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Tuesday, 2 March 2010
The Union Budget 2010 has brought in a slew of price rises in the Indian car industry, which is deemed beneficial by the industry experts. Even the government claims that the post-budget price hike is going to bring long term benefits for the industry. All things considered, the budget has done nothing to bring a smile on current or future car owners.
Post-budget, fuel prices shot up and the other thing that has shot up along with it is the pressure on the Union Government to reduce the fuel prices. But Finance Minister, Pranab Mukherjee, is not someone who gives in to the pressure of Opposition or his own allies, for that matter.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has said that the general price hike has been brought about keeping in view the long-term benefits of the country. He also said that populist policies, if persisted with for a long time, will lead to erosion of the investment climate, our capacity to create new jobs, and of our ability to invest in flagship programmes for the poor people. Manmohan Singh also said that the hike in fuel prices would not add-up to the already-high inflation.
So much for the effects of increased prices on the country’s economy. Now let’s take a look at the effects of increased prices on present and future car owners.
There has been a hike in excise tax on prices of large cars, sports cars and MUV’s. However, the Indian government has taken into consideration the people who want to own smaller cars and spared them by sticking to the old excise duty. But, that has been balanced by hiking the fuel prices.
The fuel price hike may be conducive to the growth of Indian economy but it will definitely bring down the morale of vehicle owners. The general instinct of consumers may be to shift towards fuel efficient diesel vehicles, since diesel prices are relatively lower than petrol and even mileage-wise, diesel wins over petrol. But, the diesel prices have gone up too.
Excise duty on electric cars has been waived off by 4 per cent and they also get exemption from custom duty & other special duties on the components used. Now, that does bring a sigh of relief, considering that the hybrid car segment is going to touch a new high in India.
Labels: Budget-2010, Car-Sales-In-India, Cost-of-Car-Ownership, Diesel-Prices, Electric-Cars, Fuel-Prices, Indian-car-industry, Small-Cars, Union-Budget-2010
Friday, 13 November 2009
The latest fad in the automotive world is green cars. These green cars are either the hybrid cars or the electric cars. The Frankfurt Motor Show was the centre of attraction for automobile fans who support the 'green cause'. Many car makers showcased their eco-friendly cars in an attempt to save the Earth.
But how environmental friendly are these cars?
You will be surprised to know the latest findings on electric cars. A new report by the European lobby group Transport & Environment says that electric cars could increase carbon emissions, could "speed climate change" and may not reduce oil dependency.
This is quite shocking, right?
The Transport & Environment lobby says that though electric and plug-in hybrid cars can help reduce CO2 emissions and oil consumption, but they do not play any role to solve the climate change problem.
Electric cars do not produce tailpipe emissions, but they are only as clean as their electricity supply. If the electricity used is derived from coal, then these electric cars cannot be termed as clean, eco-friendly cars.
Moreover, the electricity supply will have to be cleaned up by adding renewables to the power grid and the cars "must be more energy-efficient than state-of-the-art conventional vehicles on a 'tank to wheel' basis" in order to realize significant environmental benefits. Labels: eco-friendly-cars, Electric-Cars, Green-Cars, Hybrid-Cars, Plug-In-Hybrid-Cars
Guess who's next to bring in a lakh rupee car in India!
"Maruti Suzuki?" No.
"Hyundai?" No.
"Is it Honda after a second thought?" No.
"GM or must be Ford?" No, it's our desi clock and home appliances manufacturer Ajanta, which is famous by its brand Orpat.
Well, Ajanta is planning to buy a Chinese electric car company based in the Guangzhou province of China. The renowned quartz clock maker will then launch a sub-one-lakh-rupee car in the Indian market. To add icing to the cake, it is not just an ordinary low-cost car, it’s a low-cost electric car!
Apart from clocks and home appliances, the Rs 1,500-Crore company, which has its headquarters at Morbi in Gujarat, also makes electric bikes. It ventured in the automotive world in 2007 with the two-wheeler electric vehicles, and it manufactures around 10,000 bikes every year at its Kutch facility.
Ajanta has made a layout of Rs 100 Crore to acquire an existing assembly unit of an anonymous carmaker, which can roll out 5,000 units a year. The deal will be finalized within this year. The acquisition will help the company acquire technologies for molding, designs and battery production, among others. Furthermore, it would help in creating and establishing a new market for electric cars in India.
The company is seeking government support so that it can develop low-cost cars for the Indian market. Besides, VAT and excise duty put together make almost a fourth of the total manufacturing cost of the car. Ajanta feels that if the cost is lowered, the company can come out with battery-powered cars at Rs 1 Lakh or less.
Moreover, the clock maker has revealed that it will go with its own 'Oreva' brand for the cars. Oreva is derived from the names of Ajanta’s founder OR Patel and his wife Revaben.
The name is musical enough for the Indian ears and sounds like someone is addressing the REVA, calling it "Oh REVA" in a sing-song way. Carazoo.com feels it has been a good idea to adopt the brand name Overa as the name screams of an eco-friendly car like the REVA.
