Gadgets 360’s Ankit Sharma and Nitesh Papanoi caught up with Mr. Anand Kulkarni, Vice President and Chief Product Officer, Passenger Electric Vehicle, Tata Motors, to get some important and interesting details about the launch of Punch.ev and Tata Motors’ future plans. Conversation with Anand Kulkarni. Here we have edited some responses for clarity.
Ankit Sharma & Nitesh Papnoi: Tata Punch is the company’s first electric car in 2024. How many modifications and changes have been made to this new lineup (Acti.ev) compared to the ICE version?
Anand Kulkarni: Tata Punch EV has undergone several major modifications, it has been launched on a dedicated full electric platform named Acti.ev. Any EV built on top of this will be equipped with four layers. The first layer is the powertrain, which is the motor, gearbox, battery and power electronics. The second layer deals with the mechanical platform, which includes features such as suspension, floor plan and attachments. Also, the third layer is of E&D architecture, which means electrical and electronics, which includes infotainment, telematics units, things like that.
The last layer is the cloud architecture, which connects everything and brings connected car features to you. So, the most important layer among these four layers is the floor plan and the way the suspensions are connected. Because this is where the car really stands on its own two feet. Now, this is an area that has undergone a significant change. Because in older ICE platforms, it is not designed around the battery. So, there are always some compromises. Because you have to lay the batteries around the floor and you can’t protect the spots well enough.
In pure EV architecture, what we have done is designed the vehicle or floor plan around the battery. And as a result, more than enough space had to be found for the batteries. For this, first of all we made space for the battery. Then we also had to see how the car would hold up in the event of an accident. In such a situation, the structure, form and the rigidity around it had to be designed. Then we also said that this architecture will be used for multiple drive configurations.
Ankit Sharma & Nitesh Papnoi: With the launch of Tata Punch.ev on the new EV platform, can customers expect a reduction in interior space within their cars?
Anand Kulkarni: no way! In fact, customers can enjoy increased interior space in the Tata Punch EV. Some cars may have front wheel drive, some cars may have rear wheel drive and some cars may have all wheel drive. So, we had to provide space keeping this in mind. Then, once we had done all this we thought how do we provide more space? Because that is the most important thing for a customer. See, there are two types of space, one is storage, meaning where we keep our stuff or other things. Secondly, where we sit and where we want to feel comfortable, which is inside the cabin. So, then we looked at how we could make that space more comfortable and give more storage space.
Thus, the inclusion of a frunk for front storage, uncompromising boot space and focus on the infotainment layer were essential considerations. Recognizing customers’ desire for seamless integration of gadgets, information and the outside world into the car, features such as screens, HMIs and the Arcade.ev app suite were integrated into Tata Punch.ev.
Ankit Sharma & Nitesh Papnoi: Has Tata Punch EV been awarded a five-star safety rating? Or has the decision to launch it on a full electric platform affected its safety features?
Anand Kulkarni: In fact, the safety factor remains strong in an electric vehicle, as the inclusion of the battery increases the mass. Therefore, despite the massive increase, there has been no compromise on safety. We have not sent the cars for GNCAP or Bharat NCAP yet. So we can’t say it’s five star, but it’s going to be and we’re going to send the cars for testing. [इलेक्ट्रिक कार का] The design has been made to be able to meet those requirements, but until the certificate comes, we cannot say anything. Tata is known for its powerful vehicles and we have designed Tata Punch EV on the same strategy.
Ankit Sharma & Nitesh Papnoi: Tata Motors, being the leader in electric car sales in the country, offers both short range and long range electric cars. Which range is more preferred by buyers, short range or long range?
Anand Kulkarni: Long distance options are becoming popular among Indian customers. For example in Tiago we are offering 19 kWh battery which runs around 170 km and then, we offer 24 kWh battery which runs 210-220 km. Everyone is preferring to buy 24 kWh battery. Similarly, Tata Nexon is also offered in 30 kWh and 40 kWh battery packs and 80% people choose the 40 kWh battery.
Ankit Sharma & Nitesh Papnoi:What is the primary focus of the company? Is it aimed at expanding the range of EV cars or is the emphasis on advancing fast charging technology?
Anand Kulkarni: As a company, we are committed to keeping our technology ready for both fast charging and extended range. Extended range is relatively easy to develop, as the infrastructure requires collaboration and co-development with various stakeholders. We have already taken the initial steps by starting the infrastructure development three years ago in collaboration with Tata Power. Currently, there are about 4500 fast charging points on the roads, which are actively used. However, recognizing that this may not be enough, we have recently established a collaborative network of charge point operators. We invited these operators to collaborate and share data using our extensive knowledge on vehicles’ operational patterns, their locations and optimal charging requirements. By providing this data we aim to support and facilitate the installation of additional charging infrastructure. This initiative reflects our ongoing commitment to advancing charging infrastructure.
Ankit Sharma & Nitesh Papnoi: The biggest expense in an electric car is the battery. What assurance is Tata Motors giving to people regarding car batteries?
Anand Kulkarni: Yes, you are right. However, we are making our car batteries certified or warrantied. Warranty is important. The battery pack warranty is for 8 years or 1,60,000 kms. The logic behind this period is that the average daily driving for an Indian customer is around 50 to 60 kilometres, which amounts to around 20,000 kilometers per year. Considering the cycle life of 2000 cycles for the LFP chemistry battery and the rear-life range of 300 kilometers per cycle, the battery life is approximately 6 lakh kilometers. Even in case of a second owner, the battery warranty is transferred when the car is sold and the cost of the battery is covered under the insurance in case of any contingency.
