Tata Motors has launched the Tiago and Tigor iCNG variants in the country with its new twin-cylinder technology. The updated Tata Tiago iCNG is priced from ₹6.55 lakh, going up to ₹8.10 lakh for the XZ NRG CNG variant. Meanwhile, the Tata Tigor CNG is now priced from ₹7.10 lakh, going up to ₹8.95 lakh. All prices are ex-showroom, Delhi. The same twin-cylinder CNG tech has also been introduced on the Tata Punch micro SUV.
By: Sameer Fayaz Contractor | Updated on: 04 Aug 2023, 13:05 PM
The Tata Tiago CNG and Tigor CNG now get twin CNG cylinders with a capacity of 70 litres, the highest in the segment
The automaker introduced the new tech on the Altroz earlier this year and the cleverly factory-fitted CNG tanks liberate more room for practical cargo capacity. Tata’s twin-cylinder tech places two fuel tanks of a capacity of 70 litres combined in place of the spare wheel under the cargo area. This ensures there’s usable space to keep a suitcase, bags and more. The spare wheel is moved to the rear underbelly of the car on either vehicle.
The cylinder are placed below the cargo area in the boot on the Tiago and Tigor, as seen on the Punch iCNG version above
Commenting on the launch, Vinay Pant, Head-Marketing, Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles, said, “Building further on our success with the Altroz iCNG, and to make the CNG segment even more hotly contested, we are excited to introduce the twin-cylinder technology in not just one but three products today – the Tiago, Tigor and the much awaited and loved subcompact SUV, the Tata Punch. I am confident that these introductions put together will make our CNG lineup appealing, holistic, and stronger than ever.”
The Tata Tiago and Tigor CNG draw power from the 1.2-litre naturally-aspirated petrol engine. The motor has been detuned to produce 76 bhp and 97 Nm of peak torque on the CNG-powered version, while paired with only a 5-speed manual gearbox. Offered in multiple variants, the Tiago and Tigor CNG options also boast decent features when compared to their rivals – Maruti Suzuki Celerio, Maruti Suzuki Dzire and Hyundai Aura.
The Tata Tiago and Tigor iCNG were launched in January 2022 and the latest update makes the models more practical. The company says it has sold over 50,000 units of the CNG versions since the launch, helping the automaker command a 16 per cent market share in the overall CNG segment. Individually too, the CNG variants contribute 20 per cent to the Tiago’s overall volumes, 55 per cent to the Tigor and 40 per cent to the Altroz. Tata’s CNG range is available for private buyers though and not for commercial operators. Deliveries for the new updated CNG lineup should begin in a few days from now.
Powering the Punch iCNG is a 1.2-litre, three-cylinder engine that produces 84.82 bhp of max power and a peak torque output of 113 Nm while running on petrol. On CNG, the power output falls to 75.94 bhp whereas the torque output decreases to 97 Nm. The engine comes mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox or a 5-speed AMT. However, the CNG powertrain only gets a 5-speed AMT.
One of the biggest distinguishing features of Tata’s iCNG range is the use of dual-cylinder tech. Instead of using one large CNG cylinder, Tata Motors is using two small 30-litre cylinders which means the total capacity is rated for 60 litres. The cylinders are placed in the floor well of the boot. This means that there is still a usable boot space available for the occupants to store their luggage and other stuff.
Being a Tata, the CNG vehicles also come with several safety features. It gets a leak detection feature and Tata is using high-quality stainless steel and rust and corrosion-resistant materials. There is also thermal incident protection in which the CNG supply to the engine is cut off automatically and the gas in the cylinder is released into the atmosphere automatically. There is also a microswitch that makes sure that the car does not start if the fuel lid is open.
Cosmetically, the brand has not made any changes apart from the new iCNG badging. The cabin gets a CNG button that is used to switch the fuel supply from CNG to petrol or vice versa. The instrument cluster is updated to show a CNG gauge.
The Tata Punch CNG will come with twin-cylinder technology that brings two 30-litre tanks under the boot space, for a more practical storage solution
Commenting on the launch, Mr. Vinay Pant, Head-Marketing, Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles Ltd., said: “Building further on our success with the Altroz iCNG, and to make the CNG segment even more hotly contested, we are excited to introduce the twin cylinder technology in not just one but three products today – the Tiago, Tigor and the much awaited and loved sub compact SUV, the Tata Punch. Since its debut at the Auto Expo 2023, the Punch iCNG has been one of the most awaited products in this segment. With its uncompromised boot space and high end feature upgrades, the Punch iCNG demonstrates the go anywhere attitude of an SUV, which is engineered to meet the constantly evolving requirements of customers, who are tech savvy and demand best in class features along with an environment friendly and economical product. I am confident that these introductions put together will make our CNG line up appealing, holistic and stronger than ever.”
Now in its third generation, the Alto continues to be a popular choice in the entry-level hatchback segment.
Maruti Suzuki has announced that its entry-level product, the Alto, has crossed the 45 lakh sales (4.5 million units) milestone, becoming India’s highest-selling car. Since its launch in 2000, Maruti’s people’s car for the millennium saw strong consumer acceptance, and by 2004, it had become the bestselling car in the country.
The Alto is now in its third generation
10 lakh unit sales mark hit in 2008
Rivals the Kwid and S-Presso
Maruti Alto: tough early times
It wasn’t smooth sailing for the Alto in its first years; the catch here was that the Maruti 800 – the car that put India on wheels – still lured many first-time car buyers. Maruti Suzuki initially struggled to convince buyers to pick the Alto over the iconic 800 despite the former looking fresher, having better engine and gearbox options, and more features without a big premium over the 800. The first Alto came with two engine options – the 45hp, 796cc petrol engine from the Maruti 800 hatchback, and a 65hp, 1.1-litre, 4-cylinder petrol motor.
Maruti Alto: 40 lakh unit sales by 2020
To draw more buyers to the Alto, Maruti made some strategic moves. It narrowed the 800’s range, launched more affordable variants of the Alto and marketed it aggressively. The efforts paid off, and after three years, the Alto wrested the throne from the 800 as India’s bestselling car.
Since then, the Alto sales have continued to grow, reaching milestones upon milestones. In 2008, Maruti Suzuki sold 10 lakh units of the Alto, making it only the fourth car in the Indian market to hit that milestone after the 800, Santro and the Omni.
The Alto just took four years to sell another 10 lakh units and in 2016, it crossed the 30-lakh milestone, making it the only car in India to do so. By August 2020, Maruti Suzuki had sold 40 lakh Alto units.
Maruti Alto: now in its third generation
Since the hatchback’s launch, the Alto has seen three iterations. In 2010, the first-gen Alto K10 was launched along with a CNG variant. Two years later, the Alto 800 was introduced and marked 2 million sales of the car. The second-generation Alto K10 was launched in 2014, followed by the third-gen model more recently in 2022.
Currently sold in seven variants, the Alto K10, which is powered by the K-Series 1.0-litre petrol engine, is priced at Rs 4,67,000 (on-road, Delhi) for the base Standard variants, going up to Rs 6,78,000 for the top-end VXi+ AMT variant.
