Recently, at around 40,000 kms, I again started seeing the HV critical alert when the battery went below 35%.

BHPian anshumandun recently shared this with other enthusiasts:

HV Critical and 45000 kms update:

Tata has replaced the entire battery to fix the HV Critical Alert issue.

I had posted in 2023 about facing HV critical alert issue when car was at 15,000 kms. That time, the Motor Control Unit and some HV wiring harness were changed and the car worked fine for 1 year.

Recently, at around 40,000 kms, I again started seeing the HV critical alert when the battery went below 35%. At 45,000 kms, I gave the car for servicing and asked them to check the problem. I was told that it's a battery issue and Tata has approved full battery replacement under warranty. It took 5 days for new battery to come and get installed. 45k service was also done which was a regular service with addition of brake oil change.

There is also a software update done. It feels like that the throttle response is slightly dull now but I am not sure. Need to drive more to confirm this.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

I noticed someone else on the Tata EV WhatsApp group was also experiencing the same issue on renewing the subscription after a gap.

BHPian varkey recently shared this with other enthusiasts:

So I had renewed my subscription on Saturday after over a year now that the price is reduced. Immediately after paying the fee, the app showed the subscription as active, however the car wasn't showing as connected. I tried going for a 10-15 minute drive, but still no luck, the app would just show the car as Disconnected and error out.

Initially I thought the internal mobile SIM didn't get automatically re-activated, so I emailed ZConnect support (zconnectsupport@tatamotors.com) and followed up with a call (1800-209-8282). They gave a standard response (possibly from their SOP for such issues) to drive the vehicle for 10-15 minutes, park the vehicle, lock, walk away with the key and wait another 5-10 minutes. Then try to send a command from the app. I had already done a similar step, but it made no difference so I conveyed the same. I was asked to email the details (again) so that they can escalate to the concerned team, which I did, shortly after I got a response saying they have escalated it. This was on Saturday night and still no response.

Then I noticed someone else on the Tata EV WhatsApp group was also experiencing the same issue on renewing the subscription after a gap. Based on the discussion, that person had success by force restarting the Telematics Control Unit under the passenger seat.

The telematics unit has a velcro covering and can be accessed from the rear. The TCU connector has many wires, and is a bit big, once removed, re-connect after 3-5 minutes. Be careful not to bend any of the pins. Once reconnected, go for a drive so that the device activates. Initially I did not start the vehicle after the TCU restart, and when the vehicle is off, the unit is mostly in a sleep state. Later during the day once I went for a drive, it quickly updated and showed active connection from the ZConnect app.

Read BHPian comments for more insights and information.

My 8-year-old XUV500 would have fewer service centre visits than the 1.5-year-old Tiago EV.

BHPian Aceman82 recently shared this with other enthusiasts:

I got the dreaded HV critical error today. The car had around 32% state of charge (SOC) when the HV Critical error appeared. The vehicle is approximately 1.5 years old and has only been driven for about 5,000 km. It's primarily used for school runs and is the third car in our garage.
The HV critical error suddenly appeared at around 32% SOC, and the vehicle went into limp mode before coming to a full stop. I turned off the car and restarted it; the error went away, but the car was operating with reduced performance. I drove it to my home garage and parked it, at which point the HV alert appeared once more.

I tried to charge the car, but the alert keeps popping up, and it refuses to charge. I'll need to call Roadside Assistance (RSA) tomorrow and request a tow to the service center if it fails to charge in the morning as well.

If a vehicle with only 5,000 km on it experiences battery issues, what are the chances of reliability in a high-mileage vehicle? Who would want to own such a car outside of warranty?

This is my third car in the garage (I have two other cars and two two-wheelers), so I don't mind it being in the service center for extended periods. Saying that, My 8 year old XUV500 would had less service centre visits than the 1.5 year old Tiago EV .

This is quickly turning out to be a garage queen where one needs infinite money and patience to keep a EV car from Tata.

Will keep this thread posted on updates to the Battery issue.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

Sadly it seems that while TATA is selling EVs like hot cakes they are struggling to service and maintain them.

BHPian AKINA recently shared this with other enthusiasts

Tiago EV LR XZ+ Tech Plus bought in March 2023. It was one of the 1st cars manufactured as the vin shows December 2022.

