Indian automobile industry gears up for ecofriendly vehicles; hybrids and CNG vehicles

It is learnt that Tata Motors has turned to its tried and tested Indica platform for the vehicle.

According to industry sources, the company is currently working on five prototypes of electric vehicles on the Indica platform. ?These will use lithium ion batteries for high energy and power density,? a source said. It is understood that the electric car would have an approximate range of 200 kilometers. Aimed mainly at city driving, Tata Motors? electric car is a part of its larger project on developing eco-friendly vehicles. Besides the electric car, the company is also developing an electric version of its mini truck Ace, primarily for exporting to the US and European markets. The sources said the electric vehicle on the Ace platform is in advanced stage of development. ?The prototype for the vehicle is in production ready stage,? a source added.

Another homegrown auto major Mahindra & Mahindra is also working on various eco friendly vehicles, such as hybrid Scorpio and alternate fuel versions of the vehicle besides electric variants. M&M Vice President, (Marketing, Automotive Sector) Vivek Nayer said the technology for electric vehicle was already with the company.

?We are capable of doing it. Availability of right infrastructure is the challenge as you will need proper facilities to charge your vehicles, while running across the city,? he added. The company, which had showcased its hybrid Scorpio at the Auto Expo in New Delhi earlier this year, is working towards commercialisation of the vehicle. It is also looking at the alternate fuel options for the vehicle.

Nayer said the CNG version of its SUV Scorpio is just a matter of time, especially after it launched the CNG pick-up vehicle, Bolero Pik Up priced at Rs 5.42 lakh.
www.tradingmarkets.com...

India , will soon have fuel efficient CNG luxury SUV like Scorpio,
while USA has only useless gas guzzling big monster SUV v8's


Mod Edit: All Caps – Please Review This Link.




[edit on 21-8-2008 by Gemwolf]

Well they might be testing the new elctric cars, but what is the use when there is a power shortage all over the country and there is a power supply cut nearly half a day and low voltage in the night times, how can the batteries be charged.
But anyway it is very great to see electric car technology coming to India.

[edit on 21-8-2008 by peacejet]

reply to post by manson_322


Yes we're all very excited, no need for all the caps though.
Wasn't there an issue that in fact too many of these cars would cause more pollution?

Originally posted by schrodingers dog
reply to post by manson_322

 

Wasn't there an issue that in fact too many of these cars would cause more pollution?

These are electric cars the final by product is simply water vapour

Originally posted by peacejet

Originally posted by schrodingers dog
reply to post by manson_322

 

Wasn't there an issue that in fact too many of these cars would cause more pollution?

These are electric cars the final by product is simply water vapour

Yes but the pollution caused by actually building them i think he's talking about...cant be to eco friendly with those batteries etc..

[edit on 21-8-2008 by Lethil]

reply to post by Lethil

You are correct partially because now only I thought of the fact that electricity used for charging is mainly produced from coal burning, and anyway technology has improved a lot to not create damage to the environment during the manufacture and disposal of the used batteries

It's very good thing that electrical cars are coming to India. We wont worry about the pollution problem in India now onwards. I think this electric cars give a very good millage and performance comparing to normals.
===============================
brucely
Used Cars

reply to post by manson_322

India will have to increase its electricity generating capacity, distribution and (more importantly) the reliability of supply, if this is to happen.

well depending on how the electricity is produced there may still be pollution... but its still better than petrol

Please don't act like India is developing such great innovative fuel saving cars. Not India, but Germany (and Japan) deserve the kudos.

CNG cars are on the market in Germany for some years already. As a matter of fact, my dad owns a car that runs on gas. We have our own filling station that is directly connected to the gas connection on which my mom cooks the food.

In the US you are starting to see more and more smaller cars, of which many European cars. General Motors imports Opel (Vauxhall) cars rebrands it under the name Saturn and sells it on the US market.

It's ironic that someone from India acts like America is the mean polluting machine while India is one of the most polluting countries on this globe.

Look in the mirror I guess.

[edit on 21-9-2008 by Mdv2]