Over 2 million units sold since FY2014
A quick look at the domestic market sales numbers of the Alto reveals that 22,20,441 units have been sold over 10 fiscal years, between FY2014 and FY2023, accounting for 49.34 percent of the total 4.5 million units. FY2019 has been its best year with 2,59,401 units but demand slowed down over the next couple of years.
FY2020 sales of 1,90,814 units were down by a substantial 26 percent, while the Covid-impacted FY2021 saw demand reduce by 16 percent to 1,58,992 units and to 1,45,167 units in FY2022.
Current-gen Alto still a favourite of the masses
What has brought the fizz back is Maruti Suzuki introducing the third-gen Alto K10 in August 2022, followed by the CNG variant, which delivers a fuel efficiency of 33.85km/kg, in November 2022. This move has seen sales improve year on year by 24 percent to 1,79,698 units.
The decadal sales data reveals that the Alto continued to be India’s best-selling car each year right till FY2020. In FY2021, the Alto dropped three positions to fourth rank and ceded the title to sibling Maruti Swift (172,671 units). In FY2022, when the Maruti Wagon R became the top seller (1,88,837 units), it continued to have fourth position, improving upon that in FY2023 to take third spot with 1,79,698 units after the leader Wagon R (2,12,340) and Baleno (2,02,901 units).
The Triumph Speed 400 finally rolled out into dealerships late last month and as originally announced, the company has now begun deliveries of the new roadster to customers across India. Deliveries have commenced in a phased manner in cities like Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Pune, while deliveries in other cities should start within the next few days.
By: Sameer Fayaz Contractor | Updated on: 03 Aug 2023, 15:33 PM
The Triumph Speed 400 commands a waiting period of about four months
The Speed 400 was launched with a highly competitive introductory price tag of ₹2.23 lakh for the first 10,000 customers. Triumph and Bajaj managed to surpass the 10,000 booking number quickly and the price now stands at ₹2.33 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). The on-road prices vary between ₹2.67 lakh in Delhi, going up to ₹2.87 lakh in Mumbai and Pune. You can check out the on-road prices for different states below.
As previously reported by HT Auto, the waiting period for the Speed 400 stands at about four months. Triumph India has also increased the booking amount from ₹2,000 at the time of the launch to ₹10,000. The demand is only expected to increase further as Bajaj Auto expands Triumph’s retail presence in the country. The company previously had 15 operational dealers pan India, and it plans to increase to 50 outlets by October, and up to 100 by March 2024 across 80 cities. The strategy will also help bolster the company’s operations right time for the Triumph Scrambler 400 X’s arrival in two months.
Currently, Bajaj Auto is ramping up production of the Triumph Speed 400 at its Chakan 2 facility to meet the growing demand. The plant has an installed production capacity of 5,000 units for Triumph motorcycles, which could be increased further to address the demand. That said, production will be increased in a staggered manner, the company had clarified earlier.
Watch: Triumph Speed 400 Review: Worth the hype?
The Triumph Speed 400 is powered by a 398 cc single-cylinder, liquid-cooled engine tuned for 39.5 bhp at 8,000 rpm and 37.5 Nm at 6,500 rpm, paired with a 6-speed gearbox. We rode the Speed 400 last month and came back impressed with its impressive performance, design and overall build quality. Triumph has ventured into a segment dominated by Royal Enfield, while also locking horns with offerings from BMW, KTM, Honda, Zontes, and more.
Hyundai Motor India is offering some of its cars with benefits up to ₹2 lakh in the month of August. The offer applies on models like i20, i20 N Line, Grand i10 Nios, Aura, Alcazar and Kona Electric. Benefits include cash discounts, exchange bonus and benefits for corporate and government employees. However, Hyundai has kept some of its best-selling models like Creta, Venue and Verna out of this scheme.
By: HT Auto Desk | Updated on: 03 Aug 2023, 14:58 PM
Hyundai Alcazar
Hyundai Kona Electric
The OEM is offering benefits up to ₹2 lakh on the electric model, which is a significant rise from the ₹1 lakh benefit being offered in July. It is the brand’s first all-electric vehicle that was launched in the country. It comes with a 39.2 kWh lithium-ion polymer battery that churns out 136 PS of power and 395 Nm of torque.
Hyundai i20, i20 N Line
Both the models are available with benefits up to ₹40,000. The premium hatchback is a good fit if one is looking to buy a car that costs around ₹10 lakh and comes loaded with features. It comes with a 26.03-cm HD Touchscreen Infotainment and Navigation System in the high-spec Asta(O) variant.
Hyundai Grand i10 Nios
The hatchback from Hyundai is available with benefits up to ₹43,000. Benefits can include cash discount, exchange bonus and corporate benefits. The car gets a 1.2-litre Kappa petrol unit mated to a manual or an automatic gearbox. There is also a CNG variant on sale.
Hyundai Aura
This sedan from the OEM gets benefits up to ₹33,000 this month. The car gets various features such as wireless phone charging, smart key with push button, keyless entry, cruise control, among others.
Hyundai Alcazar
The carmaker is offering the SUV with benefits up to ₹20,000 in August. This model comes in a six-seat and a seven-seat configuration with height adjustable headrest for all three rows.
Disclaimer: These discounts are indicative figures and one must reach out to nearest dealerships for a detailed break up of the scheme.
Note: If you prefer watching the review in Hindi instead of reading it in English, then you can play the following video:
2023 Honda Elevate – Exterior Review
Elevate is a C-segment SUV, with an overall length of around 4.3m. Its general design theme is upright – thus you can observe a lot of straight lines and the exterior looks particularly boxy at the front. Its large grille and wide chrome strip are attention-grabbing elements.
Its headlamps and fog lamps are of LED type, as are the front turn indicators. Talking about the features on offer, the Elevate comes with the Honda Sensing package, which is a camera-based ADAS. Its camera is integrated into the windshield, but there is no other parking camera here, nor does it come with front parking sensors. We think at least one of these features should become a common feature in top variants of C-segment SUVs.
This cladding continues on the side as well with the squarish wheel arches covering 17-inch alloy wheels in the top variant. Speaking of distinct SUV traits, the Elevate’s 220mm ground clearance is a stand-out attribute. The good thing is – despite having such ground clearance, it does not look under-tyred.
Notable elements in its side design include a left mirror-mounted blind spot camera, chrome door handles, thick body-coloured side cladding, roof rails and a shark-fin antenna.
At the rear, you get LED tail lamps, but the turn indicators here are of the regular bulb type. It gets a connected tail lamp design but the red strip between the tail lamp clusters doesn’t have backlighting. The bumper gets thick cladding, and the overall rear design is simple but pleasing.
The highlight of the Elevate’s boot is its 458-litre luggage space. It’s the largest in the segment and with the split folding rear seat, you can expand it further. The boot has shopping bag hooks and a lamp, and there’s also the parcel tray here. Under the boot floor, there’s a 16-inch spare tyre, on which the toolkit is neatly placed, and there’s some space beside it to keep a puncture repair kit.
