GENEVA — Tata is preparing to launch its new Nano EV in the Europe market in about two and a half years, according to Autocar India. The battery-powered car is on display at the 2010 Geneva Auto Show.
When it arrives on the market in 2012, the Nano EV could well be Europe's least expensive EV, priced from well under $10,000.
As shown here, the Nano EV shares its super-polymer lithium-ion batteries with the Indica Vista EV, Tata's first electric vehicle.
The company's vice chairman, Ravi Kant, 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."
The four-passenger Nano EV has a range of up to 100 miles between charges and accelerates at a rather leisurely pace — zero to 37 mph in "under 10 seconds," according to the manufacturer.
Inside Line says: If Tata intends to bring the Nano to North America, could the Nano EV be far behind? — Paul Lienert, Correspondent
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fredschumacher says:
05:20 AM, 03/31/2010
There is no other manufacturer like Tata. No one seems to understand parsimony the way Tata does. The Tesla is a ridiculously overpriced, overfast car of marginal utility, a rich man's toy that will cost nearly $3 per mile to own and operate.
Note that Tata is limiting the performance of its EV to reduce cost. Those limits are based on the realistic expectations of the daily use requirements of an EV. Performance costs. As a retired farmer, I see the design philosophy of Tata as elegantly beautiful, the corollary to the farmer's concept of Maximum Economic Yield.
autoadviseorg says:
09:34 AM, 03/05/2010
I think the design has evolved nicely. Just updating the front bumper and wheels has given a clean and modern look.
hondaluvcrv09 says:
09:18 AM, 03/05/2010
If the Nano ever makes it to the U.S. market, it definately won't be the same car sold in India with practicaly no safety technology. To pass safety regs. in the U.S. the car will increase in price and weight essentially making it any other sub-compact. The chances of an EV making it here a laughable.