After close to 14,000 kms I have encountered the dreaded HV Critical Error.

Update:-

So I got the car charged to 100% and tried using it again. Everything worked fine initially.

However this time when the car hit 46% SOC the limp home mode began flashing followed by the HV error. I was on the W.E. highway on my way to Oberoi Mall so I carried on in the hopes that I can charge there.

Just as I entered the basement parking the car cut out. After cycling the iginition on and off it finally started long enough for me to park at the charger. Charging was done till 82% SOC and then i left for home.

The following day I immediately scheduled an appointment to bring her in to the ASC at Worli.

Shockingly the appointment date I received was for the 9th of September, almost a month away. The reason, huge load of EVs at the service centre. This was also true of the other ASC's i enquired with.

Sadly it seems that while TATA is selling EVs like hot cakes they are struggling to service and maintain them.

Finally the appointment date arrived and having charged the car to 100% SOC the previous night I set out for the Worli ASC which is about 40kms from my residence. Luckily dropped off the car with no issues apart from the usual long wait to meet the service advisor. They said that they will check the battery condition etc. and get back to me.

Just got a call a few minutes back saying that the entire HV battery pack is going to be replaced. Timeline approx is 10 days.

The battery pack will be a refurbushed unit according to them and the original battery warranty will remain the same as before. They have asked me to pick up the car and use it but the SOC should not go below 50%. Once they receive the replacement battery pack they will ask me to come in again.

Is this ok? Should i be asking them for anything else specifically?

I have asked them to send me the same in writing via email.

Read BHPian comments for more insights and information.

Looking at the price of Tigor.ev, it seems that Tata is least interested in selling it.

BHPian JoseTheScorpion recently shared this with other enthusiasts:

I was just going through the TATA.ev website, which I must say is an amazing webpage to visit , and I was checking the starting prices of all the ev vehicles.

• Tiago.ev starts @ 7.99 Lakhs (what!! that's a steal)
• Punch.ev starts @ 9.99 Lakhs
• Tigor.ev starts @ 12.49 Lakhs (4.5 Lakhs more than Tiago - for a bigger boot? )
• Nexon.ev starts @12.49 Lakhs
• Curvv.ev starts @17.49 Lakhs

Looking at the price of Tigor.ev, it seems that Tata is least interested in selling it. My question being why is it 4.5 lakhs more expensive than Tiago. I see only the following advantages in Tigor.ev over the Tiago.ev

Bigger battery:

• Tiago XE has a 19.2 kWh High energy density Lithium ion battery pack
• Tigor XE has a 26 kWh High energy density Lithium ion battery pack

More powerful electric motor:

• Tiago XE has a 45 kW motor
• Tigor XE has a 55 kW motor

I don’t see any other major differences, but asking for an additional 4.5 Lakhs for the Tigor XE seems highly overpriced—almost delusional.

Do you guys agree or am I missing something here?

Here's what BHPian Motard_Blr had to say on the matter:

The Tigor EV is sold majorly to fleet operators. It maybe a marketing strategy to discourage individual consumers from buying one so that the other EVs in their portfolio are not sold to fleet and become known as taxi cars.

Here's what BHPian narayans80 had to say on the matter:

When I visited the Tata showroom to see Punch.ev about a month back. The sales executive said, they were asked not to sell Tigor EV. I didn't dig further whether it was fleet only or there was a facelift around the corner.

But that explains the lack of price correction on the Tigor vis-a-vis other Tata EVs.

Here's what BHPian ferrarirules had to say on the matter:

Sub-4m sedans is a dying segment. So i think Tata is just not looking at the price for the same. Also, Tata doesn't sell Tigor.EV for fleet. It sells it in under Xpress-T moniker similar to Maruti selling dzire as Dzire-Tour. The pricing for Xpress-T can be completely different to Tigor.EV.

Here's what BHPian Nanolover had to say on the matter:

I think the ideal delta for comparison is the Tiago XT LR and the tigor XT in this case the difference is 3 lakhs. ( 9.99 vs 12.99). Tigor has an official discount of 75 k as per the website.

