles. Mahindra Electric (formerly Mahindra Reva) will lead the development of the drivetrain, while M&M will handle product design and development. The car maker is also planning to launch a premium electric SUV by 2020. Mahindra already has three electric vehicles on sale - the eVertio, eSupro and the e20 Plus which was developed in-house.

The announcement comes in the wake of a shift in government policy which favours electric vehicles over conventional petrol or diesel-powered cars.

Source: Money Control

[Reinhard]

One more depressing news about moving away from "engines" to "power units"...The times are changing fast.

And an ambitious target or what? An "SUV" powered by battery in 2.5 years from now? Surely they already have something under cover in the dark part of the factory since a while in that case. Are they saying it will be a purely electric SUV? That will be a quantum leap if yes. Or perhaps a hybrid rather?

If they actually launch a proper SUV like Scorpio/XUV in a price bracket where Indians will actually buy it, Tesla shares will go into negative overnight. And who knows...the Mahindra group likes to buy businesses near bankruptcy .

Seriously...A 1+ tonne SUV on battery by Mahindra...Perplexed...

[theMAG]

I wouldnt be surprised if this is part of Mahindra's global strategy, rather than India-specific strategy. With a signficant part of the developed world mandatorily moving to hybrid/all-electric by 2030, its just a matter of time before that trend fans across most of the world's progressive economies.

[Zigor]

As we grow old in life, we tend to become a little extra environmentally conscious. One seems to worry about the smoke, emissions, pollution and how all this plays havoc with your own health. Not to mention the health of your kids, elderly's in the family.

The 'mature person' in me is happy that we'll actually save the environment by going electric. But, then the enthusiast in me will miss the power, torque, and the grunt of an old school fuel guzzling engine

Still, it's a proactive move which will bring fruits for Mahindra. The step in the right direction.

[SPIKE ARRESTOR]

I think it is high time they stop doing such surgeries with the Scorpio platform. The higher management is somehow hell bent on the Scorpio platform, just because it happens to be a pet project of a senior official there. If they want to make an Electric Vehicle, start from scratch and make something new, rather than making Plastic Surgery versions of MaarO, PeetO, HaarO, JeetO, BhaagO, LootO etc.. High time they do something rational and backed by scientific and financial reasoning, before the customers say Mahindra ChalO HatO.

I sometimes really wonder what these guys are up to !

Spike

[vinair]

Originally Posted by SPIKE ARRESTOR

High time they do something rational and backed by scientific and financial reasoning, before the customers say Mahindra ChalO HatO. Spike

Totally agree!

It's as if Mahindra is all hears to what the Govt has to just say!! From reducing ground clearance, down sizing engines to going electric, Mahindra seems to be going guns at the drop of the hat by the Indian Govt! Can't help but wonder who takes such lightning decisions in the company.

Hope Mahindra gets rid of its love for toothy grills on its electric vehicles atleast!!

[Reinhard]

Originally Posted by SPIKE ARRESTOR

I think it is high time they stop doing such surgeries with the Scorpio platform. The higher management is somehow hell bent on the Scorpio platform, just because it happens to be a pet project of a senior official there. If they want to make an Electric Vehicle, start from scratch and make something new, rather than making Plastic Surgery versions of MaarO, PeetO, HaarO, JeetO, BhaagO, LootO etc.. High time they do something rational and backed by scientific and financial reasoning, before the customers say Mahindra ChalO HatO.

I sometimes really wonder what these guys are up to !

Spike

Hey Spikey, wei gehts!
True certainly that for an electric it is best to have a design from scratch that will be optimal for ev purpose.

However the thought process behind this decision must be very simple. M&M are unchallenged in the mass appeal and customer base for this car. A car that has gutters lining the roof and stone age gasket lined front windshield even in this year and age. Even cheap hatchbacks dont have that.

The car still does and will always get a different kind of respect and side on the road. (A lot of it because who is at the wheel and how it is being driven too.)
Who'll want to lose that craze for it? Rather keep the guaranteed customer base growing, people want a Scorpio. Give them an eScorpio when the time comes. They'll line up like today for sure.

Higher management is always MBA and not necessarily ME/MTech...

[VeluM]

Originally Posted by Reinhard

Hey Spikey, wei gehts!
True certainly that for an electric it is best to have a design from scratch that will be optimal for ev purpose.

True that. However the Scorpio has a separate chassis and body, which means that they could create a separate chassis containing the battery pack with similar mount points for the body and suspension bits. They could even create a "frunk" and move the rear seat back or give it a bit more recline while they were at it, and solve most issues of the current Scorpio in terms of ride/handling and space in one go.

Wishful thinking, maybe.

[ssambyal1980]

Originally Posted by TusharK

According to a media report, Mahindra & Mahindra is working on electric versions of the Scorpio and XUV500. The company is planning to invest Rs. 300-400 crore in converting existing models in to electric vehicles (EVs).

The report states that the company is spending an additional Rs. 500 crore to develop new technologies and to create capacity for electric vehicles. Mahindra Electric (formerly Mahindra Reva) will lead the development of the drivetrain, while M&M will handle product design and development. The car maker is also planning to launch a premium electric SUV by 2020. Mahindra already has three electric vehicles on sale - the eVertio, eSupro and the e20 Plus which was developed in-house.