A prototype of the expected car is being designed and it can run 120 km per one charge of 7 units of electricity that will cost nearly Rs 35 per charge. The company has designed more than 10 battery-powered cars of four-seater and six-seater capacity. The six-seater will cost nearly Rs 1.5 lakh, while the four-seater can be available for Rs 1 lakh. Labels: Battery-Powered-Car, Electric-Cars, Low-Cost-Cars, One-Lakh-Rupee-Car, Two-Wheeler-Electric-Vehicles
Thursday, 22 October 2009
It is a trend that is seen not only among the car makers, but it is now seen in almost all of the economic and business sectors. If you are a car savvy, then there is little chance that you do not know about the eco-friendly innovations in the motor world. And to know about the current likings of the customers, you would need to just glance through the ongoing motor show, the Tokyo Motor Show. But it also appears to be that the electric cars are winning over the hybrid cars. And the reason is very clear. The electric cars manifest the eco-friendly movement much better than the hybrid cars and so the car world is now more inclined towards them. And it is very much evident in the Tokyo Motor Show that began yesterday. There is a great love for the super-skinny electric car from Nissan and the Toyota electric concept car FT-EV II. The electric car Leaf from Nissan will be displayed for the first time at this show, the car will be launched in 2010. The high significance for electric cars is because of that the hybrid cars are heavier, much complicated than an electric car and runs on petrol. And it is no wonder that the zero emission electric cars with rechargeable batteries will in no time march towards the number one position pushing the hybrid cars behind. It doesn’t mean that the hybrid cars are not inviting any attention. The Honda CR-Z concept car debuts at the show and the crowd seems to have got completely enchanted at this sportier second version of CR-Z. It is truly a delightful sight to see how the car world is evolving. Labels: Electric-Cars, Honda, Hybrid-Cars, Nissan, Toyota
Thursday, 1 October 2009
 Honda riding high on its success of its models in India and abroad has announced an overview of the cars it will have on display at the Tokyo Motor Show this year. The list includes the EV-N, a small four-seater electric car that looks like it could well be the future of zero-emissions urban transport. With retro styling inspired by the 1960s Honda N360 micro car, the battery-powered EV-N also features solar panels on its roof, which can be used to charge the car’s batteries. Unfortunately enough, this is a concept vehicle only and Honda says it currently has no plans to put the EV-N into production. But we do not want Honda to rush on things as Honda has a prize winner in the form of Honda Insight already.  Joining the EV-N at Honda’s stand will be the CR-Z Concept, a petrol-electric hybrid sports car that’s scheduled to go into production in 2010. The CR-Z, according to Honda, will be the world’s first ever petrol-electric vehicle to employ a six-speed manual transmission. Also making its debut at this year’s Tokyo Motor Show will be the new Honda Skydeck concept, a six-seater hybrid MPV. This is, again, just a design study with no production plans as of now. However, the underlying technology, powertrain and packaging provide a glimpse at what we can expect from Honda in the years to come. Labels: Concept-Cars, Electric-Cars, Honda, Honda-CR-Z Concept, Honda-EV-N, Honda-Skydeck-Concept, Hybrid-Sports-Car
Thursday, 24 September 2009
 The U.S. Department of Energy has granted a loan of $528 Million to Fisker Automotive to build plug-in hybrid cars. The loan will facilitate Fisker Automotive’s full scale production of plug-in hybrid electric cars. The US Department of Energy has signed and agreed to the terms of a conditional totaling over half a billion dollars so that Henrik Fisker’s car company can create affordable, fuel efficient hybrid electric cars. The $528,000,000 loan will also allow Fisker Automotive CEO, Henrik Fisker to create at least 5,000 jobs for autoworkers in the country. Fisker Automotive is a joint venture between Fisker Coachbuild and Quantum Technologies and the company is based at in Irvine, California. The company's sole existing product, the Fisker Karma is a plug-in hybrid luxury sports car. Fisker intends to sell its Karma PHEV in late 2009 in the US and in the second quarter of 2010 in Europe. The Fisker Karma was revealed on 14 January 2008. The Karma features the Q-Drive technology and is powered by an innovative petrol engine/electric motors combination. The Fisker Karma can be fitted with a solar paneled roof not only to aid in the recharging of its Lithium-Ion batteries but also to aid the cabin climate control system. Fisker Automotive have suggested that the Karma will be capable of running 100 km for 2.4 litre. Despite it’s eco-friendly background the Karma features a 201 km/h top speed and is capable of reaching 100 km/h from a standstill in 5.8 seconds. It is no doubt that fuel efficient electric hybrid cars are going to be the next generation of personal transportation. Labels: Electric-Cars, Fisker-Karma, Karma-PHEV, Plug-in-Hybrid-Vehicles
Tuesday, 22 September 2009