Even then, the price difference of 2 lakhs is a bit too much ( I own a tigor ev and Tiago ev) . The major advantage of tigor ev is much better space in the back ( Tiago is cramped in the back) and fuller rear seats with soft headrest and a center armrest. Also it gets a full size spare wheel over the Tiago.

The difference should be 75k - 1 lakh max in my opinion. Having said that I have seen quite a few tigors here in Trivandrum. Love their new burgundy red colour exclusive to the ev.

Here's what BHPian vshankarhere had to say on the matter:

Tigor.ev is unofficially discontinued I guess. You will not see the vehicle available anywhere. It is available only to fleet owners under Xpress T name. Few dealers might carry some stocks which is why the webpage is active I feel.

Here's what BHPian JunkyardHunter had to say on the matter:

The truth is that Tata isn't interested in selling sedans anymore. Check out their massive lineup and the Tigor cuts a lonely figure for itself as the only sedan, with no massive pros above the Tiago (apart form the bigger boot). Same goes for the Tigor.ev. If it hasn't been for the XPress-T, it would have been discontinued long ago.

Although this does beg the question - why doesn't Tata pull the Tigor and Tigor.ev from the market and sell only the XPress-T?

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

The limp home mode begins flashing first followed by the usual loss in power and AC shutting off.

BHPian AKINA recently shared this with other enthusiasts:

Hey guys.

Need some advice.

Tiago EV LR XZ+ Tech Plus bought in March 2023. It was one of the 1st cars manufactured as the vin shows December 2022.

After close to 14,000 kms I have encountered the dreaded HV Critical Error but not just that...

The limp home mode begins flashing first followed by the usual loss in power and AC shutting off.

As i keep driving the HV error rears it's head, the car is still driveable but this is highly disconcerting.

Moreover this has happened three times now;

1. 1st time when returning from Pune to Mumbai, about 2kms from my place at 7% charge. Limp home mode was already on but the HV error popped up suddenly at a traffic light. Luckily I managed to get home and charge as the car was still driveable and did not shut off. After charging the error dissapeared, so I thought it wasn't a big deal.
2. 2nd time during heavy rain and getting splashed a bit by other vehicles the flashing limp home mode came on for the first time at 21% charge followed shortly by the HV error. Again I managed to drive home safely and charge the vehicle. Now I was getting a little concerned but again after charging the errors dissapeared.
3. 3rd and last time it again started with limp home mode flashing and then the HV error, this time at 32% charge. Reached home and parked it and haven't driven it since.

When I spoke to a service technician they gave me the useless recommendation to unplug the LV battery for a few minutes and then see if the error symbol dissapears. I don't want to reset the light, i need a solution to why it's happening.

Diagnosing via ZConnect shows no issues.

P.S- The car has been charged at home via slow charging about 98% of its life, although it was charged twice via DC chargers on my trip to Pune after which this saga has ensued.

Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Here's what BHPian ferrarirules had to say on the matter:

If you have been charging to 100% regularly, there are high chances of this being a bad battery. Please report this to Tata.

Here's what BHPian vj_v3 had to say on the matter:

I don't know why there is not much noise in Social media and here in TBHP about the HV critical alert on TATA EV's but based on my exposure to various whatsapp groups and telegram channels for Tata EV's, i would straight away make the claim that more than 30-40% of Tata Ev's have a battery problem that causes HV critical errors and stalls the vehicle.

I know that Tata is very well aware of the issues with their battery packs but they continue to launch more and more vehicles with the same problem.

I see atleast 2 people report these issues on different whatsapp groups each day, some are able to get home or to the closest charger by disconnecting the 12v battery for a few minutes and reconnecting to be able to drive a few kms before the error returns again, while most others are just stranded.

The Tata EV veterans purely based on their experience have determined that this issue does not happen if people deep cycle the battery pack (soc 10% or lower) on a regular basis (once in 1-2 months). For people who cycle the battery to say upto 25% regularly, but on one instance during a trip they end up going way below, the error occurs and they get stranded on the highway with towing to nearest service center as the only option. Same scenario for different people based on how low they have been going in the past. I'd like to note here that i have been deep cycling my own tata ev to various SOC levels, sometimes close to 0 and i have not faced the issue in the last 1.5 yrs/15k kms. There are many people who do the same and have not faced issues but 100's of others who are scared of deep cycling and possibly degrading their battery packs and end up hitting the issue at some point.

