SAE 2009: all-electric Tata Indica getting ready for Norway, then the world

frankmehta · 22nd April 2009, 02:19

Although the all-electric Tata Indica on display at the SAE World Congress in Detroit this week is not the soon-to-be-released model, there's a lot we can learn from the vehicle - and from TM4's Eriz Azeroual - about how the technology will be implemented when the new model goes on sale in Norway either later this year or in early 2010 (yes, this is later than previously expected). Tata Motors showed off the Indica EV at the Bologna Motor Show in December, but the hatchback is making an appearance in Detroit because of the work that TM4, a subsidiary of Hydro Québec, did providing the permanent magnet motor and the inverter. TM4's Azeroual (he's business development manager there) told us that a limited number of the Indica's are already testing in Norway and that Tata Motors is "a cool company. Very aggressive." Even though they're most famous for the Nano and apparently wanting to dominate the low-end automobile market, in Europe market they want to be known for electric vehicles.

Norway is a perfect entry point to bring an EV to Europe because there is a high tax on gasoline-powered vehicles. The high cost of electric vehilces isn't totally equalized by the taxes, but EVs and gas-powered vehicle prices end up being "comparable" in Norway and this presents customers with an "interesting choice," Azeroual said. Following the Norwegian introduction, Tata plans to expand the Indica EV to other European markets and then possibly the U.S.

COURTESY: Autoblog Green -- We Obsessively Cover The Green Scene

frankmehta · 22nd April 2009, 03:05

just got me thinking. why not the vista? new platform, more modern. and they couldve used this tech in India too!
nonetheless, this is something to be proud about. India is growing in respect in the International Auto Industry by leaps and bounds. Tata is one of the reasons why!
Very happy to see this.

shortbread · 22nd April 2009, 05:55

I dont think the old Indica would be a problem, actually it has a couple of advantages, Primarily the cost, the older platform is far cheaper for Tata by the virtue of being in the market for so long. Also if you take competition into account, the likes of the Think city car or the G Wiz (our very own Reva) are poor excuses for a car, its mostly plastic panels bolted onto a frame and the crudeness is there to see. The only serious electric car coming out soon will be the GM Volt/Ampera, but that will be far more expensive and is still a few years away. U.K has aldready announced an incentive (£5000/car) for electric cars in a couple of years and one can expect other EU nations to follow suit in the near future. Strangely the only players in this segment are very small companies with products that still cant hold candle to a standard modern day car.
But the old Indica doesnt have the best of reputation in Europe especially in U.K due to the CityRover debacle. Also the Vista is miles ahead of the older Indica in every stake. May as well grab the market by the horns rather than wait and react when the competition catches up.
Nonetheless kudos to Tata, this is one hell of an initiative.

undead · 22nd April 2009, 07:00

Very Nice. Good to see Tata moving into Green Category. Wish them Success in the International Market.

Digital Vampire · 22nd April 2009, 10:53

Do I see a radiator on the Electric Indica!!!

I'm hazarding a guess that they are there to cool the MOSFET/HEXFET bridge packs or the motor. If thats the case, the efficiency could be suspect. Or did they just leave it there from the donor vehicle?

Tata indeed make India proud. Much respect Ratan'ji

srishiva · 22nd April 2009, 11:04

I had posted the price of this in Norway in some other thread. Auto express, UK had mentioned about 25000 GBP. Is this atrocious price true? (for a electric drive train in a not so good old Indica)

dockap · 22nd April 2009, 11:08

wow 160 bhp electric indica

what would be the 0 to 100 timings in this car 6 secs?
no engine sound you cant even hear it coming

sharma_sanjeevi · 22nd April 2009, 11:16

Kudos to TATA, good to see that our desi company has made progress in leaps and bounds.

It would be better if they would have used the Vista Platform as it is a modern platform and hopefully all the drawback such as ergonomics front visibility would have been taken care.

Earlier TATA showed the Electric Vista, what happened to that ?

Spark · 22nd April 2009, 14:06

Radiator and a single battery under the hood indicates that this is some kind of hybrid fuel cell car rather than an all electric one - just my guesses. Well rest seems good but the indica harness!! Its bulky and out of date shape somewhat doesn't go well with the futuristic theme.

autocrazy · 22nd April 2009, 15:23

It will indeed be the Indica Vista EV. Did you guys forget the unveiling of Indica Vista EV at this years Geneva Motor Show

amulu10 · 22nd April 2009, 18:23

wow wow! man the indica vista ev looks sexy man.. the rims on that are cool.

coming to the specs..! 160hp..

