The bookings for the Tata Curvv EV opens on August 12. Competitively priced, one of the big questions for most who haven’t yet made the transition to electric vehicles is how viable are EVs. Range, battery life and safety are some of the key concerns. Vivek Srivatsa, Chief Commercial Officer, Tata Passenger Electric Mobility says the Tata Curvv is an “important car to expand the EV category even further and get a lot of new users into the EV category,” as it helps in busting many common misconceptions about EVs.
Here is a quick look at what these misconceptions are and how Srivatsa believes Tata’s latest EV stacks up Vs conventional ICE counterparts-
Busting top EV myths
1. EVs do not offer adequate range: Concerns about the range has been a primary worry for many who have been considering a switch from ICEs. The concern is one cannot travel long distances or tricky terrains. addresses several fundamental, you know, problems that EV customers were facing. According to Srivatsa, the Curvv has a “real-time range of 400 plus kilometers. While as per the ARAI its range is 585, we have gone ahead and shared the C75 range (C75 standard is seen closer to the real-world figure) of 400- 425 kms. Our prospective customers have been saying that once there is an EV above 400 kilometer, real-world range, that will really open up the possibility of many accepting them as the primary car at home.”
2. Not enough EV chargers available: Availability of charging points on the way has been a concern for many car owners. Tata claims that it is working with group company Tata Power closely to put in place charging infrastructure. “Now we are opening out our database to even private charging. Charge provides or CPOs can access our database so that they can put chargers in relevant places. We are also working with the government and the oil marketing companies to expand and accelerate charging infrastructure,” added Srivatsa. He reiterated that they are also “undertaking large marketing campaigns to explain to customers why EV is better.”
3. How long do EV batteries last- cost of replacement: The EV battery cost is one of the biggest expenses and often the question that worries users is what happens if the battery needs to be replaced. Srivatsa says that normally the battery outlives the EVs and explained that the battery life is anything between “2500-3000 cycles, which actually is 7-10 lakh kilometers. Nobody drives even 1 lakh kilometers in India. Clearly, the battery will outlast the car. Moreover, the battery has second use, third use, where, subsequently, the battery can be used to run some appliances at home, or can run a motor in a far away farm, people are not aware of this.” He reiterated that battery life cycles are long and one doesn’t need to change the entire battery. “You can change one or two cells and batteries are as good as new. So many misconceptions, and our attempt has been to address these and grow the market.”
EVs are expensive: The relative cost of the EVs are also a key inhibitor in terms of its adoption. Commenting on the Tata Curvv’s pricing and size, Srivatsa added that, “People usually prefer a 4.3-meter SUV for a family and the Curvv EV is a good alternative to several mid-sized ICE cars. Faster charging is enabled and, of course we have priced it in a way that it is lower than comparative ICE automatic transmission alternatives. So for us, it’s a very important car to expand the EV category even further.”