Each time this is reported to Tata service centers, they just keep the car for 2-3 days each time, probably clear some errors and do some kind of software calibration/balancing and return the car and in almost all cases, the issue just returns almost immediately. after 2-3 instances of this drama, they replace they engage Tata engineer and he recommends a battery pack replacement. And then they recommend customer not to go below 20% SOC etc and give other lame suggestions. The advertised range of a tiago is 315, the real world range is 200 or less and then they recommend us not to go below 20%, what a joke.

Many customers with replaced battery pack have faced the same issue again and there are people who have had 2 or even 3 battery packs replaced so far to no avail.

Some unfortunate customer face this issue immediately after they get a new (not clear if they are brand new or refurbished batteries) pack as well. It definitely seems like some kind of memory effect of the cells that no one is able to explain or fix.

With the number of issues i have seen, i think that this is a total product failure and Tata knows that this is too big of a problem for them to go back to old customers, do a recall and fix. They probably have a huge shipment of these screwed up cells that they procured several years ago and they continue to shove them in more and more cars just continuing to magnify the problem they got themselves in. I wonder when this will blow up.

I heard the punch got a new battery pack from a new vendor but was shocked to hear that even punch customers are facing the same HV critical error issue.

One blogger has been making posts and tweets about his own ordeal with his tata Ev and also covering issues that various other people have been facing. It appears he has also exchanged court notices with Tata and the dealership related to the HV critical error incidents.

• HV Critical error 1
• Court notice
• His tips
• His HV critical incident blog post

Here's what BHPian anshumandun had to say on the matter:

My Tiago EV has done 40,000 kms now and I am facing the same issue. Limp mode activates when battery level reaches around 35% or lower and then HV alert kicks in. Will give it to the service center for diagnosis.

It's really sad that this car (and maybe other Tata EVs too) are plagued by the HV alert issue. Otherwise it's a wonderful city commute car.

Read BHPian comments for more insights and information.

That same evening I got a call saying, "Sir, we are sorry, we have scraped your car!"

BHPian frankmehta recently shared this with other enthusiasts:

I own 2 Tata Electric Cars now, one is a Nexon EV and one is a Tiago EV.

Both cars have been bought brand new, and are quite reliable. However, a few small quality related niggles have been noticed in both cars, and I report them duly when it goes for service.

Both cars go to Puneet Motors, Worli, for service, and overall, it has always been a painful experience sending the car there for even a routine service, as the cars lie for 2 (or maybe more, if its over a weekend) days without even moving, and no work is done on them, and they cite excuses like they have been overloaded.

My Nexon EV was having an annoying noise from the first week of ownership, and I have sent the car at least 4 times to the service centre, over and above the normal service to resolve this issue, where even in the service, my complaint was always the brake noise, but they did multiple part changes, without resolving the issue.

Finally, I had to write an email to them, that my car has gone to them at least 7-8 times for the same issue, and the issue wasnt resolved, and I did get a call from someone in Tata, assuring me it will be done. I said I would not want it to be done in Puneet Motors, as the usual dilly dallying continues and they would take long. They agreed to give me a loaner car, and I agreed to send it to Puneet.

The car was with them for 8 days, and turns out, it was a simple BRAKE DRUM issue.Please note, I have been paying Rs. 1200-1400 rupees EXTRA every time the car goes to them, citing BRAKE SERVICE. It is NOT in the user manual as part of the Service Schedule, but they scare us saying your warranty will lapse if you dont service.

HOW DID THEY NOT NOTICE THE BRAKE DRUM ISSUE IF THEY SERVICED IT TWICE????

Ok, anyway, the car was sent back, and it's working fine since then.

In the meanwhile, I had a brake light popping up on my cluster in the Tiago EV. The issue was reported to them, and I said they can pick up the Tiago while dropping the Nexon.

The Tiago was picked up promptly but they kept it lying around for 3 days with no resolution. 2 more days later, finally, I got a call saying car is ready.

That same evening I got a call saying, "Sir, we are sorry, we have scraped your car!"

It is a minor scratch.

This call was 4 days ago. I have now received the image of the car in the SAME CONDITION AS IT WAS, 4 days ago.