. electric motors have instantaneous torque so that thing could rocket to 100 pretty fast. if it has a range of 250kms and under 10laks when it launches in India then consider it booked already!

cooldude1988765 · 22nd April 2009, 21:32

Holy smoke 160hp in an indica. Imagine taking corners ...
TATA is surely getting worldwide attention. first nano then JLR and now an electric indica WOW.

lalith_ka · 23rd April 2009, 08:10

holy cow, too good to be true. If it's otherwise, it would surely be one innocent looking beast. Would want to see Honda VTec vs. Indica EV 'flyby'.

To all, to achieve this kind of thrust, what sort of battery would be put to use and what would be the longevity? Your2Cents...

TeddyBear · 23rd April 2009, 18:03

Amazing Performance & Mileage figures. It is affordable in europe with tax breaks.

I have read somewhere that this Lithium Polymer battery pack ( I guess not the one shown in the above picture) costs as much as Rs. 4Lacs, which pushes the car cost, and no wonder Tata stick to the Indica V2 to introduce. Anyway Vista Petrol & diesel is due to launch in europe and no electric Vista's are expected prior to that.

loving_alaap · 24th April 2009, 14:48

Great...!

Will surely buy one (if battery replacement cost is reasonable)

22nd April 2009, 02:19	#1
frankmehta Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Mumbai Posts: 3,999 Thanked: 3,575 Times View My Garage	SAE 2009: all-electric Tata Indica getting ready for Norway, then the world Although the all-electric Tata Indica on display at the SAE World Congress in Detroit this week is not the soon-to-be-released model, there's a lot we can learn from the vehicle - and from TM4's Eriz Azeroual - about how the technology will be implemented when the new model goes on sale in Norway either later this year or in early 2010 (yes, this is later than previously expected). Tata Motors showed off the Indica EV at the Bologna Motor Show in December, but the hatchback is making an appearance in Detroit because of the work that TM4, a subsidiary of Hydro Québec, did providing the permanent magnet motor and the inverter. TM4's Azeroual (he's business development manager there) told us that a limited number of the Indica's are already testing in Norway and that Tata Motors is "a cool company. Very aggressive." Even though they're most famous for the Nano and apparently wanting to dominate the low-end automobile market, in Europe market they want to be known for electric vehicles. Norway is a perfect entry point to bring an EV to Europe because there is a high tax on gasoline-powered vehicles. The high cost of electric vehilces isn't totally equalized by the taxes, but EVs and gas-powered vehicle prices end up being "comparable" in Norway and this presents customers with an "interesting choice," Azeroual said. Following the Norwegian introduction, Tata plans to expand the Indica EV to other European markets and then possibly the U.S. COURTESY: Autoblog Green -- We Obsessively Cover The Green Scene
	() Thanks $Received Infraction$

22nd April 2009, 03:05	#2
frankmehta Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Mumbai Posts: 3,999 Thanked: 3,575 Times View My Garage	just got me thinking. why not the vista? new platform, more modern. and they couldve used this tech in India too! nonetheless, this is something to be proud about. India is growing in respect in the International Auto Industry by leaps and bounds. Tata is one of the reasons why! Very happy to see this.
	() Thanks

22nd April 2009, 05:55	#3
shortbread Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: KL 7 Posts: 2,387 Thanked: 6,265 Times	I dont think the old Indica would be a problem, actually it has a couple of advantages, Primarily the cost, the older platform is far cheaper for Tata by the virtue of being in the market for so long. Also if you take competition into account, the likes of the Think city car or the G Wiz (our very own Reva) are poor excuses for a car, its mostly plastic panels bolted onto a frame and the crudeness is there to see. The only serious electric car coming out soon will be the GM Volt/Ampera, but that will be far more expensive and is still a few years away. U.K has aldready announced an incentive (£5000/car) for electric cars in a couple of years and one can expect other EU nations to follow suit in the near future. Strangely the only players in this segment are very small companies with products that still cant hold candle to a standard modern day car. But the old Indica doesnt have the best of reputation in Europe especially in U.K due to the CityRover debacle. Also the Vista is miles ahead of the older Indica in every stake. May as well grab the market by the horns rather than wait and react when the competition catches up. Nonetheless kudos to Tata, this is one hell of an initiative.
	() Thanks

