|
|
BY OUR AUTOMOBILES CORRESPONDENT
29 March, 2005: The
Rs. One Lakh Car can wait. Tata Motors plans to develop a
hybrid
car, says Dr V Sumantran, Executive Director, Passenger Car Business Unit and Engineering Research Centre, Tata Motors.
Why is Tata Motors interested in hybrid cars? We do not have any
further information. However, if Tata Motors is seriously looking at hybrid cars in the next few years, we believe it is nothing short of an excellent idea.
 Why so? We at
www.dancewithshadows.com
have discussed hybrid cars as a great option for India. Hybrid cars abroad are becoming increasingly common, and cars like the
Toyota Prius and Ford Escape SUV are a couple of examples. The everyday Honda Accord has morphed into a super-green, environment friendly and
more powerful hybrid car in the US, and many other car manufacturers are following suit. In cost-sensitive India, it makes further sense because of the fantastic fuel efficiency figures that can be offered. A hybrid car from an Indian manufacturer such as Tata Motors will be cheaper to build in India than the hybrid cars abroad. Labour costs and manufacturing costs in India will make it possible for
Tata Motors to price it on par or even a little above comparable cars.
Back to the Tata Motors hybrid car. The prototype will be out in 2005. That is a good sign. Dr V Sumantran says that these are early days, and the technology will take time to mature. That statement is not accurate - Tata's version of the hybrid powertrain might not be mature, but the technology certainly is. When the Honda Accord and SUVs abroad turn to hybrid power, it means mature technology.
Like hybrid cars abroad, the car will have both an internal
combustion engine as well as an electric motor. Tata Motors says that the IC engine will be used at high speeds and (probably at start and sudden acceleration too) the electric motor will be used at mid speed ranges.
Let us wait for the prototype, then. Despite the meagre amount of information released, we do have high hopes for the hybrid car and hybrid power in India. And if nothing comes of it, at least it means that
Ratan Tata is thinking ahead. Usually, when he does, he delivers.
BY OUR AUTOMOBILES CORRESPONDENT
|
