Long Range Electric Cars Popularity Rising Among Indian Consumers Tata Motors Interview in Hindi
Ankit Sharma and Nitesh Papnoi from Gadgets 360 spoke to Mr. Anand Kulkarni, Vice President and Chief Product Officer, Passenger Electric Vehicles, Tata Motors, to get some important and interesting details about the launch of Punch.ev and the future plans of Tata Motors. Here we have edited some of the responses for clarity.
Ankit Sharma & Nitesh Papnoi: Tata Punch is the company’s first electric car in 2024. How many modifications and changes have been made in this new lineup (Acti.ev) compared to the ICE version?
anand kulkarni: Tata Punch EV has undergone many major modifications, it has been launched on a dedicated full electric platform called Acti.ev. Any EV built on top of it will be equipped with four layers. The first layer is the powertrain, which is the motor, gearbox, battery and power electronics. The second layer deals with the mechanical platform, which includes features like suspension, floor plan and attachments. Apart from this, the third layer is of E&D architecture, which means electrical and electronics, which includes infotainment, telematics unit and such things.
Whereas the last layer is the cloud architecture, which connects everything and brings you the connected car features. So, the most important layer among these four layers is the floor plan and the way the suspension is connected. Because this is where the car actually stands on its feet. Now, this is one area that has undergone a significant change. Because in the older ICE platforms, it is not designed around the battery. So, there are always some compromises. Because you have to lay the batteries around the floor and you cannot protect enough spaces.
In the pure EV architecture, what we have done is to design the vehicle or the floor plan around the battery. And as a result, there was more than enough space to be made for the batteries. For this, first of all we made space for the battery. Then we also had to see how the car would hold up in case of an accident. So the structure, form and rigidity had to be designed around it. Then we also said that this architecture would be used for multiple drive configurations.
Ankit Sharma & Nitesh Papnoi: With the launch of the Tata Punch.ev on a new EV platform, can customers expect a reduction in interior space within their cars?
anand kulkarni: Absolutely not! Actually, customers can enjoy increased interior space in the Tata Punch EV. Some cars can have front wheel drive, some cars can have rear wheel drive and some cars can have all wheel drive. So, we had to provide space keeping this in mind. Then, when we did all this, we thought how do we provide more space? Because that is the most important thing for a customer. See space is of two types, one is storage, meaning where we keep our luggage or other things. Second, where we sit and where we want to feel comfortable, which is inside the cabin. So, then we looked at how we can make that space more comfortable and provide more storage space.
Thus, the inclusion of a frunk for front storage, uncompromising boot space and a focus on the infotainment layer were essential considerations. Recognising the customers’ desire for seamless integration of gadgets, information and the outside world into the car, features such as screens, HMIs and the Arcade.ev app suite were integrated into the Tata Punch.ev.
Ankit Sharma & Nitesh Papnoi: Has the Tata Punch EV been awarded a five-star safety rating? Or has the decision to launch it on a full electric platform affected its safety features?
anand kulkarni: Actually, the safety aspect in an electric vehicle remains strong, because the inclusion of the battery increases the mass. So, despite the increase in mass, there is no compromise on safety. We have not yet sent the cars for GNCAP or Bharat NCAP. So we cannot say that it is five star, but it is going to happen and we are going to send the cars for testing. The design (of the electric car) has been made to be able to meet those requirements, but until the certificate comes, we cannot say anything. Tata is known for its robust vehicles and we have designed the Tata Punch EV on the same strategy.
Ankit Sharma & Nitesh Papnoi: Tata Motors, being the leader in electric car sales in the country, offers both short range and long range electric cars. Which range is more preferred by buyers, short range or long range?
anand kulkarni: Long range options are becoming popular among Indian customers. For example, in Tiago, we are offering a 19 kWh battery which runs around 170 km and then, we offer a 24 kWh battery which runs 210-220 km. Everyone is preferring to buy the 24 kWh battery. Similarly, Tata Nexon is also offered in 30 kWh and 40 kWh battery packs and 80% of people choose the 40 kWh battery.
Ankit Sharma & Nitesh Papnoi: What is the company’s primary focus? Is it to expand the range of EV cars or is the focus on advancing fast charging technology?
anand kulkarni: As a company, we are committed to keeping our technology ready for both fast charging and extended range. Developing extended range is relatively easier, as infrastructure requires collaboration and co-development with various stakeholders. We have already taken the initial steps by starting the development of infrastructure three years ago in collaboration with Tata Power. Currently, there are around 4500 fast charging points on the roads, which are actively used. However, recognizing that this may not be enough, we recently established a collaborative network of charge point operators. We invited these operators to collaborate and share data using our extensive information on the operational patterns of vehicles, their locations and optimal charging requirements. By providing this data, we aim to support and facilitate the installation of additional charging infrastructure. This initiative reflects our ongoing commitment to further expand charging infrastructure.
Ankit Sharma & Nitesh Papnoi: The biggest expense in an electric car is the battery. What assurance is Tata Motors giving to people regarding car batteries?
anand kulkarni: Yes, you are right. However, we are manufacturing our car batteries certified or warranty-backed. Warranty is important. The battery pack warranty is for 8 years or 1,60,000 kms. The logic behind this period is that the average daily driving for an Indian customer is around 50 to 60 kms, which is around 20,000 kms per year. Considering the cycle life of 2000 cycles and rear-life range of 300 kms per cycle for LFP chemistry batteries, the battery life is around 6 lakh kms. Even in case of second owner, the battery warranty is transferred when the car is sold and in case of any eventuality, the cost of the battery is covered under insurance.
