Tata once had the cheapest new car on sale and the Indian automaker is now carrying on the tradition by launching probably the most affordable electric vehicle in the world. The Tiago EV was designed specifically for the Indian market and offers a decent range for around $10,000 at current exchange rates. We’ll get to the pricing details soon, but let’s talk about vehicle specs first.
The Tiago EV is a small zero-emission sedan that will be sold with two battery packs available. The XE is the entry-level version with a 19.2 kWh battery pack which, thanks to the car’s electrical efficiency and low weight, can travel up to 250 kilometers on a single charge measured by the Modified Indian Driving Cycle (MIDC).
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Indian customers willing to pay extra for a larger battery can get the XT, XZ+, XZ+ Tech LUX models, which come standard with a 24kWh battery. With it, the range between the two charges increases to 194 miles (315 km). The XZ+ and XZ+ Tech LUX versions come with either 3.3 AC or 7.2 kW AC onboard charging. Tata doesn’t provide information on the Tiago EV’s fast-charging options, although it says the electric hatch can achieve around 110km of range in around 30 minutes.
The relatively long ranges between charges given the size of the batteries are possible thanks to a small permanent magnet synchronous electric motor powering the front wheels. It generates a peak output of 74 horsepower (55 kilowatts) and 84 pound-feet (114 Newton-meters) of instantaneous torque. There’s no information regarding the 0-60 mph (0-96 kph) sprint, although Tata claims the Tiago EV hits 37 mph (60 kph) in under six seconds.
Sales of the Tiago EV will start on October 10, and the first 10,000 customers will get a special introductory price of 8.49 Lakh, or about $10,370 at current exchange rates. The top-end XZ+ Tech LUX model costs 11.79 Lakh, which is around $14,500.
