Monday, May 13, 2019
By Kamal Swami
Mahindra And Ford Developing An EV Based On Aspire
Domestic car maker Mahindra and Mahindra and U.S. based car maker Ford have joined hands to develop an electric vehicle based on the compact sedan Aspire by the Ford. The vehicle to be developed by both the auto giants will not be the electric version of the Aspire, but completely full sized sedan offered with an enlarged foot space. The Aspire based sedan is speculated to make its debut in the Indian car market sometime during the last months of the next year.
According to the joint collaboration between both the Mahindra and Mahindra and the Ford the U.S. based car maker will the body or glider of the sedan excluding the engine and the transmission system. On the other side Indian car maker Mahindra will equip the vehicle with an in-built electric powertrain. This 72V electric powertrain is believed to be the same as offered in the eVerito from M&M, however, it is speculated that going through the size of the vehicle it will be equipped with more powerful engine.
Because as revealed by the company sources it is developing the powerful 380V system to empower the electric sedan, so that the buyers do not feel disappointed while driving it. In the words of Mr. Mahehs Babu, CEO, Mahindra Electric cell, the company is developing a new 60 kW (81.5 hp) motor for the new Aspire based sedan. According to Mr. Babu, the sedan will be able to cover the distance of about 150 km, after it is fully charged, however, the company is targeting to enhance this range around 200 km. It is reported to offer the top speed of 110 kmph.
The sedan would be sold by the respective dealers of the both the companies across the nation and therefore will share different logos to differentiate between their identities. As far as the price of this proposed Aspire based electric sedan is concerned nothing has been officially revealed by any of the companies, but still it is speculated to be offered with the starting price of Rs. 15 lakh onwards.
