Tata Ace electric could be launched in F.Y 2015-16

Electric vehicles have had a strong presence in Indian motor shows and exhibitions. In reality however, they have a relatively weak stance in the automotive industry. In a bid to improve their EV presence, Tata Motors will be launching an electric version of the Ace, with the arrival expected in the next fiscal year.

The light truck has been well received in the commercial vehicle sector so far, but is only offered in diesel or CNG variants in India. The Ace electric will feature an all steel chassis and have a GVW of around 1600 kgs. According to the Tata Motors global commercial vehicle website, the Ace EV produces 35 BHP and 14.2 Nm of torque from its axle mounted DC motor, with the top speed coming in at 40 km/h.

While the current Ace is priced in the Rs 3-5 lakh range, the Ace electric will most likely cost a lot more. The lack of local lithium ion battery manufacturers/suppliers in India forces brands to resort to expensive imports from nations like China. This in turn, raises the product cost, making such projects a gamble.

The lack of supporting infrastructure and policy have deterred manufacturers from going ahead with electric vehicle projects. Mahindra is another brand that has been pursuing its electric ambitions, but if Tata goes through with the Ace electric launch in the next fiscal year, it will be the first all electric commercial vehicle in the country.

Source: Business Standard