Overall, the Elevate looks a little bland to us at the front, but it has a typical appeal of an SUV, which most buyers will find pleasing. The highlight, of course, remains the class-leading 220mm ground clearance. The following table gives you an idea of the dimensions of key C-segment SUVs competing with the Honda Elevate:
C-SEGMENT SUVs | DIMENSION COMPARISON
Elevate
2023 Seltos
Creta
Gr. Vitara
Hyryder
Length
4312mm
4365mm
4300mm
4345mm
4365mm
Width
1790mm
1800mm
1790mm
1795mm
1795mm
Height
1650mm
1645mm
1635mm
1645mm
1635mm
Wheelbase
2650mm
2610mm
2610mm
2600mm
2600mm
Ground Clearance
220mm
190mm*
190mm*
208mm
208mm
Boot Space
458L
433L
433L
373L (265L Hybrid)
373L (265L Hybrid)
Tyre Size (top)
215/55 R17
215/55 R18
215/60 R17
215/60 R17
215/60 R17
Here’s a look at the dimension comparison of the Honda Elevate with other C-segment SUVs:
C-SEGMENT SUVs | DIMENSION COMPARISON
Elevate
C3 AC
Astor
Kushaq
Taigun
Length
4312mm
4300mm*
4323mm
4225mm
4221mm
Width
1790mm
1796mm
1809mm
1760mm
1760mm
Height
1650mm
1654mm
1650mm
1612mm
1612mm
Wheelbase
2650mm
2671mm
2585mm*
2651mm
2651mm
Ground Clearance
220mm
200mm
180mm*
188mm
188mm
Boot Space
458L
444L
448L*
385L
385L
Tyre Size (top)
215/55 R17
215/60 R17
215/55 R17
205/55 R17
205/55 R17
*Estimated
Let’s now take a look at its interior.
Honda Elevate – Interior Front Review
The Elevate comes with a black-brown dual-tone interior, with dark wooden trim and matte grey detailing on the dashboard. The top of the dashboard is all hard plastic, but it feels alright for the segment.
For an upmarket feel in the cabin, there is leather finish on the dashboard and doors, and the fitment of the centre console is satisfactory. While the glove box lid is light, its finish is only acceptable. It’s spacious though and can easily accommodate 2-3 pet bottles. Speaking of space for bottles, there are also bottle holders in all 4 doors with door pockets.
In terms of storage, there’s a place to keep a wallet in the front armrest, and 2 cupholders in the centre console. Next to these is a wireless charging pad with 2 USB ports and a 12V power socket.
So, there’s enough storage here to keep and charge multiple devices simultaneously. Above this are the physical air-con controls with a new 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system towering on top. It gets wireless smartphone connectivity and gets an 8-speaker audio system with an immersive sound output.
The display and UI of this infotainment system are basic, but the touch feedback is satisfactory. You can divide the main infotainment screen into 2 or 3 parts. While it doesn’t get many features to brag about, you can always keep the live feed from the rear or side camera on the display. The big downside is that this feature will not work with Apple CarPlay, because that takes up the full screen space.
Anyway, this infotainment system can be accessed via driver steering-mounted controls, and apart from this, the steering wheel also has ADAS related buttons and paddle shifters. Like in the case of Honda City, Elevate also offers adaptive cruise control with both manual and automatic transmissions.
There’s one more feature here that needs a special mention – customisable wiper settings. With this feature, if the car’s wipers are left on for some time period, basically in case of extended rainfall, its headlamps automatically turn on to improve the visibility of this car.
Other important add-ons from the driver’s perspective are:
Tilt & telescopic steering wheel adjustment
Height-adjustable driver seat
Full colour-LCD instrument cluster
Power mirrors with power folding
Sunroof
Frameless auto-dimming inside mirror
Keyless entry with push-button start/stop
We CAN NOT talk about the Elevate’s interior and not mention its outstanding driving position. There’s a rawness in the way the bonnet’s side bulges are visible from here – so you will get the traditional SUV-like feel while driving it.
If you’re someone who prefers a high driving position, then you’re going to love the view out from here, which is unobstructed despite the fact that it gets massive outside mirrors. With the driver’s seat set to my driving position (5-feet 8-inch), let’s examine the rear seat space.
Honda Elevate – Rear Interior Review
Entering and exiting the rear of the Elevate is easy, mainly because of its high ground clearance. There’s more than adequate knee space for me and enough space to slide my feet under the front seat.
In terms of seating position, you would sit upright in the rear of the Elevate, and in this position, I would have liked it more if its floor was flat – and not angled upwards like it is. Despite having a generous seat base, I found the under-thigh support lacking. That said, the cushioning of this seat – whether it’s on the base or back, especially the lower back – is quite likeable.
Talking about space again, there’s more than adequate headroom for me, and there’s generous space between me and the door as well. Other notable features here include:
2x adjustable headrests
Rear AC vents with a 12V power outlet
Centre armrest
Power windows
Door leather trim
If you consider the Elevate mainly as a high-riding alternative to Honda City, and you’re someone who sits more on the back seat, then we think City is still the better option. But if you drive more often and you want that SUV-like driving position – then Elevate is a better car.
A few things that we think the Elevate misses out on are:
Ventilated front seats
Power driver seat with memory
Multicoloured ambient lighting
Cooled glovebox
Rear curtains
Puddle lamps
The general sense of quality and space in this cabin is likeable, and the seats are very, very comfortable. Let’s now see how it drives.
2023 Honda Elevate SUV – Engine Performance And Drive Review
The Elevate comes with a 1.5L, 4-cylinder, normal petrol engine that produces 121PS or power at 6600rpm and 145Nm of torque at 4300rpm. This engine is available with a 6-speed manual and CVT type automatic transmission, and we drove the automatic.
It’s a CVT unit, but it also comes with paddle shifters, which you can use to control various ratios of this transmission. It seamlessly manages engine revs because there are no mechanical gear changes, but actual acceleration and engine revs are not smoothly synchronised. Basically, when pushing it, the engine revs increase quickly, but there’s a lag in the car picking up speed. It seems more of a CVT characteristic than anything else, and it is more pronounced only when you’re looking for immediate acceleration.
We performed a brief 0-100kmph test, which it completed in around 13 seconds. So it’s not outright fast, but offers satisfactory performance. The powertrain feels refined in terms of vibrations. We do, however, feel that the engine noise seeps into the cabin, especially when revving it hard.
When it comes to cruising, its engine remains at around 2000 revs at 100kmph, and it feels planted and confidence inspiring at these speeds even when changing lanes quickly. The braking also feels confident, but from a dynamics perspective, its ride stands out the most. We drove it at varying speeds over regular road uncertainties and even rough roads, and it was pretty comfortable.
On our drive, we experienced the adaptive cruise control and lane keep assist features of the ADAS setup. We found the adaptive cruise control to be reliable, but the lane keep assist wasn’t as effective.
The one feature I personally like a lot is the display of the blind-spot monitoring camera in the infotainment system while using the left turn indicator. I think it’s a feature that can improve driving habits and make the driver want to be more aware of the surroundings.
