Leading commercial vehicle maker Tata Motors on Thursday launched the electric version of its largest selling small commercial vehicle (SCV) – Tata ACE, exactly after 17 years of its launch. Christened as Tata ACE EV, the SCV has been co-developed along with its customers in the e-commerce segment with the delivery commencing from the next quarter, Girish Wagh, Executive Director, Tata Motors, has said.
The launch of ACE EV is not just the launch of a small electric cargo vehicle but a complete solution for electric vehicle eco-system. “With ACE EV we will beat the total cost of ownership of a diesel ACE,” he said.
As part of the event, Tata Motors signed MoUs with several e-commerce companies, including Amazon, BigBasket, City Link, DOT, Flipkart, LetsTransport, MoEVing and Yelo EV. The total order quantity is 39,000 ACE EVs; the commitment includes setting up dedicated Electric Vehicle Support Centres for maximum fleet uptime, deploying Tata Fleet Edge – the next-gen optimal fleet management solution, and supporting Tata UniEVerse, the proven enabling eco-system of relevant Tata Group companies.
The Ace EV is the first product featuring Tata Motors’ EVOGEN powertrain that offers a certified range of 154 kilometres. The vehicle delivers safe, all-weather operations with an advanced battery cooling system and regenerative braking system to boost the driving range. The vehicle allows regular and fast charging capabilities for high uptime. Powered by a 27kW (36hp) motor with 130Nm of peak torque, the vehicle ensures higher cargo volume of 208 cubit feet and gradeability of 22%, allowing easy ascend in fully loaded conditions. The Ace EV’s container is made of lightweight materials matching the requirements of e-commerce logistics.
The 150km-range in a single charge has been arrived based on the daily run of the e-commerce customers, which will suffice for intracity transportation. It will meet most of the customers’ day-to-day requirements, and with dual charging options, the vehicle can run for an extended range further, he said.
The electrification journey at Tata Motors began with intra-city public transportation, and now there are 645 e-buses running in nine cities, with a cumulative running distance of 34 million kilometres. These buses have been delivering over 95% uptime for their respective customers. The growing urbanisation, digitalisation and infrastructure growth fuel the business opportunities in offering customised EV solutions, he said.
“The introduction of the Ace EV marks a major milestone in our journey to deliver zero-emission cargo mobility in India. Building on our experience and success with electric buses, we have designed use-case specific EV solutions for intra-city distribution. These solutions effectively cater to the application needs and deliver a superior value proposition to all stakeholders. We are much encouraged with the support and response received from our e-commerce customers, with whom we begin this journey of zero-emission cargo mobility,” Wagh added.
Speaking to Mobility Outlook, Rajendra Petkar, CTO, Tata Motors, said, the work on ACE EV a couple of years ago. “Electrification was part of mega disruptive trends, but the global disruption is here at out doorsteps. We have come a long way in the last four years,” after launching electric Tigor, he said.
“We are riding on the megatrends and disruptions happening in the technology and we are absolutely on that now. We are now creating the segment leading products now. Gone are the day when we were riding; now we are directing where the technology should be heading,” he said.
Earlier, N Chandrasekaran, Chairman, Tata Sons and Tata Motors, said sustainability is a global trend, and Tata Motors embraced it fully and made a business model in passenger and commercial vehicles and JLR. The company continues to make the transition with the launch of electric buses. Talking n Tata ACE, he said this is a category creator and ACE EV is just the beginning in the company’s CV space. “Tata Ace is India’s most successful commercial vehicle ever. It has revolutionised transportation and created millions of successful entrepreneurs over the years. It will further build on this legacy by providing a technologically-advanced, clean and smart mobility solution. I am excited about the electrification of commercial vehicles,” he said.