Tata Motors is planning to launch an all-electric version of the new Altroz hatchback. The Altroz EV comes with Tata’s Ziptron powertrain. Ziptron powertrain comprises a permanent magnet AC motor. It will power the front wheels through a single-speed gearbox. The automobile enthusiasts expect the Altroz EV performance to be brisk and post a sub-10 sec 0-100kph. Tata earlier said that the Altroz’s lithium-ion battery pack has a ‘target range’ of 250-300km. It can be charged to 80 percent in 60 minutes with DC fast charging.
The Tata Altroz EV will be similar to the standard petrol and diesel versions of the hatchback. The exteriors feature a concealed grille, star patterns on the front air dam and differently designed alloy wheels. On the interior, Tata designers plan a floating dashboard in the absence of a transmission tunnel. The floating dashboard promises to enhance the feeling of airiness up front. The electric version of the Altroz Ev has light upholstery and blue detailing across the detailing. The car showcased at Auto Expo sported a rotary gear selector and electric parking brake. The Altroz EV has the same spacing as the standard Altroz.
Tata will launch Altroz EV in 2021. The expected price of the car is Rs 12 lakh. It is a perfect car for eco-conscious buyers with ample range for city use, brisk performance and zero emissions.
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The Standard Tata Altroz EV
Altroz is Tata’s first venture in the premium hatchback segment. Tata Altroz competes with Maruti Suzuki Baleno and Hyundai Elite i20 in the market. It comes with a unique design and a decent pack of features. It has a well-sorted steering response and excellent ride quality. Tata Altroz has managed to get good sales despite the Covid pandemic situation. Tata Altroz received 5-star in the global NCAP safety rating. The car has again made headlines after a video of India’s first modified Tata Altroz from Kerala has gone viral.
Features of Tata Altroz EV
- Anti-lock braking system
- Electric Brake-force distribution
- Power steering
- Airbag for driver and passenger
- Automatic climate control
- Alloy wheels
- Air conditioning
- Child Seat Anchor point
- Speed-sensing door lock
- Central lock and child safety lock
- Rear parking sensors
- Front fog lights
Tata Altroz EV Engine and Gearbox
The Tata Altroz has a 1.2-litre petrol Revotron engine and a 1.5-litre Revotorq diesel engine. The petrol and diesel engine comes with a power output of 86 px and 90 px respectively. Tata Altroz petrol motor does not make any noise until the speed of about 100 km/hr. The petrol engine is good for those riders who want to travel from one point to another. The car is not suitable for the ones who want to have fun with the car.
The diesel engine supply power in a strong surge, therefore, is fun to ride. The diesel engine is well refined that it does not give out any external sounds unless pushed really hard. Simple manual gearboxes paired properly to the engines offer good drivability. You don’t have to downshift often in the diesel one. The clutch in both diesel and petrol cars is light to operate and convenient to drive.
Tata Altroz Colours
The company offers five colour variants- Downtown Red, Midtown Grey, Avenue White, Skyline Silver and High street Gold. The Downtown Red colour is eye-catching. The Avenue White colour is very classy, while the Skyline Silver is universally flattering. The Altroz coloured Midtown Grey looks subtle, and the High Street Gold colour is attractive. Altroz interior has a dual-tone, black and grey.
Advantages of Tata Altroz EV
Design and Look
Altroz has a very sleek and beautiful design. Tata has used its Impact 2.0 design for the Altroz. The headlamps which have the projector headlights are placed on the sides of the slim grille. The car comes with a tri-arrow-shaped fog lamp. The front stylish bonnet adds up to the beauty. You get to experience good build quality when you open and close the doors. The ALFA (Agile Light Flexible Advanced) architecture makes Altroz a light car.
Spacious Cabin
You don’t have to scotch much to get into the cabin because of the wide-opening doors. Altroz interior is efficiently designed. The driver’s seat is well-positioned to ensure all-round visibility. All the controls are easily accessible. The car has a good deal of storage space in the interior and spacious boot space as well. An adult can sit comfortably as there are good knee, shoulder and headspace.
