[directinjection]

Perhaps in anticipation of a ban on diesel cars in Delhi, Tata Motors has announced plans to introduce a 'mild hybrid' Indica in the Indian market in 2008 and also a 'pure electric' model in Europe in 2009. It's not clear though whether the hybrid will have a diesel or petrol power plant.

Here's the report:

The Hindu Business Line : Tatas eye Europe with electric Indica

[Car-Agey]

Now we atleast know that tatas do think of environment and are working on different technologies.

Congrats Tata's, thats the way to go !!!!

[GeekSrik]

mr. maini, tata is just about to whip you *** and close your company down! revaaaaaarrrrghhhhhhhhh!

[phamilyman]

TATA needs to send the Indica to VLCC before they imagine making it fully electric

[diabloo]

Tata Motor is expected to launch a diesel and petrol-fired hybrid technology on its flagship model Indica. The smaller version of the same technology is also expected in its small car Nano. A Tata Motors executive said: “We are still in the research phase and it will take some time to roll out hybrid vehicles. We have already launched our electric technology in the mini-truck ACE and its improved version will follow in the Indica and Indigo range of cars.”

“The hybrid technology will help these companies meet the advanced euro IV and V norms, which will come into force in the next decade. These companies are developing hybrid systems based on their new line of petrol and diesel engines that mate an electic motor with different automated and manual transmissions,” said a source. These vehicles are expected to hit the Indian market early 2010.

Indian car cos speed up on hybrid road- Automobiles-Auto-News By Industry-News-The Economic Times

[chncar]

Originally Posted by directinjection

Perhaps in anticipation of a ban on diesel cars in Delhi, Tata Motors has announced plans to introduce a 'mild hybrid' Indica in the Indian market in 2008 and also a 'pure electric' model in Europe in 2009. It's not clear though whether the hybrid will have a diesel or petrol power plant.

Here's the report:

The Hindu Business Line : Tatas eye Europe with electric Indica

Why would they ban diesel cars in Delhi? If they did that would be a stupid move since new gen diesels are as good or better than petrols in terms of being 'clean'.

The right way to go would be to get rid of old and inefficient cars, and force all public transport like Auto/Taxi etc to use LPG/CNG, something that they have already done with the buses.

[Screwdriva]

Originally Posted by phamilyman

TATA needs to send the Indica to VLCC before they imagine making it fully electric

Actually, you're more correct than you realize. Manufacturers attempt to electrify existing platforms, and stop midstream in their labs when they realize that they have to design electric vehicles as electric vehicles and that convential designs just aren't good enough.

The Reva, while pretty unusable, was designed as a low cost EV - period. Tata has the advantages of an established, low cost manufacturing setup. They should use this to push the boundaries of Indian science and develop a utra lightweight, aerodynamic EV. Electifying the obese Indica is a mistake, unless drastic measures are taken.

[srishiva]

You need better cars than Indica to put some good technologies like hybrid and electric drivetrains.
If they stop making diesel vehicles first, it would be great for our environment.

[shankar.balan]

BANG ON TARGET!!
Well said!

Originally Posted by chncar

Why would they ban diesel cars in Delhi? If they did that would be a stupid move since new gen diesels are as good or better than petrols in terms of being 'clean'.

The right way to go would be to get rid of old and inefficient cars, and force all public transport like Auto/Taxi etc to use LPG/CNG, something that they have already done with the buses.

[speedzak]

I welcome and congratulate Tata on this decision.

As the car is still under research and development, there will be some sort of Vlcc treatment for sure. We should wait for the final outcome and I hope it turns out to be good for all.

Tata should concentrate more on R&D as they're very much getting into a global player arena.

[theMAG]

Originally Posted by speedzak

I welcome and congratulate Tata on this decision.

Ditto. I have great regard for Tata Motors, and if anything, they can offer the common Indian a cheap non-polluting personal transport choice first.

[Zappo]

Actually Tatas are really big in R&D. In fact I think it is fairly correct to say they have one of the biggest R&D setups in this country when it comes to anything automotive. So do not be surprised that they are thinking on these lines. When you couple this with their efforts to get the Air-powered cars tech to India and their research in ethanol blending, biodiesel etc you will realize that there is a perfect plan in place and multiple teams in their labs are working on these aspects.

By the way, if you can have a hybrid civic and many other similar vehicles that weigh much higher on the scale why can not Indica also have a hybrid model?

srishiva, that statement of your sounds like... you know what without me spelling it out. It has 0 merit and 100% derision in it. And thats not a very healthy or smart way to judge the merit or ingenuity of an effort.

[karanraheja]

Good news. Nice to see Mahindra & now Tata going Hybrid.

[asr245]

Originally Posted by chncar

Why would they ban diesel cars in Delhi? If they did that would be a stupid move since new gen diesels are as good or better than petrols in terms of being 'clean'.

Not sure that's correct. Rather quite sure. New gen diesels are only better (than petrol) when it comes to CO2 emissions. As far as suspended particulates are concerned or sulphur, it is some 30 times more polluting than petrol. All this according to a report in TOI some months ago. Most of this can be taken care by high quality diesel but even if that's made available as an option, how many of us (those with diesel cars) will buy it?


That said - very unlikely they will be able to ban diesel vehicles in Delhi.

[directinjection]

Originally Posted by chncar

Why would they ban diesel cars in Delhi? If they did that would be a stupid move since new gen diesels are as good or better than petrols in terms of being 'clean'.

The right way to go would be to get rid of old and inefficient cars, and force all public transport like Auto/Taxi etc to use LPG/CNG, something that they have already done with the buses.

This has been discussed and debated so many times, including at team-bhp. The argument of Delhi Govt. (which has been advocating the idea) has been that the benefits of converting buses and autoricks to CNG are getting negated by the exploding numbers of diesel cars even if their engines are modern and fuel efficient.

India News - India State News, Ban diesel cars, argue environmentalists

Delhi govt plans ban on diesel cars-Delhi-Cities-The Times of India