 It was already expected of Reva and now proving the speculations right, the Indian electric car company is making a clear entry into the American car industry. It was only last week that the Reva had unveiled its two new electric car models, NXR and NXG, in the Frankfurt Motor Show. These new cars are believed to have engrossed much of praise and admiration. There are now reports about how the company is now planning to build a really huge auto plant in upstate New York. This multimillion-dollar plan of Reva is now going through the process of getting approved. And the company is curiously waiting for the moment with fingers crossed. The first and the only car manufacturer of electric cars in India, Reva has already exported its battery run car, Reva, and has made a very appreciative global presence. But the two new models NXR, the four-seat hatchback, and the NXG, the two-seater sports car will be, for sure, contemporary models from the auto maker and will surely help the company do more profitable business. There are, more than certainties, speculations about the financial source and other matters such as the time when the plant will start working and if the company is half way through deciding for a plant in the country why is it that there have not started hiring people. It was expected that in India the company would launch both its new models, NXR and NXG, by 2011 but it is still not known when it will mark its entry in the global market. The deal the company has been waiting for includes state and federal incentives. The company may not completely dependent on the $40 million in federal Department of Energy loan guarantee funding. And with more and more Indian companies starting their plants at different parts of the world, like Tata Motors acquiring loan for its electric car plant from the British government, it is a moment of pride and joy. Labels: Electric-Cars, Maini-REVAi, REVA, Reva-NXG, Reva-NXR, Revai-cars, Tata-Motors
Wednesday, 9 September 2009
Frankfurt Motor show or the International Motor Show (IAA) held at Frankfurt in September of every year draws car enthusiasts and car manufacturers at the same breath. This year’s IAA is abuzz with the news of Hybrid and electric vehicles taking centre stage in the show. Every major and minor car manufacturers have lined up a slew of these hybrid and electric cars just for the event to paint the automotive world in the colours of Blue and Green. Making a world debut in the 'Blue Drive Zone' is the Hyundai ix-Metro, a new crossover hybrid with CO2 emissions of just 80g/km. The ix-Metro is powered by an inline three-cylinder petrol engine displacing just one-litre. Direct injection, dual CVVT and turbo-charging are all combined with a six-speed dual clutch transmission to make for a highly potent compact package. Hyundai will also be unveiling the HND-4 'Blue-Will' plug-in hybrid, which promises 40 miles of all-electric range with its parallel hybrid architecture which combines a 1.6-liter four-cylinder gas engine with direct-injection technology to charge a set of lithium-polymer batteries, which in turn provides power to an electric motor to drive the front wheels. Kia is also showing their latest hybrid offering. Among the models unveiled will be the 2010 Sorento diesel hybrid - powered by a twin-turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder diesel engine mated to an electric motor to provide 161 horsepower. The all-new five- or seven-seater Kia Sorento SUV is longer and lower, with sleeker styling and better aerodynamics. Kia will also debut a mild-hybrid version of the Kia Cee'd hybrid – the company's top-selling model in Europe. The vehicle will pair a 1.6-liter four cylinder gas engine running to a hybrid power-train. While no stranger to hybrid technology, Toyota will be showcasing three new hybrids at the Frankfurt Show including the Lexus LF-Ch, a 5-door hatch back with Hybrid Synergy Drive technology. Few details have been released on this model but more information is expected at the Show. Also from Toyota is the Toyota Auris Hybrid already proven popular in Europe with 400,000 units sold since its launch in 2007. Not to be left out, given its iconic hybrid status, the Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid Concept will also be making an appearance in advance of its fleet testing scheduled for early 2010. Indian electric car manufacturers REVA are ready to launch two new fully electric models the REVA NXG a 4-seat family hatch-back and the REVA NXR, a sporty 2-seater. The 4-seat NXR hatch back will run on Lithium ion batteries that can attain a maximum speed of 104kmph and covers a range of 160 kms when fully charged. Hyundai will also be unveiling the Hyundai i10 Electric, a production-ready zero emissions vehicle. Powered by a 49kW motor and a 16kWh battery, the i10 Electric promises a driving range of 100 miles and top speed of over 80 mph. The mass of hybrids and electric vehicles due to be unveiled at Frankfurt clearly conveys the current mind-set of the auto-industry, with a strong emphasis on lower emissions. Even Porsche are jumping on the green bandwagon with the announcement of a hybrid version of the Cayenne due in 2010. We just can’t wait to see the 63rd International Motor Show (IAA) unravel itself on 17th and will run until the 27th of September in Frankfurt. Labels: Electric-Cars, Hybrid-Cars, Toyota-Prius
Monday, 7 September 2009
 India’s only electric car maker Maini Reva Electric Car Company (REVA) will be displaying two new cars, the NXR and the NXG, at the 63rd Frankfurt International Motor Show (IAA). The REVA NXR is a two door four seater family hatchback which is automatic, easy to drive, park and safe. The car comes with an option of solar panels on the top. On the other hand, the REVA NXG is the stylish and sportier edition of the NXR. The NXR will have a range of 160 km per charge and top speed of 104 kmph, while the NXG has a range of 200 km per charge and top speed of 130 kmph. The REVA NXR is likely to hit the roads by the first quarter next year and the NXG will be available from the first quarter of 2011. The cars are powered by more forceful engines, lithium ion batteries with longer charge time and patented technologies aimed at removing the anxieties associated with Electric Vehicles (EV). The electric car company has introduced the new REVive telematics technology that can act as an invisible reserve fuel tank in both the cars. Further technology and pricing announcements will be made at the IAA. These new electric cars are designed by car stylist Dilip Chhabria of the internationally renowned automotive design company DC Design. The cars will go on production by the beginning of 2010. The company is expecting to sell at least 3000 units in three years. Reva plans to introduce the NXR in around 24 countries across Europe and Asia. At present, REVA has 24 markets in different countries across the global. It has over 3,000 EVs on the road and more than 70 million kilometres of user experience. The company is building a new ultra low carbon vehicle assembly plant in Bangalore, with a capacity of 30,000 units per annum, to accommodate increased production and is planning to introduce even more measures to ensue that it has the cleanest and greenest production. Labels: Electric-Cars, Frankfurt-International-Motor-Show, REVA
