Ratan Tata Gets A New Electric Nano Built By Electra EV

You can get a ride in the all-electric Nano in Bengaluru where it’s run by fleet operator Sainik Pod

Ratan Tata has added a new electric vehicle (EV) to his garage, and it’s a special, custom-built Nano. It’s made by Electrodrive Powertrain Solutions, also called Electra EV, a Pune-based company that provides EV powertrain solutions to businesses (including Tata Motors).

Petrol-powered Nano for representation

This Nano seems largely identical to the now-discontinued entry-level hatchback that was “India’s most affordable car.” It likely began life as a regular, petrol-powered Tata Nano, but it’s been modified with a 72-volt electronic system that’s related to the pre-facelift Tata Tigor EV. The electric sedan had a 213km range from its 21.5kWh battery, but the smaller Nano likely has a shorter range.

Electra EV has been around since 2017 as a solutions provider for EV powertrain development and manufacturing. It has a production facility in Coimbatore, where it manufactures lithium-ion battery packs, electric motors, and electronic control systems.

Although Ratan Tata’s electric Nano is privately owned, you can get a ride in one of these compact EVs in Bengaluru. A fleet operator called Sainik Pod has started an app-based ‘Sit and Go’ ride-hailing service that even allows you to hail down a vacant cab if you spot one. Sainik Pod is run by ex-servicemen from the Indian military, and it also provides electric cars to other businesses as sustainable fleet and service vehicles.

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It’s unlikely that the Nano EV will ever be available to regular EV buyers as “India’s most affordable electric car.” Besides, Tata already provides the Tigor EV at the entry-level with a more advanced Ziptron powertrain. Its 26kWh battery pack delivers a significantly better ARAI-tested range of up to 306km, and the 75PS/170km electric motor is good for a 0-60kmph time of 5.7 seconds.

In its own way, the electric Nano is making public transportation and business operations more sustainable in India. But if you’d like to see a plusher, similarly compact version of the electric hatchback in the EV market, let us know in the comments.