Tata Motors’ electric vehicle Nano makes a splash at Geneva Motor Show news
Tata Motors’ electric vehicle Nano makes a splash at Geneva Motor Show news
After the shock and awe it generated by producing the the world’s lowest-priced car, its creator Tata Motors has now unveiled the electric version of the Nano, called Nano EV, at the ongoing 80th Geneva Motor Show.
The Nano EV Concept is an electric version of Tata Motors’ Nano, the world’s cheapest car, which Ratan Tata, the chairman of Tata Motors had launched commercially in September last year. (See: Ratan Tata launches Tata Nano)
India’s largest automobile company, Tata Motors had said in August 2008 that it planned to produce an electric-drive version of the Nano, barely seven months after he had unveiled it at the New Delhi Auto show in January.
Built in cooperation with the Norwegian electric car specialist firm Miljoebil Grenland, in which Tata Motors acquired a majority stake in 2008, (See: Tata Motors acquires majority stake in Norwegian electric car firm Miljø Grenland), the Nano EV, is a four-seater electric car with a range of about 80 miles that can accelerate from zero to about 35 miles per hour in 10 seconds.
The car is powered by super-polymer lithium-ion batteries, which provides superior energy retention.
When launched, it will expand the company’s electric vehicles portfolio, which so far comprises only the Tata Indica Vista EV, based on the new generation Tata Indica Vista, which was also unveiled at Geneva last year. (See: Tata unveils Nano Europa; showcases Prima, Indica Vista EV)
Ravi Kant, vice chairman, Tata Motors, said, ”Electrification will be an integral part of our initiative to launch environment-friendly vehicles. The Indica Vista EV will be introduced in select European countries, beginning this year. We will progressively introduce electric vehicles in all relevant markets.”
At the current Geneva Motor Show, Tata Motors also showcased the Aria, its mid-range four-wheel drive MPV, which the car maker had recently unveiled at the Delhi Auto Expo and first shown as a concept at the 75th Geneva Motor Show.
Also on show was the newly launched Indigo Manza sedan, the Tata Xenon double cab pick-up and the Tata Indica Vista.
The Xenon Double Cab is available in Italy, Spain, Poland, Thailand, the UAE, Saudi Arabia and several countries in Africa.
Apart from its success in India, the Tata Indica Vista has already been launched in South Africa, and will be introduced in the company’s European markets.
Tata Motors’ plan to launch the Nano EV in Europe in 2012 and in select countries like the UK and the Scandinavian markets, before gradually bringing it out in other nations.