For the Elevate, Honda claim a fuel efficiency of 15.31kmpl with the manual transmission and 16.92kmpl with the automatic. We will test its fuel efficiency when we get this car for a longer period. For now, as far as our initial impression is concerned, the Elevate is a sorted car in terms of dynamics, and its highlights are its comfortable ride, seats and very high ground clearance.
Following is a look at the comparison of the Honda Elevate’s engine with key C-segment SUVs:
C SEGMENT SUVs | PETROL ENGINE SPECS
Elevate
2023 Seltos
Creta
Gr. Vitara / Hyryder
Gr. Vitara / Hyryder
Astor
Engine
1.5L
1.5L
1.5L
1.5L
1.5L Hybrid
1.5L
Cylinder
4
4
4
4
3
4
Displacement
1498cc
1497 cc
1497 cc
1462cc
1490cc
1498cc
Power
121PS @ 6600rpm
115PS @ 6300rpm
115PS @ 6300rpm
103PS @ 6000rpm
115.5PS
110PS @ 6000rpm
Peak Torque
145Nm @ 4300rpm
144Nm @ 4500rpm
144Nm @ 4500rpm
137Nm @ 4400rpm
141Nm
144Nm @ 4400rpm
Manual
6-speed
6-speed
6-speed
5-speed
–
5-speed
Manual FE
15.31kmpl
17kmpl
16.8kmpl
21.11kmpl (19.38kmpl AWD)
–
NA
Auto
CVT
CVT
CVT
6-speed TC
CVT
CVT
Auto FE
16.92kmpl
17.7kmpl
16.9kmpl
20.58kmpl
27.97kmpl
NA
Here’s a comparison of the Honda Elevate’s engine specs with the small turbo petrol engines of the C-segment SUVs:
C SEGMENT SUVs | PETROL ENGINE SPECS
Elevate
C3 AC
Kushaq 1.0
Taigun 1.0
Engine
1.5L
1.2L Turbo
1.0L Turbo
1.0L Turbo
Cylinder
4
3
3
3
Displacement
1498cc
1199cc
999cc
999cc
Power
121PS @ 6600rpm
110PS @ 5500rpm
115PS @ 5000rpm
115PS @ 5000rpm
Torque
145Nm @ 4300rpm
190Nm @ 1750rpm
178Nm @ 1750 – 4500rpm
178Nm @ 1750 – 4500rpm
Manual
6-speed
6-speed
6-speed
6-speed
Manual FE
15.31kmpl
18.50kmpl
19.76kmpl
19.87kmpl
Auto
CVT
–
6-speed TC
6-speed TC
Auto FE
16.92kmpl
–
18.09kmpl
18.15kmpl
*Estimated
2023 Honda Elevate Petrol-Automatic – Verdict
The Elevate seems underwhelming on paper. It doesn’t get many features that are available in its rivals, and some of them are even found in lower segments. In terms of outright performance as well, the Elevate doesn’t really push the bar much further.
However, having driven it, we think that this car is more than just what the spec sheet might suggest. Take the seats for example – these are certainly among the most comfortable in the segment. Its cabin space and material quality are commendable – you feel like sitting in a premium car. The same goes for the ride quality – it’s very comfortable once you’re on the move.
So, the Elevate is not a car that you will be able to show off for a unique feature or the way it looks. It’s a no-nonsense type of car – a car that gets the basics right. So, if you are looking for a comfortable car with high ground clearance from a long-term perspective, then consider the Elevate.
We think the prices for the Elevate could range between Rs. 12.50 lakh and Rs. 17.0 lakh. It will go on sale in September. According to Honda, it is likely to have a waiting period of 3-4 months for buyers who intend to book it after the price announcement.
Ather Energy is all set to unveil its next big electric scooter on August 3. The EV startup has been teasing its upcoming Ather 450S for the last few weeks. Slated to be unveiled on August 11, the Ather 450S is going to be the brand’s most affordable electric scooter, which will compete with rivals like Ola S1 Air, just like the Ather 450X competes with the Ola S1 Pro. The upcoming electric scooter will arrive as a toned-down and cheaper version of the manufacturer’s flagship model 450X.
By: HT Auto Desk | Updated on: 02 Aug 2023, 15:29 PM
The Ather 450S will get an LCD console in a bid to be more cost-effective over the 450X with the touchscreen console
Ather Energy has already revealed the pricing details of the upcoming 450S electric scooter. It will be available at an introductory price of ₹129,999 (ex-showroom). Ather has not revealed to what extent the introductory pricing will be available for the consumers. The design of the upcoming 450S remains a mystery.
Watch: Ola S1 Pro vs Ather 450X vs Okinawa Praise Pro: Range, charging, performance compared
Ather has revealed that the Ather 450S will come featuring a different instrument cluster compared to the 450X. It would feature an LCD panel with a lack of connectivity and navigational features compared to 450X. It could miss out on cloud connectivity, Google Map functionality and Bluetooth connectivity as well. Also, expect it to come with a joystick for controlling the screen.
The Ather 450S is claimed to come promising a 115 km range on a single charge, at a top speed of 90 kmph. However, the EV manufacturer has not revealed any further specification details of the upcoming scooter. Considering the top speed of the 450S same as the 450X, it could come powered by the same motor as the flagship model. The electric motor is capable of churning out 8.58 bhp of peak power and 26 Nm of maximum torque. Ather 450X gets energy from a 3.7 kWh battery pack that delivers a 146 km range on a single charge. Considering the fact that 450S will offer a 115 km range on a full charge, it could come powered by a smaller 3 kWh battery pack.
Tata Motors dealerships have unofficially begun accepting pre-bookings for the upcoming Punch CNG variant for a token of ₹21,000. First showcased at the 2023 Auto Expo, the Tata Punch CNG will be the automaker’s next model to get the twin-cylinder technology and is expected to arrive later this month. Tata Motors is yet to open bookings officially for the model. That said, the model has begun arriving at dealerships.
By: HT Auto Desk | Updated on: 02 Aug 2023, 15:21 PM
The Tata Punch CNG is expected to be launched later this month
The Tata Punch will be the first “SUV” from the automaker to get the CNG fuel option. The micro SUV will get the twin-cylinder technology that debuted on the Altroz earlier this year. The twin-cylinder tech cleverly stores two 30-litre CNG tanks under the cargo space where the spare wheel is placed on the petrol version. The spare wheel is mounted under the vehicle instead.
The Tata Punch CNG will come with twin-cylinder technology that brings two 30-litre tanks under the boot space, for a more practical storage solution
The Punch CNG will offer a usable cargo space, which sets it apart from other CNG passenger cars on offer at the moment. The model will also be offered in a host of variants mimicking features from its petrol counterpart. Expect to see all the features carried over including, projector headlamps, 16-inch alloy wheels, an electric sunroof, as well as a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, automatic climate control, six airbags, ABS and more.