Tuesday, 4 August 2009
 The Indian car market seems to be a safe haven for many car manufacturers especially the luxury car manufacturers. The fascination of Indian car customers for luxury cars is growing every other day and this can be very obvious from the number of new luxury cars launched and the launch of the face lifted version of the existing luxury car model. A survey conducted recently clearly shows the growing interest for luxury cars among the Indians, and how the Indian car buyers prefer a luxury car over a green car. But I don’t think this piece of news will anyway change the mindset of the Indian car manufacturers and will force them to think away from rolling out good electric cars that looks into the future of a more environment friendly tomorrow. The Indian market even though is not rich in electric cars, the future of electric cars in the Indian market seems to be promising. Maini Reva has been enjoying the supreme position of the sole electric car manufacturer in the country since the time it was commercialized in 2001. The Reva is a low maintenance vehicle which moves on batteries. The car till now has thousands of satisfied customers and this number will only increase in the future as the charm of the luxury cars will not lure the customers more, rather the detoriating environment conditions will not let it happen. Bavina cars, seem to be breaking the dominance of Reva electric cars by launching their own electric cars for Indian car market. Bavina has already started working towards setting up operations in Tamil Nadu. The car is expected to launch by 2011 is expected to cause some threat to the existing Reva. Unlike Reva, which is a two seater, Bavina will be a four seater hatchback, a city car with a maximum speed of 55 kilometers per hour. This is not all, The Indian car manufacturing giant, Tata motors is also planning for a safe, eco-friendly tomorrow. It is planning to roll out electric versions of Nano and Indica. With more options of such eco-friendly cars, Indian car buyers will dream of luxury cars, but will buy a green car. Labels: Bavina-Cars, Electric-Cars, Maini-Reva
Monday, 3 August 2009
Nissan Motors has turned over a new leaf unveiling an electric car named the “Leaf”. The new Leaf is an eco-car that was showcased at Nissan’s new global headquarters in Yokohama, Japan on Sunday. The car was inaugurated to the public in a grand style. The Nissan Chief Executive Carlos Ghosn and former Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi along with three other delegates rode in a “blue earth” colored Leaf. The Leaf is expected to be an instant hit once it enters the market. The car does not look like other green cars and its occupants do not have to compromise on the space inside the cabin. The roomy cabin can accommodate five adults comfortably. This hatchback comes in a sporty design with a recharging opening in the front. The Leaf, an electric car, can run a remarkable 160 km on a single charge and the car can give a wonderful zero-emission of CO2. The cell has to be charged for seven hours although a 30 minute quick charge can get batteries back up to 80%. As the battery is pricey, Nissan has planned to lease the batteries to customers rather than try to sell the car at an inflated price. Moreover, the cost of leasing the batteries and the electricity used to charge the cells will be much lesser than what customers spend on gasoline for regular cars. The price of the battery is expected to go down once sale of the car boosts up. Nissan is the third Japanese car manufacturer to drive in a green car after its rival Toyota and Honda. The Leaf will be available in the showrooms of Japan, the U.S. and Europe next year. The company is targeting initial annual production of 50,000 units for the Leaf at its Oppama plant in Yokohama, including export models. Moreover, the eco-friendly hatchback will go into mass-production as a global model in 2012. Labels: Electric-Cars, Nissan-Leaf, Nissan-Motors
Tuesday, 21 July 2009
India’s leading  electric car manufacturer, Maini Reva Electric Car Company is all geared up to build the world’s largest manufacturing unit for cheap all-electric cars. The new plant is likely to be over five times the size of its existing factory in Bangalore. The new facility, which is expected to be operational in 2011, will have capacity of around 30,000 units. The Indian electric car company will help to introduce green energy to the subcontinent’s rapidly growing car industry. Electric cars are lately in vogue as a result of the global climate change concerns and environmental awareness. According to a research finding, by 2015 around 15% of the total car sales in India would be of electric cars. The concept of electric cars was not given much importance in the past but; now it is a concept that is fast gaining popularity among countries and communities. Today almost all major car makers of the world are working on some kind of an alternate fuel technology or Electric Vehicle (EV). The first Indian electric car Reva is a small hatchback powered by eight six-volt batteries. It was designed to beat pollution of the cities and to conserve fossil fuel which is depleting day by day. The Reva features a 2+2 seat configuration. The lead acid battery version can travel up to 80 km on a single charge, while a lithium-ion powered cell raises the range by 50% to 120 km. The Reva was introduced in India in 2001 and it has received certification from Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) and EEC (European Economic Community), which has led to the export of Reva's to UK as the G-Wiz. Reva Electric Car Company is planning to introduce a four-seater sedan by the end of this year. Labels: Electric-Cars, Maini-Reva
Tuesday, 14 July 2009
