The Tata Nano electric car uses some hi-tech engineering. The gas powered Nano, is billed as the cheapest new car in the world has released
prototypes and specifications for an equally low priced EV. The car has yet to be widely marketed.
The Nano EV will indeed be the price champ if it can be priced as promised at from $8,000 - $10,000 US. You can check the list Electric Car Prices to make comparisons. The average $9,000 price is incredibly low.
The price is so low that either the Tata motor company is making very little on each car, the batteries are old school lead acid chemistry, or they have a new type of chemistry or production process. Lets look at the published pack specs.
The specs say the batteries are "super-polymer lithium-ion batteries". Li-Poly batteries are state of the art and also used by by Bolloré, and Detroit Electric cars for example. The Korean company Energy Innovation Group Ltd. (EIG) will manufacture the packs.
The specs also say that the Nano comes with a 12 kWh battery pack. The current cost of manufacturing Li-Poly battery packs is elusive, but it would need to be on par with tradional Li-Ion battery packs at least. At this time, $500/kWh is considered a competitive manufacturing cost for Li-Ion packs.
So, 12 kWh x $500/kWh = $6,000. If the Nano were priced at $9,000, that would leave $3,000 for vehicle manufacture, other expenses, and profit. It appears to be a pretty thin margin. However, Tata is selling in India some 100,000 new Tata gas powered cars for as low as $2,500.
The Tata Nano electric car itself is micro in size. The 12 kWh battery pack is said to provide an 80 mile (129 km) range at slow acceleration to 80 mph/129 kph top end. The car is somewhat stylish and provides base line safety features. Parking in should be a snap in a Nano.
The Tata Nano is powered by a TM4 motor that features an inverted rotor technology. With this TM4 EV motor, the inside windings which normally spin inside of a fixed casing are reversed. The outer casing spins around the fixed (old rotor) stator. The outside diameter is larger, and so you get more surface area, more power, and greater efficiency. Pretty clever.
In the UK
Tata is now focusing on a mini EV truck. The Tata Ace EV has a 25 mph top speed and can carry 500 kg. The Mini EV reminds us of the Miles ZX40ST truck. The company however has decided to suspend production of the Tata Indica EV in the UK. Trials have not been favorable.
Tata Concept EV
Tata has displayed its latest Concept car, the eMo EV. The eMo is lightweight at some 900 kg / 1980 pounds.
The car is moved by a dual motor front wheel drive system powered by an 18.4 kWh Li-Ion pack. The drive system is designed to last 250 K miles. Performance is estimated at a 100 mile range and 65 mph top speed.
The bottom line may be the best however since the car is designed to retail for around $20,000 USD. No word on production.
