Tata Motors still working on electric and air-powered Nano models
Click on the image above for a gallery of the Tata Nano
Once again, Tata Motors has confirmed that it plans to launch diesel, electric and compressed air-powered versions of its diminutive Nano microcar. We think that's great, but it's hard to get too excited about the prospect until the standard twin cylinder gas-powered model is actually available.
On the electric front, the Indian automaker has reportedly acquired an interest in a Norwegian electric car company called Miljo Grenland Innovasjon, which could help get a low-speed electric version of the Nano on roadways sooner. Further off into the distance would be versions of the microcar using compressed air technology developed by MDI.
Spokespeople for Tata Motors promise that Nano will enter production sometime before April of this year, with diesel-powered models scheduled to arrive before 2010. If the inexpensive little car ever makes it to U.S. shores, it may happen first as a low-speed electric vehicle, which would mean it wouldn't be subject to the same strict safety standards that more traditional cars must meet.
Gallery: Tata Nano: The People's Car
[Source: Green Car Advisor]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
jharlan 12:43PM (2/20/2009)
Do we really need another golf cart with lights? I guess it would be useful if you lived at a golf course development or on Catalina Island.
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Brn 1:15PM (2/20/2009)
"hard to get too excited about the prospect until the standard twin cylinder gas-powered model is actually available."
Gotta give ABG a little credit there. The vehicle is vaporware. Even if it ever becomes reality, it'll be vaporware for the US.
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Woodenbee 1:40PM (2/20/2009)
HOPE, remember that, with a government actually working somewhat FOR the people now we can hope that regulations will be modified as needed to bring cars like this over here, the chinese and VW are working on small cars like this, theres no way they wont make it to the US somehow, like he said even as he said as a low speed NEV, but whose going to stop you modifying it for full speed driving?? with a functioning EPA and a hopefully defunct GM lobby we can start getting the size and kind of cars we need to dump the big oil thats killing our planet and holding hostage to our economy.
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Carney 3:05PM (2/20/2009)
You're right about the need to dump Big Oil, more precisely OPEC.
Oil companies make far less profit margins (8%) than Apple Computer (30% on iPods etc). They just pass their high priced OPEC oil on to us.
As for killing the planet, I agree.
What do we do about it?
Option 1) Continue to drive cars that are unnecessarily locked in to being able to run ONLY on gasoline or petro-diesel, and thus make a big focus of using LESS of this fuel by making the cars weak, tiny, slow, and dangerously frail;
or
Option 2) Switch to a different fuel, one that is renewable, clean (solving problems like smog, acid rain, toxic spills, etc.) and price stable (with a market that can't be "cornered" by an OPEC like cartel due to its wide resource base). That fuel is alcohol!
With an alcohol fueled vehicle you don't HAVE to live a cramped, limited, guilt-ridden, self- and everyone-loathing lifestyle. Instead you can fuel up a powerful, roomy, fast, and robust safe vehicle with clean burning renewable earth friendly alcohol fuel.
It's a HUGE difference.
Brn 12:08PM (2/21/2009)
"Oil companies make far less profit margins (8%) "
Oil company propaganda. This claim came out when oil was $150/barrel. Do you really expect me to believe that they went from selling their product for $30 to $150 and yet their margin remained 8%? I didn't just fall off the turnip truck. Show me the 5x increase in costs. They're not there. It's a big fat lie.