By Greentech Lead Asia: After surprising the world with ‘Rs.1 lakh car’ Nano,’ Tata Motors is aiming to make a car, Tata Megapixel,
which can deliver up to 100 kilometers from a liter of fuel (under battery only
power). Tata unveiled the concept vehicle, which is a four-seater global range
extended electric vehicle (REEV) at the Geneva Motor Show.
The car combines a lithium ion phosphate battery and an
on-board petrol engine generator for recharging on the move. The vehicle offers
a range of up to 900 km (with a single tank of fuel), path-breaking CO2
emission of just 22 gm/km and fuel economy of 100 km/litre (under battery only
power).
The at-home charging system is an innovative induction
charging system. The charging begins with the car being parked over the
induction pad.
According to article in The Hindu,
Tata Megapixel is likely to be commercially launched in around three years from
now.
“Realistically such products take at least three years to
develop. There are lots of electric technologies to be developed, besides many
other things,” said Ratan Tata, chairman, Tata Group.
The car’s electric drive has four independent electric
motors, one at each wheel. When parking, the electric hub motors drive the
wheels in opposite directions, while the front wheels are turned at an acute
angle, enabling an exceptional 2.8 meter turning radius. The vehicle
accommodates four adults with luggage.
“Tata Megapixel, developed by our design centers in
India, the U.K. and Italy, is our idea of a city car for discerning motorists
in any megacity of the world,” said P. M. Telang, managing director (india
operations), Tata Motors.