Mahindra Electric, the electric mobility arm of Mahindra and Mahindra (M&M), is readying to supply a more powerful powertrain for new electric vehicles that it will develop in the future.

In line with this long-term perspective, M&M’s R&D wing is developing a raft of new technologies including a 80kW powerpack for EVs. This will help generate higher power, torque as well deliver an extended range going right up to 300 kilometres.

This information was revealed by Dr Pawan Goenka, executive director of M&M, at the launch of the new e20 Plus electric car in Delhi that marks the company’s foray into the mass electric hatchback segment. The top-end e20 Plus variant, which is priced at Rs 8.46 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi) comes with a 140km range on a single charge. Mahindra Electric offers a fast-charger option that can charge the battery to 90 percent in 90 minutes. This option, however, is priced at a whopping Rs 6 lakh extra over the cost of the car.

Inadequate range in a single charge and the resultant consumer range anxiety has proved to be a bugbear when it comes to greater acceptance of EVs in India. Therefore, the new technology under development to increase travel range to 300km would give a big fillip to electric car sales.

Speaking to Autocar Professional on the sidelines of the e2O Plus launch, Pravin Shah, president and chief executive (Automotive) of M&M and director of Mahindra Electric, said: “This technology, when adopted by the right car, can give a range of 300km. It also enables much higher and better power and is the need of car enthusiasts who want to drive an electric car but don’t want to give up the traditional performance car characteristics.”

Green tech supplier

While the under-development 80kW powertrain is part of Mahindra Electric’s future product game-plan, the company is also targeting the role of a technology provider in EVs, one which can provide technologies in terms of powerpack, telematics and on-board diagnostics.

Starting with the Reva model, Mahindra Electric has around 7,000 EVs running on Indian roads. Of this, the e20, which was launched in March 2013, accounts between 2,000 to 3,000 units.

Having expanded operations to small CVs recently, the company is beginning to see some traction on that front. Deliveries of the e-Supro cargo and passenger van launched earlier this month have commenced, according to Mahesh Babu, CEO designate of Mahindra Electric. Meanwhile, bulk orders for the e-Verito sedan are gradually coming the company’s way.

While the EV manufacturer is not revealing its targeted sales for the e20 Plus, it is optimistic that sales will be two to three times that of the existing two-door model as a result of the increased tech-laden offering. 

The e20 Plus will initially be sold in five cities in phase I including Delhi and Jaipur besides 12-13 cities like Pune, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Chandigarh, Ahmedabad and Kolkata in the second phase that will follow over the next couple of months.