M&M EVs seeing greater traction in commercial segment

Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M), which currently sells about 100 electric vehicles (EVs) a month in India expects to see improved traction in the EV market.

The company, which launched its eVerito sedan recently, is now looking to increase its EV sales through fleet operators.

Speaking at a media interaction in New Delhi today, Dr Pawan Goenka, executive director, M&M, said that the growth in the e-commercial vehicle space is higher than in the personal vehicle segment in EVs as the financial spinoffs are greater there due to the faster payback in terms of the higher number of kilometres averaged per day averaged by CV fleet operators.  For instance, in Bangalore, Lithium Urban Technologies is running an electric fleet service for cabs and has booked about 200 Mahindra Reva cars (picturred below) for the cab service.

The e-Verito sedan is now being roped in Delhi as part of a fleet service and will also be leveraged in Pune for commercial purposes. About 15-20 cars will target fleet operators in Delhi for a start. Dr Goenka revealed that the company is working with the state governments of Karnataka and Delhi to put EV charging infrastructure for the same.

Meanwhile, in an effort to counteract the high cost of EVs at present despite the financial incentives provided under the FAME India scheme that promotes electric and hybrid vehicles, a consortium of EV manufacturing companies – including M&M, Ford, Maruti Suzuki India and Tata Motors are working out the dynamics for developing locally key EV components like the battery, controller and the motor and making them cost effective by at least 15-20 percent. At present these parts are mostly imported and increase the cost of the EV.

Work underway on 1.5-litre petrol engine

Dr Goenka confirmed that M&M is developing a 1.5-litre petrol engine for its KUV 100 that targets the mid-segment and already has a 1.2-litre petrol motor. It will also come with diesel 1.2, 1.5 and 2.2-litre engine options.

Commenting on the ongoing debate over diesel fuel being a cause for emissions and pollution, he maintained that all these considerations will cease after April 2020 when the new BS-VI emission norms come into force,

He revealed that in a recent meeting held between the Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, apex industry body SIAM and industry experts, the minister assured the industry representatives about the availability of the right fuel on time at specific locations, at every 100km, across the country.

Further, over the next three years, M&M has drawn up a three-year strategy to strengthen its product portfolio. Dr Goenka said that the new products would be positioned between the lowest product line of the KUV 100 and the flagship XUV 500 and will include utility vehicles, MPVs and SUVs in the passenger vehicle segment.

In the commercial vehicle segment, the lowest product configuration would remain the Jeeto while the highest point would be the pick-up truck.

Transition from BS IV to BS VI to cost Rs 95,000 per vehicle

M&M is also aligning 30 different vehicles to meet the upcoming BS-VI emission norms that will be homologated for the upgraded fuel. “Work has started on it but it will be a daunting task to keep the vehicles cost effective as it costs Rs 95,000 to transition from BS-IV to BS-VI per vehicle. But we are working to reduce the cost and maximise localisation for which we are working closely with our suppliers.”

Additionally, the safety roadmap that comes into force by October 2017 and October 2019 including pedestrian safety would increase vehicle price e with all the upcoming regulations together increasing cost by 20-25 percent by 2020 for small and midsize vehicles, which is a concern for the automotive industry.