Power will come from the detuned version of the 1.2-litre naturally-aspirated petrol engine. The motor also powers the Altroz and is tuned to produce 76 bhp and 97 Nm on the CNG version, while paired with a 5-speed manual gearbox. Pricing and fuel efficiency details will be available closer to the launch. Expect the CNG option to get a hike of ₹50,000-60,000 over the petrol versions.
The Tata Punch CNG comes right in time for the festive season. It will also lock horns against the newly-launched Hyundai Exter CNG while offering an edge over the Nissan Magnite, Renault Kiger, and Maruti Suzuki Ignis in the segment.
When it launches in India, the new Land Cruiser Prado will be positioned above the Fortuner and below the Land Cruiser 300 SUVs.
Toyota has taken the wraps off not one but two Land Cruiser SUVs – the all-new (and smaller) Land Cruiser 250 for the North American market, and the heavily updated retro-styled Land Cruiser 70. The Land Cruiser 250 will be sold as the “Land Cruiser Prado” in other markets globally with slight differences in the trim and powertrain line-ups.
Toyota updates its Land Cruiser Prado after 14 years
Land Cruiser brand makes a comeback in the US
Land Cruiser 70 gets updates too
With the all-new Land Cruiser 250, Toyota has reintroduced the Land Cruiser brand in the North American market (United States domestic market – USDM) after the bigger Land Cruiser 200 was discontinued a few years ago. The much larger Land Cruiser 300, which is sold in India and other markets, never went on sale in North America.
New Land Cruiser Prado, Land Cruiser (USDM) break cover
The Toyota Land Cruiser Prado has received a full model change after nearly 14 years. It now sits on a modular TNGA-F architecture and is based on the recently showcased Lexus GX SUV. The new SUV is squarely aimed at the Ford Bronco, the Land Rover Defender and the Jeep Wrangler, and has a design influence that mimics cues from almost all generations of past Land Cruiser. It gets a chunky two-box silhouette that nods to its “ability to withstand harsh conditions”, the model again majors on practicality, durability and dependability.
Toyota says the focus for this new Land Cruiser Prado SUV (codenamed J250) is on providing improved on-road refinement as well as the latest off-road technology. The chassis is said to be 50 percent more rigid than that of its predecessor, and the entire body-on-frame assembly is some 30 percent stiffer. It measures 4,920mm in length and 1,870mm in height, and has a 2,850mm long wheelbase. The J250 is slightly larger than its predecessor and its roomier, redesigned cabin is a world away in design and technical terms.
On the inside, it gets chunky physical controls with a lot of switchgear shared with the Land Cruiser 300. It gets multi-zone climate control, plush leather upholstery and a wraparound digital display with a new-generation infotainment system, all of which will help Toyota take on Land Rover’s three-year-old Defender with the new Prado.
Toyota says the new Land Cruiser Prado gets better all-terrain ability, with increased wheel articulation, an upgraded Multi-Terrain Monitor interface and improvements to the off-road driving modes among the headline upgrades that will boost its standing in this area. It also gets a disconnecting front anti-roll bar, which can be disengaged via a switch on the dashboard to allow for maximum wheel articulation on especially challenging off-road courses.
New Land Cruiser Prado, Land Cruiser (USDM) powertrain details
The new Land Cruiser Prado will go on sale in the European, Japanese, Middle Eastern and Australian markets with the same 2.8-litre diesel engine that powers the Fortuner SUV in India. This engine, mated to an 8-speed automatic, will get a 48V MHEV mild-hybrid powertrain by 2025. Toyota recently announced that it is testing an MHEV-equipped Hilux mated to the same 2.8-litre diesel engine.
The Land Cruiser 250 will come with a 2.4-litre petrol engine with a hybrid powertrain – the same engine that powers the Lexus GX 470 and a long list of Toyota and Lexus models globally.
Retro-styled Land Cruiser 70 gets updates too
The Land Cruiser 70, which is still on sale in markets like Australia, the Middle East and Africa, has been updated too. Cosmetic changes are kept at a minimum, with an all-new front styling with rounded headlamps, a new grille design and prominent Toyota badging. It gets a major update under the hood with the addition of the 2.8-litre four-cylinder diesel powerplant that joins the 4.5-litre V8 diesel.
Toyota Land Cruiser Prado, Land Cruiser 70: India launch details
While we don’t expect the Land Cruiser 70 to come to India, the all-new Land Cruiser Prado will surely make it to our shores in the near future, and will be positioned above the Fortuner and below the full-size Land Cruiser 300 SUVs.
Toyota is also readying the market launch of the new Vellfire in India, as well as two other models. Read more on that here.
BMW Motorrad India has launched the updated G 310 motorcycle range in the country for the 2024 model year. The BMW G 310 R, G 310 RR, and G 310 GS get new colour options for MY2024 while retaining the same mechanicals, styling and features. Prices for the 2024 G 310 R start at ₹2.85 lakh, while the G 310 RR retails at ₹3 lakh and the G 310 GS is priced at ₹3.25 lakh. All prices are ex-showroom India.
By: Sameer Fayaz Contractor | Updated on: 01 Aug 2023, 15:22 PM
The BMW G 310 R, G 310 RR, and G 310 GS get new colours for MY2024 retaining the same mechanicals, styling and features
The 2024 BMW G 310 R roadster is now available in the new Style Passion black and grey colour scheme with red highlights. Meanwhile, the 2024 BMW G 310 RR gets a new colour option – Cosmic Black 2 – which brings an all-black paint scheme to the full-faired motorcycle. Lastly, the 2024 BMW G 310 GS adventure tourer gets a new Racing Red colour scheme that brings a feisty red, black and grey paint scheme to the motorcycle.
The 2024 BMW G 310 RR gets the new Cosmic Black 2 colour option
All the new colour options on either motorcycle will be available alongside the existing colours available on the bikes. That said, there are no changes to the bikes on the mechanical front. The BMW G 310 range draws power from the 313 cc single-cylinder, liquid-cooled engine. On the G 310 R and G 310 GS, the motor is tuned for 33.5 bhp at 9,250 rpm and 28 Nm at 7,500 rpm. The same unit is tuned to make 34 bhp at 9,700 rpm and 27 Nm at 7,700 rpm on the G 310 RR. The motor is paired with a 6-speed gearbox on all three machines. The engine was most recently updated to meet the latest OBD2 norms and future E20 fuel compliance.
The 2024 BMW G 310 R is now offered in the Style Passion black and grey colours with red highlights
Hardware components include 41 mm USD front forks and a preload adjustable monoshock at the rear. The bikes get 300 mm front and 240 mm rear single-disc brakes with dual-channel ABS. All three bikes run a 17-inch wheel barring the G 310 GS, which uses a larger 19-inch front alloy with a 17-inch rear wheel, running on dual-sport rubber.
The 2024 BMW G 310 GS gets the feisty Rally paint scheme finished red, black and grey
The entry performance segment has seen major additions over the last month with the arrival of the Harley-Davidson X440 and Triumph Speed 400. Both bikes will be eating into the share of the entry-level BMW Motorrad motorcycles. The G 310 range also competes with the KTM 390 Duke, Honda CB300R, Royal Enfield Himalayan, KTM 250 Adventure, and the like.
