Tata Group, one of India’s largest business conglomerates, has always been a pioneer in technology and an innovator class apart. It has been setting benchmarks in every business it has delved into for over a century now. And upholding the remarkable legacy of the Group, Tata Technologies – the engineering services and product development arm – is fabricating a full-fledged electric car in partnership with France’s Dassault Systemes. Dubbed as eMO – electric Mobility, that is – is the first vehicle to be conceptualized and designed completely by an Indian firm.

The eMO is the result of a brilliant effort towards innovation and foresight into the future of automobiles. The concept was developed by Tata Technologies’ Vehicle Program and Development (VPD) group that was formed in 2010 with a view to offer a fresh perspective to the automotive industry that had been battling out the global recession.

The group came up with an engineering study that sought to develop a vehicle which  was stylish, comfortable, practical, fuel-efficient and environmentally friendly. And this gave birth to the eMO – a battery-operated car which is low on carbon footprint and high in style. The aesthetics breaks all notions of an eco-friendly car which is generally conceived to be ultra-small and dull. The eMO is luxuriously spaced for four adults, has a back seatable which can be converted into substantial cargo space, and yet is compact enough to be parked easily into the ever-shrinking urban spaces. The four doors are uniquely fitted so that entry and exit from the car becomes easy, and the interiors and driver controls are thoughtfully integrated into the structure to increase the space inside.

One of the primary goals of the VPD group when the car was commissioned was to achieve cost-effectiveness. In a segment where high prices are advocated in lieu of green technology, the group decided to restrict the price of eMO to under $20,000 or Rs. 10 lakh. In line with this commitment, the car features untraditional body mechanics; like a steel safety cage, and front & rear fascias and exterior doors made up of recycled panels with mold-in color. The powertrain of the car is a unique liquid-cooled, dual-motor, front-wheel-drive system coupled with an air-cooled, 18.4-kilowatt, high-energy/density battery, enabling a vehicle range of 100 miles and a top speed of 65 miles per hour. Overall, the car is the combination of top-class engineering and genuine commitment to environment and cost-effectiveness.

There has been no word from Tata Technologies regarding the amount of investment or the tentative date of launch. But this sole indigenously designed car will be eagerly awaited in the market, especially in the backdrop of soaring fuel prices and an escalation of concern towards the environment. Gadgetronica gives this terrific effort a thumbs up!

Abhishek

Abhishek Mittal is an engineering student by profession and a creative writer by passion. Pursuing his B.E. in Electrical and Electronics from BITS Pilani Hyderabad, he is the Co-Editor of Gadgetronica and is deeply interested in the latest happenings of the gadget-world. Often targeted as an Apple fanboy, Abhishek closely follows the business strategies of all the tech-giants, and sometimes predict the future too!

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