THIS doesn't look like a scratch. It most definitely has taken a hit, or been hit against a pole or something hard.

I was furious, and I said I wouldn't take the car back with a scratch. The car is now there in it's 7th day.

To add insult to the injury, I got a CHALLAN from the RTO because they had parked my car OUTSIDE the service centre owing to OVERLOADED situation.

I have sent emails to Tata, which I am attaching here. Look at the turnaround times, and the utter callous attitude of Tata and Puneet Motors to their customers, guys.

I would recommend thinking twice before sending your car there.

Read BHPian comments for more insights and information.

We finalized the Tata Tiago EV XT LR in the teal blue shade. For the month of May, we were offered a decent discount totaling ₹68,000, including the exchange bonus.

BHPian HHHkumar recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

I’d like to share my initial ownership review and experiences from a few long trips (400-450 km per day) with my Tata Tiago EV XT LR.

A bit about my background:

I’m an electrical engineer working in power generation, currently stationed at a coal-fired thermal power plant in the Raichur district of Karnataka

Is this my first car?

No, it’s not. I learned to drive in a 2010 Chevrolet Spark PS, which was owned by our family and recently upgraded to a 2024 Baleno Zeta AGS. The first car I purchased after starting my career was a pre-owned 2015 Chevrolet Beat, bought in 2018 with 30,000 kilometers on the odometer. Additionally, we have a 2021 Altroz XT petrol, which my wife purchased before our marriage. After we got married, the Altroz became our primary car for long drives to our hometowns, while the Beat was mainly used for local errands. We didn’t have any two-wheelers in our garage. Fast forward to 2024, and the Beat had become a true beater car with 95,000 kilometers on the odometer. Despite this, it has remained reliable, smooth, and strong.

Why was there a need to replace it?

Life took a turn when our family grew with the addition of a toddler, and my wife returned to work. Our daily routine became more complex: first, we would drop off our baby at the care center, then my wife at her office, and finally, I would head to mine. This three-part commute happened three times a day—morning, lunch break, and evening—which started taking a toll on my Beat.

We were covering around 25 km daily (5-6 km per trip), with 7 to 8 start-stops. The car was barely warming up, and its mileage dropped to 11-12 km per liter, pushing our fuel costs to about 7-8k per month. Given the situation, we decided to invest in an Ather 450X for our daily commute and booked one after watching several reviews. Additionally, I decided to sell the Beat, as it was approaching its 10-year mark.

I live in a company-owned township, and once I announced my intention to part with my well-pampered car, the word spread quickly. Offers started coming in from colleagues and other interested parties, ranging from 1 lakh to 1.5 lakhs. I kept these offers at bay, as I wanted the electric bike before selling the car. I communicated this to all interested parties, ensuring they understood my timeline.

I wanted to get hands-on experience with an electric bike and there was this newly opened experience center at Raichur, KA. We thought why not visit and test drive the Ather series, so on a Saturday with my better half and our little girl, we showed up at an Ather Experience Center. The salesperson was a young lad in his early twenties and was eager to show his skills in sales! He promptly explained all features, variants and prices and offered a 450x for a day-long test. Impressed with the bike and its convenience, I was excited to try the vehicle fully loaded, with me and my wife holding our daughter. It was here at this very moment I realized this might not be my cup of tea!

Let me explain why I felt so, I'm quite hefty at 5 '11 and tipping the scale at 95 kg and my knees were brushing the handlebars on tight turns and with our ferocious baby at the back I felt it would be quite a handful to ride and could be unsafe at times. We returned home wondering will a bike workout for us? Given the temperatures reaching 45 degrees with dusty roads and heavy vehicle traffic near our power plant area further added to our worries, with all these realities showing up and the cost of the Ather was more than the resale cost of Beat, I started to wonder is it a really good idea and interest built up fizzled out fast.

Idea of a EV four-wheeler, TD & Booking:

Later that week, one afternoon while picking up our baby girl, I casually mentioned to my wife that we could consider getting a Tiago EV—being the most affordable EV available—by taking out a loan. I suggested that the EMI could be comparable to our current fuel expenses, and since electricity costs are negligible due to our company accommodation, our running costs would be practically zero! We both agreed to proceed, and it was one of those rare moments of mutual agreement between us, especially for splurging on an automobile!