Hyundai Motor India Ltd (HMIL), on Tuesday, announced that it cumulatively sold 66,701 cars in July 2023. This marks a 4.46 per cent growth compared to the South Korean automaker’s sales numbers posted in July last year when it registered 63,851 units. In the domestic market, Hyundai India recorded 50,701 units in July this year, registering a marginal growth as compared to 50,500 units sold in the same month a year ago.
By: HT Auto Desk | Updated on: 01 Aug 2023, 12:46 PM
The range of SUVs has helped the automaker to post significant growth in sales in July 2023.
While domestic market sales for Hyundai India have witnessed marginal growth, export numbers for the car manufacturer have seen a substantial surge in sales with 16,000 units sold last month, up by 19.84 per cent from 13,351 units sold in the same month a year ago.
Commenting on the sales performance of the automaker, Tarun Garg, COO of Hyundai Motor India Ltd., said that July 2023 marked a significant milestone for the automaker. He attributed the sales performance of the automaker to the range of SUVs sold by the company in India, which include popular models like Creta, Venue alongside Tucson, Alcazar, Kona Electric etc.
Garg also hopes that the automaker would be able to post even better sales results in the coming days buoyed by the newly introduced Exter. The upcoming festive season too is expected to help the automaker to post even better sales results, hopes the Hyundai official. “July 2023 marks a significant milestone in Hyundai Motor India’s journey in India. Our Domestic July Sales volume of 50 000 plus units is backed by a strong SUV portfolio. This has been bolstered by the addition of Hyundai Exter to an already strong SUV line-up led by brands like Creta, Venue, Venue N-Line, Tucson, Alcazar, Kona Electric and all-electric SUV Ioniq5. With the semiconductor supply issues more or less behind us, we are all geared up for the upcoming festive season in India starting with Onam in Kerala,” he said.
Honda 2Wheelers, the second largest two-wheeler manufacturer in India after Hero MotoCorp is readying a new motorcycle, which is possibly going to be a model in the 160-180 cc segment and will challenge Bajaj Pulsar models. The motorcycle is ready to be introduced to the market on August 2. The Japanese two-wheeler brand has already teased the motorcycle through a social media post giving us a clue of what it could bring.
By: HT Auto Desk | Updated on: 31 Jul 2023, 15:40 PM
The upcoming Honda two-wheeler is expected to be a new premium commuter from the company.
The upcoming Honda motorcycle slated to debut on August 2 gets a chunky muscular fuel tank and fuel tank extensions, which show the model’s sporty character. The LED taillight makes sure the bike will come with a premium feel. Expect it to feature a sharp-looking LED headlamp as well, in line with several other Honda motorcycles in the same segment. That said, the turn indicators would come carrying conventional bulbs. Expect the motorcycle to come with a split seat setup, which will enhance its practicality.
Expect it to be based on the Honda Unicorn, which has been one of the successful products from the brand. Powering the motorcycle would be the same engine as the Honda Unicorn. The 162 cc single-cylinder air-cooled motor would be tuned differently though. Expect it to churn out slightly higher power and torque than the Unicorn. Upon launch, the new Honda motorcycle would challenge the Bajaj Pulsar 150, Yamaha FZ-Fi and the TVS Apache RTR 160.
In the 160 cc segment, Honda Unicorn has been raking in numbers. While the auto company introduced the XBlade too, it has not been able to set the sales chart on fire ever. Considering that and the fact that the 160 cc has become one of the most in-demand segments for consumers, the new model looks like a legitimate effort from the company to make a dent in the category.
Honda Cars India (HCIL) has announced that it has started production of the new midsize SUV Elevate at its manufacturing facility in Tapukara in Rajasthan. The automaker has also said that the Honda Elevate comes with more than 90 per cent localisation, which would help it to price the SUV aggressively when the car goes on sale across the country in September this year, right ahead of the festive season.
By: HT Auto Desk | Updated on: 31 Jul 2023, 15:03 PM
Honda Elevate comes as the new midsize SUV from the Japanese car brand, slated to go on sale right ahead of the festive season.
The Honda Elevate will be the automaker’s global SUV, made in India. Besides being slated to be launched in September, deliveries of the car will commence in the same month, said Honda Cars India. The automaker has already started accepting pre-launch bookings for the Elevate across India. The SUV has already been unveiled and grabbed the attention of the automotive community with its masculine design.
Watch: Honda Elevate SUV unveiled in India: First Look
The SUV has been designed following the automaker’s styling ethos of Man Maximum Machine Minimum. The car brand claims that the SUV offers an incredibly spacious interior with spacious headroom, knee room, leg room and a generous 458 litres of cargo space. The SUV carries a bold and masculine exterior with a flat front profile. The overall design of the car commands a strong road presence.
The Honda Elevate will be available in a wide variety of exterior colour options, including single-tone and dual-tone options. The exterior colour options for the SUV include Phoenix Orange Pearl, Obsidian Blue Pearl, Radiant Red Metallic, Platinum White Pearl, Golden Brown Metallic, Lunar Silver Metallic, and Meteoroid Gray Metallic.
Powering the Honda Elevate is a 1.5-litre iVTEC DOHC petrol engine. The engine is available with the option of a six-speed manual gearbox and a CVT. This engine can produce a power output of 119 bhp and 145 Nm of maximum torque at 4,300 rpm.
Speaking about the production commencement of the SUV, Takuya Tsumura, President and CEO of Honda Cars India Ltd., said that it is a significant milestone for the company. He also said that ever since its global unveiling, the Elevate has received an overwhelming response from customers across the country.
Honda says Elevate has more than 90 percent local content; is being built at Tapukara alongside the City and the Amaze.
Honda India has commenced series production of the Elevate SUV, its most important launch for our market in recent times. The Elevate will go on sale sometime in September this year.
Honda Elevate gets a single 1.5-liter petrol option
Two gearbox choices on offer
Honda Sensing ADAS bundle available on top variant
Honda Elevate: from India to the world
The Elevate is being built at Honda India’s Tapukara plant that also builds models like the City and the Amaze sedans. Honda says India is the first country where the Elevate is being manufactured, and it will be sold not just in the domestic market, but will also be exported overseas. The brand also said that the made-in-India Elevate SUV has more than 90 percent localized content. Bookings for the Elevate are already underway and deliveries would commence as soon as prices are announced, sometime in September this year.
Honda Elevate: powertrain and fuel efficiency
The Elevate gets a sole petrol engine option that’s shared with the City sedan. Its a 121hp, 145Nm, 1.5-litre, naturally aspirated petrol engine mated to either a 6-speed manual or a the 7-step CVT automatic gearbox. The Elevate will not come with a petrol hybrid powertrain. There are talks of a full-EV iteration based on the Elevate which will join the line-up in future.
As for fuel economy, the Elevate 1.5 petrol-MT has a claimed economy of 15.31kpl, whereas with the CVT, it delivers 16.92kpl. It has a 612km range with a 40-litre tank for the manual and 679km on the automatic.
