Tata Motors’ evaluating electric options for pickup range

Tata Motors on Monday confirmed that it too is evaluating electrification of its pick-ups starting with the 'Tata Yodha' range as part of its broader journey from ICE to EVs. These comments were made by Rajesh Kaul, Vice President Sales & Marketing, Commercial Vehicles.

"Electrification of our pickups as part of our overall journey of decarbonisation is a certainty to which we cannot certainly say no to,” he said.

Speaking on the sidelines of the launch of a range of updated pickups including a bio-fuel pickup offering in Hyderabad, Kaul refused to give any timeline for the electric version of the Yodha. He reiterated Tata Motors’ commitment to electrification and that it will apply across all categories and "pickups too will be electrified in due course" but keeping in mind customers requirements.

" We want our electrification journey to coincide with the development of the ecosystem so that the customer can get the full benefits of lower costs that an EV can offer as against ICE. This will take a while but we are committed to the larger goal," Kaul added.

On the possibility of electrifying the Intra V50 new range, he further stated the applications for this new range of pickups are compatible with both the conventional and alternate fuels such as CNG as the products are targeted at hilly and mountainous regions where charging infrastructure is yet to catch up.

 On the ramping up of capacities for Tata Ace EV, Tata Motors executive director, Girish Wagh said that deliveries of the vehicle will commence from next month onwards. " We are seeing a huge demand for the next round of Ace EVs, but as of now, our focus is to at least deliver 50-60 percent of our existing order book and only then accept the next round of inquiries," Wagh said.

On the larger fuel roadmap, Kaul reiterated that Tata Motors is looking at hydrogen to ICE and it is part of the "exciting technology road map at the organisation and after CNG and electrification, H2ICE will be the next part of the product development”.