Tata Says It Again: Electric Nano and Hybrid Nano Both in the Works
By John O'Dell June 17, 2009
Following up on what company officials told us (and we told you
) months ago, India's Tata Motors has told its management trainees that the company, indeed, plans to "use the Nano platform to build electric and hybrid cars."
The statement was contained in a report the company printed up for its Tata Management Training Center, according to the Economic Times business newspaper.
Like most countries these days, India is pushing to clean up its air and reduce its carbon footprint and Tata, its largest automaker, is under tremendous pressure to lead the way with cleaner, greener motor vehicles,
The company already is preparing an electric version of its Indica sedan, a much larger car than the bare-bones, $2,300-$3,300 Nano (the electric Indica will first be sold in Norway which actually has a charging infrastructure for EVs).
Tata also is working on stop-start, or micro-hybrid" systems for its one-ton Ace delivery truck and for the Nano, as well as on a clean diesel engine for the Nano and, possibly, a low-speed Nano variation using a compressed-air engine.
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I can see an electric version, but a hybrid version seems like it adds a lot of complexity to a car that's supposed to be KISS.
I can't see an electric version until the cost of batteries comes way down. Right now even a small battery pack would far exceed the price of the whole car.
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