Honda Elevate: variants and features
The Elevate is on offer with four trims: SV, V, VX and ZX. As far as features go, the entry-level Elevate gets LED projector headlamps, automatic climate control, 16-inch steel wheels and dual front airbags. The top-spec Elevate ZX gets the 10.25-inch touchscreen, six airbags, Honda Sensing ADAS suite, eight speakers, leatherette brown upholstery, soft-touch dashboard and auto-dimming interior day/night mirror.
Honda Elevate expected pricing launch timeline
Dealer sources tell us that the Elevate will start at around Rs 12 lakh, with the top variant being priced around Rs 17 lakh (ex-showroom). It will see stiff competition from the Hyundai Creta and the recently launched Kia Seltos facelift, which get more features and an option of a diesel engine, the Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara and the Toyota Hyryder, which also get petrol-hybrid powertrain, and the Skoda Kushaq and the Volkswagen Taigun SUVs.
Mitch Evans won the London E-Prix, but P2 was enough for Dennis to claim the Formula E title.
Andretti driver Jake Dennis clinched the 2023 Formula E world championship title with one race to spare, after successfully navigating a chaotic London E-Prix.
Jaguar’s Mitch Evans won the race, which saw two red flag stoppages. But a retirement wiped out Nick Cassidy’s championship hopes, and a P2 finish was enough for Dennis to seal the title.
Dennis seals title after finishing P2
Evans wins London E-Prix, Buemi P3
Mahindra’s Di Grassi goes from P20 to P7
Cassidy out of running after Buemi collision
Dennis headed into the race with a 24 points lead over Cassidy, who started from pole. After leading in the early stages, Cassidy dropped a few places after taking his attack mode, and this is where his race started to unravel. While trying to overtake teammate Sebastien Buemi, two made contact, dislodging Cassidy’s front wing.
After pitting for a new front wing, he was able to rejoin the grid and progressed up to 16th place. But his race couldn’t be salvaged and eventually had to retire.
Dennis crowned 2023 Formula E champion in London
With Cassidy out, Evans – who at this point was in the lead – was the only driver who could stop Dennis from sealing the title; but all Dennis had to do was ensured he finished third. In typical Formula E fashion, this was going to be far from easy.
He had to deal with missing his Attack Mode loop multiple times and two red flag stoppages. In the end, it was a three-lap sprint to the chequered flag. Dennis was up to third place by this time, but he had to hold off Buemi, who had more useable energy than him.
While Evans crossed the line to take victory ahead of Antonio Felix da Costa, Dennis successfully fended off Buemi to become Formula E’s first British world champion. He’s also handed Andretti their first-ever Formula E title; the American team has been part of the series since its inception.
Dennis was eventually promoted to second after da Costa was handed a three-minute time penalty for a technical infraction. This also promoted Buemi to the final spot on the podium.
“I am lost for words, honestly. It means so much to me, the boys standing out there, we have had everything thrown at us, honestly it felt like everyone was racing against us, but Jesus Christ! We have just become world champion! I am so happy for myself, the team, everyone; we deserve this so much,” exclaimed Dennis.
Mahindra scores points
After a couple of difficult rounds, Mahindra Racing finished in the points in London. Lucas di Grassi pulled off a spirited recovery drive from P20 to P7, while teammate Roberto Merhi crossed the line in P16.
2023 Formula E championship standings
While the Drivers’ Championship has been wrapped up, the Teams’ Championship is very much still up for grabs. With just one more race in London to go, Jaguar TCS Racing is level on points with customer team Envision Racing (with 268 points). Porsche is third overall with 241 points, while Andretti is fourth with 236 points.
Mahindra has teased its new pickup truck, slated to debut on August 15 in Cape Town, South Africa. The homegrown auto manufacturer has dubbed this as the concept form of a global pickup truck. The pickup truck is expected to be based on the Mahindra Scorpio N platform. The upcoming Mahindra Thar five-door too will be based on the same architecture. It will carry the legacy of the Mahindra Scorpio pickup truck, which has been in business for several years. Besides this, the automaker is also expected to showcase some more of the brand’s future mobility plans.
By: HT Auto Desk | Updated on: 30 Jul 2023, 09:28 AM
The Mahindra Scorpio N pickup concept will carry the legacy of the Mahindra Scorpio pickup truck and it will first break cover in South Africa.
Internally codenamed Z121, the new pickup truck will come with a longer wheelbase than the standard Scorpio N SUV. This will enable the pickup truck to accommodate a larger cargo deck. For reference, the MahindraScorpio Classic has a 2,600 mm wheelbase, while the pickup version of this SUV comes with a wheelbase well over 3,000 mm allowing the latter to have a cargo deck.
Mahindra has not revealed further details of the upcoming pickup truck concept, however, the teaser indicates that it will be well capable of tackling hard road challenges. A few design elements of the pickup truck concept include a double-cab body style, rugged looking front grille and chunky off-road spec tyres wrapping around large wheels.
Expect the production version of the Mahindra Scorpio N pickup truck to come to the market by 2025. It could arrive in both single and double-cab body styles. Speaking about the powertrain, the pickup truck could share the same petrol and diesel engines as the SUV. Also, there would be manual and automatic transmission options for the pickup truck. Expect it to come in both 2WD and 4WD options. It is not clear if the upcoming Mahindra Scorpio N pickup truck will replace the current Scorpio pickup or would sell alongside it.
By: HT Auto Desk | Updated on: 29 Jul 2023, 15:17 PM
A contingent of 25 women riders atop TVS Ronin motorcycles, representing the Indian Army embarked on a 7-day ride from New Delhi to Dras to celebrate the the 24th Kargil Vijay Diwas. The rally was called Nari Sashaktikaran and the all-women squad reached Kargil War Memorial on the 26th of July 2023 which is when the 24th Kargil Divas was being celebrated.
25 women riders atop TVS Ronin bikes have embarked on a seven-day ride from Delhi to Dras.
The rally spanned over a distance of approximately 1,000 km through the plains of Haryana, Punjab and the mountains of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh before reaching the Kargil War Memorial in Dras.
The Indian army used the TVS Ronin. It uses an oil-cooled, single-cylinder engine that produces 20.4 PS and a peak torque of 19.93 Nm. It is priced between ₹1.49 lakh and ₹1.69 lakh. Both prices are ex-showroom.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Vimal Sumbly, Head Business – Premium at TVS Motor Company said, “We are proud to have associated with the Indian Army, which symbolises strength, valour, and dedication. At TVS Motor Company, we believe in supporting initiatives that embody the spirit of patriotism and empowerment, and the collaboration with the Indian Army represents our commitment to nurturing the spirit of adventure and resilience, particularly amongst women riders. The Nari Sashaktikaran Women Motorcycle Rally on the TVS Ronin was flagged off to commemorate 24 years of Kargil Vijay Diwas where a 25 member team rode from Delhi to Kargil War Memorial, Dras (Ladakh), where the ride was flagged in. This ride not only showcased the courage and determination of these incredible women riders but also paid tribute to the brave women who serve in the Indian Army. We are honoured to have been a part of this momentous journey with them as they rode the TVS RONIN as their choice of ride traversing the treacherous journey till Kargil, and aim to inspire more women to break barriers, challenge stereotypes, and create their unique paths of success.”