In early part of this year we had written about a Bavina Cars India planning to make electric cars just like Maini Reva electric cars is already doing in India. It is now clear that Bavina Cars has received land from Tamil Nadu government. It is now aggressively pursuing its plans to bring out plug in series hybrid cars in a couple of years time. The company has laid out its plans on manufacturing the car. Of course it won’t be a fully indigenous car. At least 80 percent of the car will come from imported sources. Except for the body panels all other parts will be sources from outside the country. The most important of all the fuel cell battery and the onboard petrol engine of a small capacity will be imported. The transmission will be sourced from BorgWarner in the United States. The technology would be sourced Velozzi from US. When the car hits the road in 2011, it is be the closest rival to Maini Revai cars. Bavina will be able to manufacture 40,000 units per annum. Since the prototype of the car has not been tested we are unable to tell how many kilometers the car will run on a single charge. So far Maini Revai manages to deliver 80 kms on a single full charge. Bavina cars will have to outperform Maini Revai cars to get the buyers attention. The price will be of prime importance for Bavina. Since it is importing most of its products compared to Revai which has mostly indigenous parts, Bavina is likely to cost more. It would require a Herculean effort for Bavina to bring prices below the Rs 3 lakh mark around which Revai now sells. Another aspect that will pitch the companies will be forced to market their products in select cities, which will escalate competition. Since Bavina and Maini Revai competition will be sharp as both are located in the south of India and will to capture these markets first. The next decade is going to be an interesting phase in the electric passenger car segment. Labels: Bavina-Industries, Electric-Cars, Maini-Reva, Maini-REVAi
Friday, 29 May 2009
The growing environmental concern has engaged the worlds’ brightest minds to come up with a perfect answer to soaring fuel prices and automotive pollution. Car experts have tested the use bio-fuels, LPG, CNG, ethanol, water, air, and even electricity to run cars. Some of the cars around the world are successfully running on these alternative fuels. But at present the hot topic of debate in the western market is whether electric cars are more powerful or cars powered by bio-fuels. While working on this line the researchers at the University of California along with fellow researchers have come up with a unique way to calculate it. They calculated the environmental impact of producing various alternative fuels used to drive cars. Under this system, the fuel consumption was not calculated in km/h, mph or km/100 litres but in miles per acre (miles/acre). This new formula calculated the amount of miles a car travelled per acre of bio mass. The calculation took into account factors like energy produced by each technology and energy consumed for powering the vehicles. According to the researchers, a life cycle analysis of the car powered by bio-fuel and bio electricity was done. And later it was revealed that bio-electricity offers more mileage and is more eco-friendly than bio-fuels. With the result of this research, electric cars win the race against bio-fuels. Labels: Alternative-Fuels, Bio-Fuel-Powered-Cars, CNG, Electric-Cars, LPG
Wednesday, 20 May 2009
‘Going green’ is the new mantra in car industry amidst rising environmental pollution and fuel prices. Many car manufacturers are joining the ‘green revolution’ to attract environment conscious car buyers. India’s car giant Maruti Suzuki is planning to launch electric cars and compressed natural gas (CNG) variants of its three or four car models. The CNG variants of its car models is likely to arrive by 2010 or 201. Currently, the company is studying the possibility of the electric cars and developing the technology for India. In a venture with U.S. based General Motors, Suzuki has already developed a fuel cell technology which is presently being tested in the Hybrid SX4 in Japan. The engine is offered with a mixture of fuel cell and high-pressure hydrogen. Besides this, the company has also tested the hybrid technology on WagonR for the Japanese market. Whether the hybrid version of WagonR will be seen on the Indian roads is still unknown. The company has already launched the LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) variants of the Maruti 800 and Wagon R. Labels: Electric-Cars, Hybrid-Cars, Maruti-Suzuki-Cars
Tuesday, 24 February 2009
Far behind from the boundaries of sedans, coupes, hybrids, and electric cars the new three-wheeled Aptera is here to spark new hopes and excitement in the global car market. The design of the egg-shaped, two-seater Aptera is inspired from nature’s creation that goes along the wind instead of against the wind. Have ever watched birds gliding gracefully through the air? If yes then you must have noticed that the birds embrace the environment and fly in motion with the moving wind. A similar concept has been introduced while designing the Aptera. It is designed aerodynamically in a way that it does not have to waste its energy pushing the wind out of its way. Its long shape and gullwing doors (roof-attached doors) adds to the excitement of staring and driving the car. With the gullwing door, you can easily get out of the car even if the parking spot is tight. The interior spells eco-friendly characteristics of the car mainly with the eco-chic seating made of recycled materials and coloured with natural dyes. Solar assisted climate control system and cavernous cargo compartment further add to the value of the car. The solar assisted climate control system helps you to stay comfortable in all weather conditions as the solar cells on the car’s roof keep the cabin at a friendly temperature. And in the vast cargo space you can easily load 20 to 25 grocery bags. Amazingly, the electric version of the Aptera can run up to 160 km in one single charge. That’s commendable! Till date there are no clues whether the car will enter Indian shores or not. But if it will, it will bear a price tag of around Rs 15 Lakh and its worth the value because you won’t have to shell out your pocket at petrol pumps. Setting new benchmarks in automobile engineering, the introduction of this ultra-efficient three-wheeled car is itself an acclamation. Labels: Electric-Cars, Indian-car-market, Sedans