The announcement comes in the wake of a shift in government policy which favours electric vehicles over conventional petrol or diesel-powered cars.

With two muscular SUV's from the Mahindra's stable going in for 'heart transplant surgery' the prospective customers will surely miss the power and torque that these beasts have on the offing. As is quite well remarked by our fellow members that the best bet would be to begin the change from new platforms. The company by carrying on the experiment on the current hugely successful platforms of Scorpio and XUV 500 for sure runs the risk of diluting their incredible goodwill and popularity. Lets hope for the best.

[SPIKE ARRESTOR]

Originally Posted by Reinhard

Hey Spikey, wei gehts!
True certainly that for an electric it is best to have a design from scratch that will be optimal for ev purpose.

Hola, mir geht's gut, Danke, hoffentlich dir auch?

The car still does and will always get a different kind of respect and side on the road. (A lot of it because who is at the wheel and how it is being driven too.)
Who'll want to lose that craze for it? Rather keep the guaranteed customer base growing, people want a Scorpio. Give them an eScorpio when the time comes. They'll line up like today for sure.

My reasoning is simple, Scorpio was never conceptualized for all this. Just see for yourself, it started with a leaf spring suspension, then they did a multi-link suspension, then they called world class tuning experts to optimize the suspension, not sure if they mounted the Xylo axle in the newer models? Despite all these, did the boat like feeling and the "head toss" go? NO. The problem lies in the base itself, no matter what they do, it will remain. It might improve a wee bit but the basic problem is still there - high CG, weight distribution (longitudinal and transverse), and Kerb weight.

Higher management is always MBA and not necessarily ME/MTech...

That's where the problem mostly starts.

Spike

[pgsagar]

Originally Posted by Reinhard

... A car that has gutters lining the roof and stone age gasket lined front windshield even in this year and age. Even cheap hatchbacks dont have that.

Yes, a 16 lakh Scorpio cannot have this but a 3 crore Mercedes G-Class can have stone-age gasket lined front windshield and rain-gutters and plain ugly ruler straight lines. All this in 2017.

[Reinhard]

Originally Posted by pgsagar

Yes, a 16 lakh Scorpio cannot have this but a 3 crore Mercedes G-Class can have stone-age gasket lined front windshield and rain-gutters and plain ugly ruler straight lines. All this in 2017.

Are you suggesting that the two cars are comparable in all aspects?
GWagon is an offroad jeep. Not a normal SUV. Cant compare those IMO.

The point here is that the Scorpio is simply too old now and MnM is just going on patching it further.
A GWagon having something can be a negative for it. Gasketted windshields on contemporary SUVs is an eyesore beyond contention.

GWagon is an overpriced niche vehicle. Its not a benchmark of anything for normal use at all. So we shouldn't compare. You can compare it with a THAR or Gurkha perhaps.

Don't get offended. I like the Scorpio and the S4Plus 4x4 is on top of the upgrade list for me since some days now. Marks all checkboxes in my requirements list. But one has to accept drawbacks too.

[GTO]

Originally Posted by SPIKE ARRESTOR

I think it is high time they stop doing such surgeries with the Scorpio platform.

So agreed. It's damn outdated, but understandably Mahindra will sell it till as long as customers are buying it. The Scorpio still enjoys mega success, selling between 4,000 - 5,000 copies a month.

However, to use it for an electric vehicle . It's too inefficient (be it in terms of cabin space or weight) & old to become an EV. And just imagine the weight with all those batteries - 2,500+ kilos?

[SmartCat]

Originally Posted by GTO

However, to use it for an electric vehicle . It's too inefficient (be it in terms of cabin space or weight) & old to become an EV. And just imagine the weight with all those batteries - 2,500+ kilos?

Did some investigation on this matter and the results are surprising. Electric Scorpio is likely to be only 4 to 5% (approx) heavier than Diesel Scorpio. The assumption is based on difference in weight of diesel Verito and Electric Verito

Diesel Verito Gross Weight: 1.63 tonnes



Electric Verito Gross Weight: 1.7 tonnes



Since there is no mention of Kerb weight of electric Verito, we are looking at Gross Weight numbers (kerb weight + 5 passengers + luggage + full tank).

Relatively small increase in weight despite the addition of heavy batteries can be explained by this logic -

1) Conventional diesel engine + manual transmission is heavy when compared to electric motor + single speed automatic transmission
2) Electric vehicle will not need radiator, coolant tank, coolant, transmission oil, all those pipes to carry fluids, fuel tank, fuel in tank etc.

I read somewhere that a typical internal combustion car has 1000 parts while an electric vehicle of same size has around 500 parts. Most of these parts are likely to be pipes, nuts and bolts - but they all add up I guess.

[sharktale]

I do not believe the media report. Pawan Goenka, the MD of M&M himself is stating that they won't put an electric engine on any of their body-on-frame chassis based vehicles, as it just won't be feasible.

Just check this interview :

AUTOCAR : Interview with Pawan Goenka