Game changer
Electric motoring for the masses will soon become a reality with the Tiago.ev
A BIG TALKING POINT ARE THE PRICES, STARTING AT ` 8.49 LAKH
TATA MOTORS HAS BEEN MAKING rapid strides when it comes to their EVs and the Tiago.ev, is going to be a very important product for the Indian manufacturer, as it is the first electric hatchback you can buy for under `10 lakh. Now we’ve grown accustomed to the all too common phrase that EVs are here to stay but with hatchbacks going all-electric, you really know that it is only a matter of time before EVs truly become mass-market offerings.
Tata Electric Mobility has the first-mover advantage and to tap into this segment’s highly lucrative potential, the Tiago.ev is offered in two versions with different battery capacities. The smaller, 19.25kWh battery is good for a claimed range of 250km, while the larger, 24kWh battery pack gets a claimed range of 315km, both range figures being in accordance with the Modified Indian Driving Cycle (MIDC). Power outputs stand at 60bhp and 74bhp for the medium-range and longrange Tiago.ev respectively, and you also get two drive modes ― City and Sport to tweak the power delivery along with the single-speed transmission.
Most buyers would be more appreciative of the four-level regeneration system that feeds the energy harnessed during braking to the battery, and the fact that the Tiago. ev is packed with features such as automatic climate control, automatic headlamps, hill start / descent control and rain-sensing wipers. Based on the Tiago that received four stars in the G-NCAP crash tests, the Tiago.ev is expected to be one of the safest EVs on the road as well.
The changes to the exterior of the Tiago.ev are subtle, but what is a big talking point are the prices, starting at `8.49 lakh and going up to `11.79 lakh, depending on which of the four charging options you choose. At this rate, the base Tiago.ev undercuts the entry-level Tigor EV by a whopping `4 lakh and the Tiago.ev is only `67,000 dearer than the most expensive ICE-powered Tiago, the top-spec iCNG, on sale. In a market where petrol-powered hatchbacks are the bread and butter for most manufacturers, the Tiago.ev is definitely set to be a game changer! ⌧