Monday, 23 February 2009
The tradition of displaying concept cars started with public exhibit of the Buick Y-Job (world's first concept car) at Chicago Auto Show long back in 1938. Since then auto shows are conceived as strong platforms to showcase a prototype of new design, style, and technology. This year’s Chicago Auto Show displayed some of the fantastic futuristic concepts. Many car manufacturers and designers have showcased their unique and striking concept cars to get the public response. Amazingly, the interactive show floor displayed 18 concept cars that gave a powerful sensory experience and a futuristic feel to the viewers. This year the theme of the concepts was environmental friendly technology and most of the cars were hybrids with few electric cars. Some of the key attributes of the displayed concept cars were new design trends, vibrant colour options, sleek seats, and contrast colour in the interior. Mesmerising concepts like the Cadillac Converj, Lincoln C, Dodge Circuit EV, and the Chrysler 200 EV left every visitor spell bound. Mercedes Blue Zero E Cell, a trio of eco-drivetrain concepts, and Saturn Flextreme Plug In concept were the spotlights of the auto show. Some of the other winning concept cars at the 2009 Chicago Auto Show include the Volkswagen CC Gold Coast, Hyundai Imode, Saab 9X Convertible Concept, Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon, Jeep Patriot EV, Kia Soul'ster, Mitsubishi I MIEV, and the Toyota Rav 4 Concept. All these concepts captured the hearts and minds of viewers proving their potential to create sensation in the market if they make their debuts. These winning concept cars may not go into production. But if they go, they would definitely reshape the future of global car industry with new standards of design and technology. Labels: Auto-Shows, Concept-Cars, Electric-Cars
Tuesday, 3 February 2009
India like rest of the world is following the trend of eco-friendly cars. Country’s lone electric car Reva will get a companion as Ford Motor Company and Magna International jointly planned to introduce an electric car in India by 2011. The car was displayed at North American International Auto Show in Detroit where it had received an overwhelming response from car enthusiasts. The car will be powered by a zero-emission lithium-ion battery which is speculated to deliver a range of up to 150 km on a single charge. It can easily be plugged into a 110- or 220-volt outlet with the charging time of about 12 hours. The most interesting fact is that without using a drop of gasoline, the car will deliver outstanding performance and thrilling driving experience. It is intelligently engineered to fulfil all the expectations of car buyers in terms of performance and ride quality. The car also ensures smooth acceleration, less noise, and zero emission. It’s meticulously designed by Ford and incorporated with all critical components like gearbox, electric motor, and battery system by Magna. Additionally, Magna is working to integrate more advanced systems into the vehicle architecture with every detail to technological excellence. Though India is slowing stepping towards the path of alternative fuelled cars but it will soon able to match the standard of other nations with more number of electric and hybrid cars. Labels: Electric-Cars, Ford-Motor, hybrid cars
Tuesday, 20 January 2009
The Detroit Automobile Show is one of the largest and oldest Automobile Shows in the North America held every year in Detroit. It’s of major importance in U.S. as almost all renowned American car brands like the Chrysler, Ford and the General Motors make their grand presence in the show. Though this year the major car manufacturers like the Mitsubishi, Suzuki, Rolls-Royce, Land Rover, Ferrari, Nissan and the Infiniti were not present in the show with their cars, but the expo was glittered by a number of electric and hybrid car. The reason behind this is none other than the fund crunch imposed by the recent economic slowdown which forced these big organisations to pullout from this event. In contrast, Tesla Motors which had initially no plans to attend the North American International Auto Show in Detroit made the show exhilarating with the display of the Tesla Roadster. The Tesla Roadster is an electric car with unique in-car entertainment features. Fisker Automotive also thrilled the audience with the presentation of its electric hybrid luxury sedan by exhibiting the car in an exceptional way using rotating ramps to display the car, a coffee bar at the back, and a second floor for private conversations with buyers and investors. The company also displayed its new convertible model called Karma S. This car is powered by gas-electric drivetrain that generates 408 bhp. Additionally, brand like BYD (Build your Dreams) from China lived up the show by showcasing its BYD F6DM Dual Mode Ferrous Battery Hybrid. Moreover, a more fuel efficient hybrid version of the Prius was also enthusiastically displayed at the show by Toyota Motors. The Prius hybrid is expected to offer 21.2 km/l of mileage. Present model of the Prius already shines on U.S. roads and the new version will too mark a victory in the car market. Labels: Detroit-Automobile-Show, eco-friendly-cars, Electric-Cars
Monday, 8 September 2008
Tata Motors is all set to launch its new electric car in Norway next year. It shall launch the electric version of its most popular model, Indica, in Norway as manufacturing electric cars in India is not feasible and requires a lot of infrastructure. Norway is making suitable arrangements for making electric cars in the country which would help the company to produce electric car efficiently. The electric version of Tata Indica shall travel 175 - 200 km on a fully charged battery, said company official. The battery will take eight hours to charge fully. The vehicle shall run on Lithium batteries that were developed by Norwegian alternative fuel company and Tata Motor's Research facility in the UK. The price of the new electric version of Indica has not yet been disclosed. The car may come to India in two years of time. Bisaani Labels: Electric-Cars, New-Car-Launch, Tata Indica, Tata-Indica, Tata-Motors
