This after-market modified Nano has what the cute little car from Tata Motors should have had right from the beginning – an electric powertrain
While the Tata Nano might not have been a commercial success as Tata Motors had dreamt of it, this affordable car impressed with some of its practical virtues like ease to drive and park and spacious cabin. And while its puny, twin-cylinder 624cc engine is fuel-efficient, it scored low on refinement and performance.
In today’s times, when the popularity of electric cars is soaring high, the idea of a Tata Nano Electric could have worked wonders for Tata Motors. Reasons? Its compact dimensions are perfect for urban mobility, its electric powertrain could have made it more affordable for daily runabouts and short-distance commutes, and it could have been the most affordable electric car in India.
While Nano Electric is nowhere in the future car list of Tata Motors, an India-based startup has just converted an old Tata Nano into an electric car. Here’s a YouTube video from the DDS which showcases this unique Tata Nano Electric.
What’s this Tata Nano Electric all about?
Play
Tata से पहले ही बना दी Nano Electric – Full Details and Test Drive by DDS
Two youngsters, Bhanu Pratap Singh and Yugant Solanki co-founded a company called ‘Zikoo’, under which they have swapped the petrol engine of a Tata Nano with an electric powertrain. The project car they took was a petrol-AMT version of the facelifted Tata Nano.
Here, the co-founders of Zikoo replaced the 624cc petrol engine of the Nano with a 3 kW electric motor, which is decent enough for a vehicle of this size. Even the 5-speed AMT gearbox of this Nano got replaced by a 5-speed clutch-less manual transmission, which is something similar to the iMT units seen in the new-generation SUVs from Hyundai and Kia.
Range of 70km on full charge
SWIPE UP to watch the full video of the Tata Nano EV and get all the details.
The co-founders of Zikoo have said that this Nano Electric can reach triple-digit speeds while cruising at 70-80 kmph is easy for it. The car also comes with a controller unit placed in the boot compartment in an exposed manner. However, the minds at Zikoo are working to reposition this control unit beneath the boot compartment, near the powertrain.
While the battery packs installed in the front hood
Under its hood at the front, this Tata Nano Electric has a battery pack consisting of six 12V 28Ah lead-acid batteries connected in series. This battery pack can be charged using a 72V charger and returns a range of 65-70 km on a full charge.
The controller and the electric module is located in the boot
The co-founders also said that they are working on the concept of lithium-ion batteries. Though, it will be an expensive affair compared to these lead-acid batteries.
Nano EV can be customised
Want to know the top speed and range?
The co-founders of Zikoo said that this project is still in the development stages. The car can be customized and specced, depending on the use and preference of the customer. For the basic specifications mentioned above, the overall cost of modification of this Tata Nano Electric can cost around Rs 1 lakh.
Do you like this idea of a Tata Nano Electric, and will you buy this car for yourself? Let us know in the comments below.
Keyword: The Tata Nano Electric; A Brilliant Idea That No One Thought About Before