Safety
Tata Altroz was awarded 5 stars at the Global NCAP crash test in the protection category. It offers safety features like dual front airbags, anti-breaking systems, seat belt reminders, revise sensors, a high-speed alert system and impact sensing auto door unlock system.
Confident On-Road Behavior
Well, tuned power steering feels excellent on the road. Making U-turns or parking is much easy and light. You get excellent road stability as Altroz weighs up with an increase in speed.
Disadvantages of the Tata Altroz EV
- The biggest complaint about the Altroz is its powertrain choices. The 1.2 naturally aspirated 3 cylinders does do justice to the car. There is also a lack of an automatic gearbox expectation.
- The rear space feels claustrophobic because of the small rear side window area.
- Another drawback of the car is the cheap feel of interior trim. Unlike the exterior of Altroz, the interior is not up to the mark of the gold standard of a hatchback car. Though Tata Motors makes excellent cars with the good build quality and safety features, it still lacks good after-sale experiences. They should improve their quality control department to offer better services.
Other Upcoming Electronic Cars in India in 2021
Mahindra eKUV100: The company showcased Mahindra eKUV at 2020 AutoExpo. It will the most affordable electric vehicle in the country. The price of the car is around Rs. 8.25 lakh. The design of the car is similar to the conventional IC engine powered SUV. It gets a 15.9kWh liquid-cooled battery that claims a range of 147 km. The new features like connected at tech allow setting temperature before you get in the car. It will go on sale in early 2021 and will rival the likes of Tata Nexon EV.
Audi e-Tron: Audi e-Tron made its public appearance back in November 2018. The expected launch date of the Audi e-Tron in India is on 25 February 2021. It is the brand’s first attempt at a fully-electric SUV. The car will come with two electric motors, one sitting on each axle. Both the motors together produces a power of 360PS and 561Nm. It can push the e-Tron from 0-100kmph in 6.6 seconds. Audi e-Tron might offer a boost mode that can bump up the power by 48PS and the torque by 103Nm. So, there is an option for reducing the e-Tron’s 0-100kmph time to just 5.7 seconds.
A 95kWh battery pack powers e-Tron’s motors that give the SUV a 400km+ range. AC charger or a quick charger helps to charge the battery. With quick charging, the batteries charge up from 0 to 80 percent in just 30 minutes. It comes with the latest technologies like air suspension, a plethora of touchscreens inside the cabin that can control almost all the features, a B&O sound system and cameras as ORVMs.Audi might price the e-Tron around the Rs 1.4 crore mark in India. It globally goes up against the likes of Jaguar I-Pace, Tesla Model X and the Mercedes-Benz EQC.
Jaguar I Pace: The Jaguar I-Pace is its first all-electric model. It debuted globally in 2018
The carmaker will launch I-Pace in India on Feb 14, 2021. The upcoming I-Pace has a cab-forward profile, with a stubby bonnet, short overhangs and squared-off rear end. Although placed in the SUV segment, it looks more like a high-riding hatchback. The new I-pace is compact in size with dimensions 4,682 mm long, 2,139 mm wide and 1,565 mm tall, the new I-Pace. The interior resembles a typical luxury EV. The interior well-built, modern and loaded with equipment. It has a massive boot at the rear and spacious storage in the front.
Jaguar I-Pace drains power from two permanent magnet synchronous motors. One motor at the front and the other one at the rear. They produce a combined power of 400hp and give the SUV all-wheel-drive capability. A 90kWh lithium-ion battery pack charges these motors. The battery rests below the cabin floor and provides enough fuel for 480km. It takes 40 minutes to charge up to 80 using a DC fast charger and 10 hours with a normal AC charger.
The Jaguar EV is quick but lacks the emotion and personality of a combustion engine.
The I-Pace will compete with the Mercedes-Benz EQC and the Audi e-Tron. The expected price of the Jaguar I-Pace is above Rs 1 crore.