Thursday, 4 September 2008
Maini Reva, the manufacturer of electric-friendly cars who flaunts itself with is E factor in India has a reason to smile. After being crushed in Australia as it did not carry any sales certification or license, this Indian made electric car is now available in the Germany, Austria and Switzerland. The REVA is already in the roads of England and is now spreading its wings to other countries too. The entry level is rated with a 50-mile range, whereas the high-end model offers 90 miles per charge. The 48V worth of lead acid batteries can be fully charged in eight hours with an eighty percent charge in 2.5 hours. This four-seater offers top speed of 40mph. Eco-friendly cars are the latest trend in the Indian market. Ajanta group, the well known clock makers, is also planning to roll out an electric car that will be priced lesser than the Nano. The Tata has also announced to introduce E-Nano, the electric version of the ultra-cheap car Nano by 2009. Hope the e-cars in India do not phase out as our country is already facing the power shortage. Labels: eco-friendly-cars, Electric-Cars, Maini-Reva
Tuesday, 26 August 2008
Electric cars and CNG cars are the current wave in the automotive industry. The hike in fuel prices have definitely cut down the sale of petrol cars and increase the demand of CNG cars. Along with CNG, electric cars have also established a strong platform on the sands of Indian car market. Currently, we only have two electric cars, Reva Maini and Garuda. There are car manufacturers who are working on to produce electric versions of their various car models. But is it good to work on electric versions? Or CNG versions are preferable? During this era when the infrastructure is not so strong in the country, the industry will benefit more by producing CNG comply engines rather than wasting time to design purely electric engines. This is because India has a huge shortage of electricity. In the recent time, power cut has become a usual thing in most of the metro cities. Even today there are few villages in the country that live in dark the entire year. That’s shocking but that’s the truth. With such an infrastructure and shortage of power, how can electric cars win the car race? Yes, of course once the power shortage issue is solved, electric cars will top the race. But till then, CNG cars are better. Today, most of the gas pump stations provide CNG. It is one of the cheapest fuels with the lowest running costs. One kilogram of CNG costs about Rs 22 and the fuel gives a running cost of about Rs 1.3/km. This clearly dictates that one kg of CNG will run the car for one whole month. Then, what do you decide - Electric or CNG? Labels: Car-Fuel, CNG-cars, Electric-Cars
Thursday, 21 August 2008
Tata Motors is already an active member in the electric car race. The company is working on the production of electric vehicles that are soon to hit the Indian car market. A recent speculation states that the Tata is now planning to introduce E-Nano, yes the electric version of the ultra-cheap car, the Nano. Don’t you think this is something exciting…the actual car model is still not out and there are rumours about the versions and variants? Though Nano is still under the veil, Tata announces the launch of diesel Nano and E-Nano. The electric version is expected to roll out seven months after the launch of Nano. The car is to be built in cooperation with the Miljoebil Grenland, Norwegian electric car specialist firm. Nothing can be commented on the Nano and its version until the car makes its first appearance in the market. Labels: Electric-Cars, Nano, Tata-Motors
Tuesday, 19 August 2008
The small car race in India is coinciding with the electric car race. Along with many other car manufacturers, the Mahindra & Mahindra also plans to roll out an electric car in India soon. The production of the proposed electric car is at the commencement stage and is expected to hit the Indian car market by 2010. The company promises to make this car bigger and more effective than the currently running electric car in India. Yes, obviously talking about the great Maini Reva. The car will run on lead acid battery during its initial year and later might be replaced by the nickel metal hydride. Mahindra & Mahindra plans to launch this car first in India and then in overseas. The motive behind launching the car first in India is to establish itself in the car segment and also to analyse the market before making a move in the global car market. That’s a good thought, learning the market before venturing the market! Labels: Electric-Cars, Mahindra, Maini, Small-Cars
Thursday, 31 July 2008
Garuda, a super mileage car, is finally ready to be launched! The launch of this super mileage, fuel-efficient car in this era of rising fuel prices and high interest rates is a big revolution in the Indian car industry. The launch of this car is also credited to the various issues including oil crisis, environmental pollution and aggressive search of alternative fuel sources. The new electric car is manufactured by students of Mechanical Department of RV College of Engineering in Bangalore and is expected to be unveiled in August, 2008 at the college campus. This super fuel efficient car is designed and manufactured with latest cutting edge technology. This will be the first Indian car that is completely ready to participate in the "SAE Supermileage International Competition" in USA and "Shell Eco-Marathon" in the UK. Will the proposed launch of Garuda threaten the only electric car Reva Maini in India? Reason being that both the cars have a common start, from the Indian IT hub, Bangalore. Labels: Electric-Cars, Fuel-efficient-Car, Indian-car-industry
Friday, 25 July 2008