Charging an EV can be as simple as plugging in a phone, but there are considerations to be kept in mind.
Published On Jul 29, 2023 10:30:00 AM
Living with all manner of electric vehicles, we’ve realised that before you even get to range anxiety, there’s sometimes plug-in worry. Not the nail-biting kind, but stuff like, will it charge fast enough, or why does your car have a different plug and can you charge it at any outlet? So here’s our guide to help you know more about charging an EV.
What are the different ways to charge?
15Amp
Let’s begin with the familiar 15A AC (Alternating Current) plug point. Yes, the broad 3-pin socket that you plug in your heavy-duty appliances at home can also power up your EV, and as the 15A point is pretty ubiquitous, it’s convenient. But with an output of just 3.3kW, it’s also slow.
Still, for a small battery, an overnight charge will easily top it up. For example, the Citroen eC3’s 29.2kWh battery pack can go from 10-100 percent in 10.5 hours on a wall socket. But larger batteries can take well over a day. So the 15A socket works best for small batteries like in electric two-wheelers and smaller cars, and since it’s easy to find, the 15A socket is also a good back-up in case you are stranded.
AC Fast charger
Next up is the AC wall charger. These are units that, like the 15A socket, also deliver AC power but at a higher wattage, typically somewhere between 7kW and 22kW. They are pretty compact, can be installed at homes and most companies offer such a charger with their products. For instance, the Tiago EV has an optional 7.2kW charger that can charge the 24kWh battery from 10-100 percent in 3 hours 35 minutes, whereas the standard 3.3kW charger takes 6 hours 20 minutes.
DC fast charger
In general, batteries function on direct current; even when you plug in your phone, the charger converts electricity from AC to DC to charge your phone’s battery. It’s the same with EVs too. However, you can bypass the AC to DC convertor of your EV and allow the batteries to soak in some direct current. You do this by plugging into a DC charger, which converts the grid’s alternating current to direct current and sends that straight to your battery. In this way, EVs so designed can handle a much higher charging rate. Taking the Tiago EV as an example again, Tata Motors says the 24kWh battery on a DC fast charger with a 50kW output will take 57 minutes to go from 10 to 80 percent.
These chargers aren’t for home use though, they are large and need special installation, and thus, are only found at specific public charging outlets. The speed of DC chargers is also increasing and today, some chargers can go up to 350kW. In India, companies like Kia, for example, have installed 240kW DC chargers, but remember, while your vehicle may be able to handle a DC charger, the maximum speed at which it will take on the direct current will depend on what it’s designed to handle plus other limiting factors, details of which we will get into later in this article. On a DC charger, you also have the option to select either the time, energy or total cost that you want to charge with.
V2V Charging
Much like siphoning fuel from one car to fill another, you can also use the battery charge of one vehicle to top up another, but this is generally very slow and best only if a car is stranded. For this to work, both vehicles – donor and recipient – need to be designed for V2V charging as beyond the ability to reverse the flow of electricity, both vehicles’ onboard power electronic systems need to be able to communicate with each other to allow the exchange to take place. This isn’t very common, but there are a few models capable of this; the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6, for instance. Besides this method, an EV low on charge can also be plugged into another EV that has a regular 3-pin AC outlet.
Does an EV charge at the same speed all through?
That’s a common query; most people expect the battery to charge at its maximum rate continuously. However, that’s not always the case. On slow and medium AC chargers, the power flow is at pretty much the same rate, so an EV will charge at roughly the same speed all through with only a small period of slow charging at the start and finish. However, on a DC charger, the power flow delivery is shaped like a step curve, which rises quickly and then descends as the vehicle charges. This is to protect the battery from overheating and overcharging individual cells. When a battery is in use – discharging or charging – it heats up, and to keep heat build-up in check, the charging pace is slowed as the battery gets fuller. Additionally, since no two cells are identical, they charge at slightly different speeds, thus, towards the end of any charge cycle when some cells are full and others may not be, the charging pace is slowed down so that empty cells can continue charging, while the full ones are not damaged.
The DC charging curve varies from model to model, typically the pace rises to a peak quickly, after which it gradually drops, and at 80 to 90 percent, it drops rapidly. This rapid slowdown post 80 percent is also why many EV owners feel that it’s good etiquette to not keep charging past that mark while on a public charger. The time taken is disproportionately long for the range gained, thus unplugging and allowing the next customer to charge is a nice thing to do. Charging to 80 percent is also a recommended way of preserving your battery life.
Other limiting factors
Ambient Temperature
There are other factors that also play a part in charging speed and one of them is ambient temperature. Remember Goldilocks, who didn’t like her porridge too hot or too cold? Batteries, too, are just like that and do not like extreme temperatures. The ideal operating temperature is roughly between 15 to 25°C, so in both very low or very high temperatures, the charging pace drops.
Load
Another factor is load. Most EVs allow you to use some systems while charging, for instance, you can sit inside your car with the HVAC system running while it charges. Naturally, this will take longer for your car to charge up, not just because the battery is also powering some systems, but also because the battery management system will slow things down to manage heat.
What are the different types of charger plugs available
As we had with mobile phones – and still do to a small extent – different EV manufacturers use different types of charging connectors and that’s based on the region they are from. And before you ask, it’s likely going to be a long while before there is a global standard.
Let’s begin with AC connectors: North American and Japanese manufacturers use the Type 1 – J1772 connectors, and these only make use of single phase electricity and are thus slow. The IEC 62196 – Type 2, also called the Mennekes connector, is used by the Europeans and can use the three-phase electric connection. Interestingly, it uses the same Type 1 – J1772 signalling or communication protocol, and thus, carmakers use either type of plug depending on the market it is sold in without having to reconfigure the entire charging system. China uses the GB/T connector, which looks much like the Type 2 plug, however, the cables are reversed and thus GB/T connector is not compatible with the Type 2. Meanwhile, Tesla uses its own propriety connector that can handle AC and DC current, however, some of its models like the Model X, which is sold in Europe, also have the Type 2 plug. In India, it’s the Type 2 that is in use, though early models like the Mahindra e2O and the older Tigor EV used different connectors.
Moving on to DC chargers, there are various types as well. Let’s start with the CCS (Combined Charging System), which is an interesting set-up wherein two additional pins are added to the bottom of the Type 1 and Type 2 AC plug, and thus, form the CCS 1 and CCS 2 plug, respectively. The added pins handle the actual charging, while the AC pins only handle the communication and Earthing. In this way, cars save space as they do not need two separate AC and DC ports, which is the case with the third type of DC charger – the CHAdeMO plug used by Japanese manufacturers in addition to the Type 1 AC plug. For DC charging, China also uses an additional GB/T plug with a different pin arrangement from the AC GB/T plug. Given that the Type 2 AC plug is used in India, the CCS 2 is in use for DC charging here.
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