22nd April 2009, 07:00	#4
undead Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Bhavani - Komarapalayam Posts: 1,193 Thanked: 179 Times	Very Nice. Good to see Tata moving into Green Category. Wish them Success in the International Market.
	() Thanks

22nd April 2009, 10:53	#5
Digital Vampire BHPian Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Utopia! Posts: 595 Thanked: 105 Times	Do I see a radiator on the Electric Indica!!! I'm hazarding a guess that they are there to cool the MOSFET/HEXFET bridge packs or the motor. If thats the case, the efficiency could be suspect. Or did they just leave it there from the donor vehicle? Tata indeed make India proud. Much respect Ratan'ji Last edited by Digital Vampire : 22nd April 2009 at 10:56.
	() Thanks

22nd April 2009, 11:04	#6
srishiva Senior - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Bengaluru Posts: 4,375 Thanked: 2,256 Times	I had posted the price of this in Norway in some other thread. Auto express, UK had mentioned about 25000 GBP. Is this atrocious price true? (for a electric drive train in a not so good old Indica)
	() Thanks

22nd April 2009, 11:08	#7
dockap BHPian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Mangalore Posts: 868 Thanked: 478 Times View My Garage	wow 160 bhp electric indica what would be the 0 to 100 timings in this car 6 secs? no engine sound you cant even hear it coming
	() Thanks

22nd April 2009, 11:16	#8
sharma_sanjeevi BHPian Join Date: May 2008 Location: Mumbai Posts: 598 Thanked: 113 Times	Kudos to TATA, good to see that our desi company has made progress in leaps and bounds. It would be better if they would have used the Vista Platform as it is a modern platform and hopefully all the drawback such as ergonomics front visibility would have been taken care. Earlier TATA showed the Electric Vista, what happened to that ?
	() Thanks

22nd April 2009, 14:06	#9
Spark BHPian Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: New Delhi Posts: 96 Thanked: 9 Times View My Garage	Radiator and a single battery under the hood indicates that this is some kind of hybrid fuel cell car rather than an all electric one - just my guesses. Well rest seems good but the indica harness!! Its bulky and out of date shape somewhat doesn't go well with the futuristic theme.
	() Thanks

22nd April 2009, 15:23	#10
autocrazy BHPian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Coventry Posts: 34 Thanked: 14 Times	Indica Vista EV It will indeed be the Indica Vista EV. Did you guys forget the unveiling of Indica Vista EV at this years Geneva Motor Show Attached Thumbnails
	() Thanks

22nd April 2009, 18:23	#11
amulu10 BHPian Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: detroit Posts: 243 Thanked: 19 Times	wow wow! man the indica vista ev looks sexy man.. the rims on that are cool. coming to the specs..! 160hp.. . electric motors have instantaneous torque so that thing could rocket to 100 pretty fast. if it has a range of 250kms and under 10laks when it launches in India then consider it booked already!
	() Thanks

22nd April 2009, 21:32	#12
cooldude1988765 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,041 Thanked: 187 Times	Holy smoke 160hp in an indica. Imagine taking corners ... TATA is surely getting worldwide attention. first nano then JLR and now an electric indica WOW.
	() Thanks

23rd April 2009, 08:10	#13
lalith_ka BHPian Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Bangalore/Singapore Posts: 39 Thanked: 0 Times	holy cow, too good to be true. If it's otherwise, it would surely be one innocent looking beast. Would want to see Honda VTec vs. Indica EV 'flyby'. To all, to achieve this kind of thrust, what sort of battery would be put to use and what would be the longevity? Your2Cents...
	() Thanks

23rd April 2009, 18:03	#14
TeddyBear BHPian Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: horamavu Posts: 409 Thanked: 41 Times	Amazing Performance & Mileage figures. It is affordable in europe with tax breaks. I have read somewhere that this Lithium Polymer battery pack ( I guess not the one shown in the above picture) costs as much as Rs. 4Lacs, which pushes the car cost, and no wonder Tata stick to the Indica V2 to introduce. Anyway Vista Petrol & diesel is due to launch in europe and no electric Vista's are expected prior to that.
	() Thanks

24th April 2009, 14:48	#15
loving_alaap BHPian Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Ahmedabad Posts: 808 Thanked: 9 Times	Great...! Will surely buy one (if battery replacement cost is reasonable)
	() Thanks

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