The all-electric avatar of the Altroz premium hatchback, based on Tata Motors’ new Acti-EV platform, is expected to have similar output and range figures as the recently launched Punch EV.
28 Jan 2024 | 7887 Views | By Rivan RS, Autocar India
Tata Motors' EV division is on a roll, with the brand planning to add four more EVs to its portfolio by 2025. Tata Motors had showcased the Altroz EV at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show, which was expected to be among its first EV launch, and later at the
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Tata Motors' EV division is on a roll, with the brand planning to add four more EVs to its portfolio by 2025. Tata Motors had showcased the Altroz EV at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show, which was expected to be among its first EV launch, and later at the 2020 Auto Expo in close-to-production form. It is now learnt that the Altroz EV will be launched in India in 2025, about five years after the concept was first displayed to a global audience.
Autocar India had, in its June 2021 edition, reported that Tata Motors had been facing some serious challenges in the development of the Altroz EV, which was expected to have been launched after the Nexon EV, which was launched on January 28, 2020 and turns four years old today. The stumbling block for the Altroz EV was the packaging of the battery pack under the floor, which reduced ground clearance by around 20mm to 145mm. Raising the Altroz to compensate for the loss of clearance was not an option as that would completely spoil the stance of the hatch and make it look like a crossover.
For a long while, there was no news of the Altroz EV and Tata Motors introduced the Tiago EV in September 2022 and Punch EV on January 17, 2024 instead. Speaking on the sidelines of the Tata Punch EV launch, Shailesh Chandra, MD, Tata Motors’ Passenger Vehicles Business and Tata Passenger Electric Mobility, confirmed that the Altroz EV is in the pipeline and will arrive next year. When asked about the five upcoming models based on the Acti.EV architecture, he said, “Punch is the first one, Curvv will come next. Harrier will also come by the end of this calendar year. Then we would have Sierra and Altroz coming in 2025.” It seems like Tata Motors has now successfully sorted out the battery packaging issue.
Tata Altroz EV battery, range
Considering the Altroz EV would be based on the same platform and architecture as the Punch EV, we could see similar-sized battery packs on offer (25kWh-35kWh), with similar ARAI-rated ranges (315-421km). In addition, the outputs of the Altroz EV’s motor should also be similar to the Punch EV's 82-122hp. Like their ICE counterparts, there will be a certain overlap in terms of price between the Altroz and Punch EVs (Rs10.99 lakh-15.49 lakh, ex-showroom, India), but their respective target customers should be different enough to ensure minimal cannibalisation of sales.
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