I didn’t miss the opportunity and promptly filled out a form on the Tata EV website. That very evening, I received a call asking for more details, and soon after, the local dealership's sales team and used car evaluation team arrived at my doorstep with a Nexon EV. The sales team offered a generous test drive of the Nexon EV to give me a feel for driving an electric vehicle. I was thoroughly impressed by Tata’s top-spec EV and everything it offered for the price. They also evaluated my Beat, and after some hard negotiations, the final offer was 1.2 lakhs with an exchange bonus. Everything fell into place for the purchase, and the process gained momentum quickly.

I requested a test drive of the Tiago EV before committing to a booking and exchanging my Beat. I was assured that the test drive vehicle would be available within the same week. The salesperson delivered the test drive vehicle on Saturday. It was a 2022 top-end variant with 36,000 km on the odometer. I took the car for a thorough test drive, bringing my family along. Its refinement, ride quality, and available power impressed me. My wife commented that driving it felt like operating a four-wheeled Activa—just turn it on and go. The car met all my primary requirements: it was comfortable, safe, had sufficient range for short commutes, and I estimated that three full charges would cover a month's worth of driving.

I paid the booking amount and provided the required documents for processing the loan. We decided on the teal blue shade, as we found it unique, and fortunately, my wife agreed to the color without making a fuss!

Post-booking experience:

We finalized the Tata Tiago EV XT LR in the teal blue shade. For the month of May, we were offered a decent discount totaling ₹68,000, including the exchange bonus. The sales rep was calm and understanding when I informed him that I would be purchasing insurance separately. On Monday, he informed me that the variant we booked was in transit and shared its VIN details. It was a freshly manufactured vehicle from May and was to be unloaded in Bellary. I asked him to have the car delivered to Raichur, and he promised it could be made available there within the same week.

PDI Experience:

We booked the car on Saturday, and it was in their yard the following Saturday for the PDI. The salesperson called me to come over for the PDI before invoicing the vehicle. With the help of the Team-BHP checklist, I thoroughly inspected the car and found it generally acceptable. The only issue was that the car had MRF tires manufactured in 2023. I raised this concern with the sales representative, the sales manager, and even the area manager. They all stated that the vehicle had been unloaded and driven to Raichur for PDI and invoicing with a transit pass, and that the old tires were from the factory. The sales rep even offered a Tiago manufactured in April in a different color if I was not satisfied with the tires.

After giving it some thought, I decided to proceed with the car, as I found the sales rep's responses genuine and made peace with the situation.

We decided to take delivery on Thursday, 30/05/2024. The final amount came to approximately 10.20 lakhs, which included insurance, a 2-year extended warranty, and some basic accessories. Along with our close friends, we arrived at the showroom and completed the delivery process within 30 minutes, which included a simple cake-cutting ceremony and a pooja. What began as a search for an electric bike ultimately led us to purchase a Tiago EV, all within a span of just three weeks.

Likes:

• The vehicle is compact and spacious at the same time; it is a comfortable car for both city driving and occasional long trips.
• The electric drive resonates with the electrical engineer in me, and I love the smooth performance that this electric rotary drive provides when compared to the reciprocating drive of a typical ICE.
• The ride quality is impressive, and the car feels well-planted on the road.
• The ground clearance is excellent; I haven't scraped any of the massive speed bumps in rural North Karnataka.
• The refinement levels are exceptional, making city driving a pleasure, especially since there's no need for constant gear changes.
• After upgrading from the Beat's dull and boomy 1.2 petrol engine, this car in sport mode reminds me of the first-generation diesel Swift’s acceleration. It’s quite handy for quick overtakes and leaves those honking diesel bullies eating dust on open roads.
• I'm currently getting a realistic range of 200 km at 25% battery with the AC off within city limits (85 Wh/km) and 180 km at 20% battery in ECON mode on longer drives (100 Wh/km).