 The acute shortage of diesel has lead to unscheduled long hours of power cut. Earlier it was a misconception that shortage of petrol and diesel will only impact the car industry but unfortunately, the shortage has adversely affected the workflow and productivity of various offices and business domain across the country. Bangalore is affected the most by prolonged hours of load shedding. With such an acute shortage of diesel and long hours of power cut in Bangalore, Reva Maini car owners are facing a tough time. You need electricity to charge the car and Reva can run up to a maximum of 80 km on a full charge. And a 100% charge requires about 8 hours. Charging continually for about 8 hours is next to impossible with such kind of load shedding. Even if somehow the car owners manage to fully charge the car, what after the first 80 km? The car owners are now in dilemma of how to charge their car. Even though they own a car costing nearly about Rs 4 lakh to save on petrol price, today they are left without an option. Most of the Reva owners have switched over to public transport for daily commuting because they fall short of electricity to charge their cars. What’s the use of buying a car that is only parked as a centerpiece of your house doorway? Earlier we had mentioned that Maini, creator of Reva electric car, smiles at the future with the rising fuel prices. Will Maini still smile at the future? Labels: Electric-Cars, REVAi, Small-Cars
One more jump in the electric car segment. Pininfarina, the Italian design house plans to roll out electric cars to India. The design house is a known designer of the Ferrari cars and Tata Indica. The launch date is still not announced. The renowned car design company is planning to manufacture the cars first for the European market which is expected to get the cars by 2010. For the next four years, the company would judge the response of the car in the market. It is expecting to reach the sale target of 15,000 units by 2014 in Europe and US. After achieving the sales target, the company will roll the car in India and other countries. But if the expected target is not achieved, the launch might get delayed or even vice versa. The projected date is likely to be altered depending on the achievement of the target. The cars will be designed at Pininfarina’s facility in Italy. The electric car will cover a range of 250 km in one full charge, almost double of what Reva Maini offers. Driven by such a high range, will Pininfarina beat Maini in India? It’s still a long way to go, nothing can be claimed. Just wait and watch. Labels: Electric-Cars, Maini-Reva, New-Cars
Friday, 18 July 2008
The best way to beat the rising costs of conventional fuel is to replace your petrol/diesel car with an electric car. Reading the headlines about the soaring fuel prices, Chetan kumar Maini must have given a self-satisfied smile. Chetan kumar Maini is the one who introduced the first plug-in electric car, Reva Maini, to India.
The tremendous increase in prices has established a superior place for Reva in the industry. The car runs well on road and with a charging battery. It is a small and appealing car, good enough and comfortable for seating two people. The car was first launched in Bangalore and thereafter it rolled out to Delhi roads. The car manufacturers had faced a challenging period when the Government of Delhi asked Maini to introduce his electric car to New Delhi. The rising cost had shaken the State government and they offered all financial and moral support required for the launch of Reva in Delhi. This was a good initiative taken by the State Government to beat the fuel prices and reduce emissions. Now, it’s time for us to take an initiative to conserve the natural resource, reduce pollution and win the battle. Labels: Electric-Cars, Fuel-Prices
Tuesday, 17 June 2008
Car manufacturers are going electric now. With rise in fuel price, a race of creating eco-friendly has engulfed the car industry. Electric cars from Tata’s factory are on the way to hit Indian roads. It is believed that these cars will run at an average cost of Rs. 0.40 per kilometer. Unbelievable! One of them is the Tara Titu which will run on 4 batteries of 12 V. It will be a 2 seater car with a maximum speed of 55 kmph. The price of this car is announced to be Rs 99,000. Wow! Cheaper than the Nano. The other one is the Tata Shuttle, a 14 seater car, will be produced for commercial use with a maximum speed of 30 kmph and at a price of Rs. 5, 00,000 only. Labels: Electric-Cars, Tata-cars
Monday, 2 June 2008
The enterprising spirit of Tata just never stops. Whether it is joint venture with Jaguar and Land Rover or launching the world cheapest car Nano, the company has tried to tap every door available to make it big in global car industry. Tata wanted to buy a stake in the Italian auto design house Pininfarina, but things did not seem to work fine. Tata again wants to be ahead of other car manufacturers. Now Tata along with Pininfarina and Bollore, a French industrial group has come together to develop a mini electric car. It is still to be seen if the Nano’s mini car concept will be replicated in the electric car too. Will the big business house be able to help the big car design house in making the car for future? We will have to wait and watch. Labels: Electric-Cars, Tata-cars
Saturday, 29 December 2007
Maini REVAi, the sole electric car in the country so far, is about to see some competition soon. Another Indian company, Bavina Industries plans to launch a four-seat electric car. This compact car will remind you of the Santro or Matiz at first glance and comes with facilities like air conditioning, power windows, centralised locking and a designer dashboard. Bavina claims that the car can reach a maximum speed of 55 km/hr and can run up to 110 kms with the AC on which is about 50 kms more that what the Revai delivers. Without AC, an additional 20 kms can be achieved. The fully loaded version of Bavina’s electric car will cost around Rs 2.5 lakh. Initially, the company will roll out 5,000 cars by early 2009. After this, it also plans to run eco-friendly taxis in some of the major cities. Those having a deep concern for environment have one more reason to cheer up. Labels: Bavina-Industries, Electric-Cars, Maini-REVAi
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