The World chimes in on the Tata Nano
Earlier today, I was invited onto the BBC show World Have Your Say to discuss the just-announced Tata Nano. While the WHYS show was a full hour, but with callers from around the world, two hosts and four invited guests it moved quickly and I didn't get to make a few points that I wanted to. Thanks to this here blog, though, I still can. To me, Tata Nano is a pretty amazing vehicle. The look is decent, and I agree with a lot of what was said on WHYS today about the horrible potential to increase congestion and nasty emissions. But what we have here is a car that costs just $2,500. That's with a gasoline engine that moves the car at 50+ mpg. The most exciting thing about the Nano, though, is the potential it has for pure electric drive in a few years.
Right now, lithium batteries for EVs are terribly expensive, but if we look five years down the road, and get a pack that can move a car as small as the Nano at city speeds for, say, $3,000, you're talking about a $5,500 pure electric car. Sure, it won't help the congestion problem, but just imagine what a difference a country full of EVs could make. Even today (ok, later this year when the car is released), buying a Nano and then spending $7,000 or more to convert it to electrons is certainly a good option.
This is not just an idea for poorer countries as, according to Automotive News (subs req'd), Tata is hinting that the Nano (albeit a larger version of the car) could be sold in Europe a few years down the road. Actually, some executives are more than hinting. The AN article ends like this:
"When we go to Europe, we will conform to all existing regulations," said Girish Wagh, head of the 500-member Nano product development team, at the press conference. Responding to a question, he added" "Yes, I said when."
The World Have Your Say blog on the Tata Nano is here and you can get the podcast of the show here. I assume there's a way to stream the show as well, but I couldn't find it.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
DEAN 7:53AM (2/10/2008)
ROCKET SCIENCE AT WORK HERE.
Reply
I can't wait. 3:55PM (2/10/2008)
I personally can't wait until they get here. I just put down my $100 on a smart fortwo. I will be getting rid of my Acura for it. No more $1200 set of tires, no more heavy insurance bill, cheaper gas. What is not to love?
The automobile should never have become a status symbol in my opinion. While I really enjoy driving, I hate the maintenance. We might as well be keeping more of our hard earned cash in our OWN pockets!
Thanks Tata! I will be one of the first at the dealership when you get here!!
Reply
mlreso969 5:37PM (2/10/2008)
I will be the second person in line when this cool car comes to America. If it will run on electricity, why worry about gas prices.
Reply
kert 6:15PM (1/10/2008)
Huh, Tata Nano by itself wont make any difference for EV conversions. You can have suitable gliders for conversions for way cheaper than $2500, quite a wide selection readily available
Reply
josh 8:22PM (1/10/2008)
Ummm...lest we forget, this car also has virtually no safety equipment, surely wouldn't pass US crash tests, has no "luxuries" like AC or a radio, and isn't constrained by US emissions limits.
Honda had a CRX with over 50MPG 20 years ago...but that same engine wouldn't cut it today. Going electric would help, but we still have to look out a decade or two and figure out the environmental cost of de-commissioning all those LiIon batteries.
The Nano is an interesting exercise, but from environmental and road safety perspectives, it's more of a liability than an asset.
Reply
ronnie schreiber 12:26AM (1/11/2008)
>The Nano is an interesting exercise, but from environmental and road safety perspectives, it's more of a liability than an asset.
Actually, for the market it's designed for, India, it's a great improvement from an environmental and road safety perspective. In absolute terms, not just in terms of passenger miles it pollutes less than a scooter does - it meets more stringent emissions standards, and is certainly safer than the very common sight on Indian roads of an entire family of four or five riding on a motor scooter.
Reply
navak 3:31PM (1/14/2008)
just to conform the tata nano has the option of an AC and a radio. It has also passed the full frontal and side crash test reqiured internationally. the nano is also available with airbags. for now the nano complies with the euro 4 norms for emision which are presently required in europe.
Reply