Dislikes:

• The interior feels very dated, like something from a decade ago. The plastics are cheap, and surprisingly, even my outgoing Beat had slightly better quality materials.
• The seating position is quite high—you feel like you're sitting on the car rather than in it. Since the XT variant lacks seat height adjustment, the seat height feels awkward, especially for taller drivers.
• The AC controls are integrated with the head unit (HU), which I find quite odd, as it limits the overall functionality of the system. On one occasion, the HU got stuck in a boot loop, and although the AC controls were still working, there was no way to check the temperature set point or the status of the auto on/off feature. A simple indicator LED on the AC control buttons would have made the system more robust and foolproof.
• Since we own an Altroz, I'm accustomed to its HU, which has an exhaustive trip computer providing data on drive time, efficiency, acceleration, and harsh braking for each start and stop, along with two trip computers. It even includes a built-in scoring system, all at no extra cost! In contrast, with the Tiago, I have to log into an app just to access these basic details.
• The horrendous Tata Z Connect app, which becomes a subscription service after the first year, feels like a really poor attempt by Tata, and the exorbitant pricing is a practical joke on buyers.
• The TPMS feels like a half-hearted attempt. It notifies you of any change in pressure, but even when you top up the tyres, the warning light stays on, requiring a manual reset every time.
• Range estimator is an absolute comedy, maybe it hints the real-world ranges of the newly launched Tata Curv EV.

Concerns:

The EV is an excellent choice, but I find that the battery is the only weak link in the package. The horror stories about Tata's post-sales experience are definitely a cause for concern.

Although Tata offers a generous 8-year warranty on the powertrain and battery, the process that follows if the battery or any crucial component fails remains uncertain due to the inconsistent nature of Tata's service.

Looking 10 years ahead, I'm concerned that the technology in current EVs may become obsolete, with limited support or upgrade options from third parties, similar to what happened with the Mahindra E20. Additionally, there are few options for powertrain or battery modifications from other market players.

Although the power electronics in the car are robust, they could be susceptible to failure due to harsh weather and dust in the Deccan area.

Rants of charging infrastructure:

The ecosystem of CPOs (Charging Point Operators) is very cluttered, with multiple operators each having their own fancy apps and separate wallets. I currently have 10 apps installed on my phone, and there’s a desperate need for an aggregator with a common wallet.

I wish there could be cash-based charging without the need for an app. If the dream of EV mobility is to spread to the general public, this would make it far easier for everyone to use.

While writing this post, I realized that I haven't taken a single decent picture of my car. So, it's time to whip out my old DSLR and take some shots. I’ll also provide an update about the long trips from Raichur to Shivamogga, then to Dharwad, and back to Raichur in the next post. Thank you!

Here are a few pictures taken so far:

Taken at the time of delivery by yours truly!

Mileage achieved with a bit of hypermiling in city driving conditions.

A pic under the hood, while jacked up in the service station for first checkup.

The motor looks small for a 55KW rating, I wonder what could be the MCR (Max continuous rating) of the drive.

A glance under the rear reveals the battery pack details. It’s fascinating to see that this car runs on a couple of hundred AA-sized batteries!

Read BHPian comments for more insights and information.

The infotainment is par for the course, but the display and fluidity could be better. Speakers are average.

BHPian differential recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Got delivery of my grey tiago XT LR yesterday. I got the car with 60km on the odo and 100% charge. The delivery was smooth. Had opted for only the 7D mats and mud flaps from the official accessories list.

I realised the XT doesn’t come with a parcel shelf, only at the time of delivery. Have ordered the same as it was not in stock.

Initial impressions:

• It eerie to drive, as there is no sound or start up. Took some time to get used to it. Other than the slight roll back on inclines it’s a very smooth car to drive. The acceleration is a bit muted in D, but S does the job well.
• Have driven about 110km so far and the car has a 52% charge remaining. Have just plugged it on to my home wall socket to check out the charging. To be honest I am quite happy with the range driven for 48%. The drive was in D more all the time and AC on, except a few bursts of acceleration in S mode.
• The glass area is big for the size of the car and the visibility around is fantastic with minimal blind spots. Very convenient in city traffic and while backing up.
• The infotainment is par for the course, but the display and fluidity could be better. Speakers are average.

The negatives so far:

1. AC could be a bit better. Looks like we need some sun films. Esp with the large glass area.
2. XT doesn't get height adjustment for the driver seat. So you are sat quite high. I personally would have preferred a bit lower position. People around 5’11” and taller might want to check out the seat height.
3. The boot is small and the charging pack occupies some space, so definitely not luggage friendly. If someone plans to carry a spare then it’s definitely an issue.
4. The most annoying issue is the seat belt gong for the real passengers. Even if one belt is unbuckled in an empty seat, the gong sounds around 35-40 times before going quiet.
5. The headlights are poor. But more than enough for the city. Not necessarily a negative.

Overall, quite happy with the car. Will keep updating as the EV journey unfolds.

Read BHPian comments for more insights and information.

I'm living in a rental house temporarily and setting up a charging point is not feasible for the next 1.5 yrs

BHPian abhiroopmn recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

I have been trying to replace my secondary car and making a decision on which car is more appropriate has made me go bonkers. Too many pros and cons to evaluate and more days I spend on research I only am finding myself in a deeper pit than I started with, hence decided to post here to receive some expert advices and suggestions from current owners of those cars.

A little background of myself:

• I live in Bangalore and currently own two cars - Hector Diesel and Tiago XZA. Hector used to be primary car before my left leg started showing signs (my left calf muscle is like 3 inches more than my right). So, I converted my Hector Diesel to a weekend and outstation car and bought a Tiago for office commute car in Bangalore traffic. I'm happy to say that I picked up a pre-owned Tiago since it helped he understand the issues of owning a Tata and a good feel of how AMT automatics are. So, after 3 yrs I have decided to replace it with a superior automatic. EVs seem to be superior automatics but they come with their baggage of issues though. Else, would have to look at more reliable and smooth automatics.
• Daily to & fro commute to office is about 50km
• I'm living in a rental house temporarily and setting up a charging point is not feasible for the next 1.5 yrs
• My office has EV charging points which I plan to use as the primary source
• Don't plan to spend lavishly on the second car. Last car hunt made me realise that more I see a higher segment EV my FOMO just increases
• I do not have a parking temporarily and park on the road (within a gated community). Not sure if I should be worried of rodents.
• Occasionally drive to Hassan and I foresee that these trips could become more frequent.

Some of the cars I test drove so far:

• Hyundai i20 CVT: The drive was smooth but I did not find it real fun. Probably addicted to the Turbo on my Hector.
• Hyundai Aura AMT: I was skeptical of picking up an AMT again, but the SA insisted that I drive it once before I decide. To my surprise, I actually liked the way Aura responded compared to i20. The braking on Aura was not smooth though and felt the bite was real hard (probably that's something I can get adjusted to over time)
• Honda Amaze: I had this on my list but could not test drive until now

I observed that my budget to buy an automatic was reaching around 14L, so decided to look at EVs. Sadly there are only 5 EVs - Comet, Tiago, Punch, Nexon, XUV400 (removed Tigor since it's similar to Tiago, and other cars since they are over 20L which I feel is too much for my secondary run).

Don't plan to spend lavishly on the second car. Last car hunt made me realise that more I see a higher segment car my FOMO just increases

I do not have a parking temporarily and park on the road (within a gated community). Not sure if I should be worried of rodents causing major damages to battery modules.

Occasionally drive to Hassan and I foresee that these trips could become more frequent in the future.

Driving experience offered by EV cars looks enticing to me compared to Tiago AMT. Some suggestions that I received so far have been that EVs that although you save on fuel, it would all just accumulate at the end when you need replace the batteries.

I think my yearly usage on this car would be around 13 - 20k depending on whether it can do short trips as well. So, I'm open to suggestions on whether EV makes sense or if there are other better cars that I need to consider.

Here's what BHPian IshaanIan had to say on the matter:

You seem to have forgotten to add the Fronx 1.0 turbo with its competent torque converter gearbox. Also if you have tried a used car before, why not add a used automatic Brio to your search?

Here's what BHPian electric_eel had to say on the matter:

With 13-20 K worth of driving an year, office charging option and mostly city drives EVs are a no brainer. Just one question; is home charging option available? If that too is yes then fear not just go for it. All this FUD about battery life is nonsense.

Here's what BHPian nova.19_exe had to say on the matter:

Check out the i20 N-Line. Comes with a DCT option. Better than the i20 CVT in every way possible

Just out of curiosity, what is your actual budget and till what can you stretch till? Knowing that, folks can get an idea and help you based on that.

Read BHPian comments for more insights and information.