Latest news with #PermanentMagnetSynchronousMotor
The Hindu
21-06-2025
- Automotive
- The Hindu
Project on the anvil to convert old diesel-powered KSRTC buses into e-buses
Old diesel-powered buses of the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) will be converted into electric buses under a joint project of the transport utility, the Agency for New and Renewable Energy Research and Technology (ANERT) and Toshiba. Quick charging What is special about this initiative is that the buses will be fitted with lithium-titanium-oxide (LTO) batteries which can be charged in 10 to 20 minutes using pantograph charging systems during stopovers at bus stations. The buses will be equipped with rooftop charging receivers that facilitate overhead charging using pantograph arms. The project will see the engines, gearbox and transmission systems of KSRTC buses older than five years replaced with battery, battery management system (BMS) and Motor Control Unit (MCU). 'Toshiba will be supplying the battery. As the buses will use a quick-charging system, passengers need not be kept waiting,' ANERT director Narendra Nath Veluri told The Hindu. Pilot project Under a pilot project, three buses will undergo conversion with a power train system comprising a 200 kW Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor (PMSM) and the 100 to 150 kWh LTO battery. In the initial phase, the buses will ply on the Thiruvananthapuram-Ernakulam route and the Thiruvananthapuram-Kottarakkara route. The pantograph charging facility will be installed in select bus stations on the route such as Kayamkulam. But a decision is yet to be finalised on this point, Mr. Veluri said. Lithium ferro-phosphate (LFP) batteries commonly used in electric vehicles take one to four hours to be fully charged. Emission control The Kerala State Action Plan on Climate Change 2023-2030 notes that Kerala has around 1.3 lakh buses, both government and privately-owned, and the current growth rate is as low as 1.5%. 'At this rate, Kerala is estimated to have 1.5 lakh buses by 2030, including private buses. Hence there is scope for the introduction of e-buses that can bring down emissions remarkably,' the action plan says. The 14th Five Year Plan of the State envisages improving the efficiency of public transportation by modernising the KSRTC's bus fleet with energy-efficient buses with LNG/CNG and e-buses.
Hindustan Times
17-06-2025
- Automotive
- Hindustan Times
Tata Harrier EV at Quad Day: Capability without drama and technology with real purpose
As SUVs across the board turn to flash and flare, Tata Motors has taken a different route with the Harrier EV: one of restraint, refinement, and relevance. From my hands-on time with the vehicle—particularly the off-road section—to the deep dive conversations with Anand Kulkarni, Chief Product Officer at Tata Passenger Electric Mobility, it became evident that this isn't just a step forward for Tata Motors. It's a quiet leap. Also Read : Tata Harrier EV launched at ₹ 21.49 lakh, brings AWD capabilities. Check details The off-road experience: More composure than clatter Of all the four thematic zones at the Quad day—Performance, Precision, Tech, and Off-Road—it was the last one that offered the rarest commodity at events like this: an actual chance to drive. Not as a co-passenger, not in a closed loop—but a real, hands-on crawl through chaos. And chaos it was. The off-road course was no casual slush track—it was a tightly packed sequence of punishing terrain features that would challenge even seasoned ICE SUVs. It began with a rock bed crawl that tested low-speed control and wheel articulation, followed by an axle twister engineered to lift at least one tyre off the ground. From there, the trail threw up sharp 35-degree inclines and declines, pushing the vehicle's traction management and braking systems to the limit. The course continued with side slopes, camel humps, deep sand traps, water wading sections, and even a staircase climb to cap it all off—each obstacle demanding precision, poise, and a drivetrain capable of thinking on its feet. But what stood out wasn't just that the Harrier EV did all of it. It was how little it fussed while doing so. There was no jerky throttle response, no electronic overcorrection, no wheelspin theatre. It felt as if the SUV had pre-read the course. Every mode—Rock Crawl, Sand, Mud & Ruts—was calibrated to deliver just enough intervention. Not more. This composure stems from a very specific drivetrain setup: a rear-biased Quad Wheel Drive (QWD) system powered by two independent motors. The rear motor, a PMSM (Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor), does most of the work. The front, an induction motor, wakes up only when needed. As Kulkarni, the chief architect behind Tata's EVs, explained, this decision wasn't just about traction—it was about efficiency. 'PMSM motors are great, but they consume power even when not in use. Induction motors don't. So for a setup where the front axle is often disengaged, it made perfect sense." What this means practically is that during a slow rock crawl or a sudden steep climb, the rear motor delivers high torque, while the system dynamically checks whether the front needs to assist. And when it does, the transition is imperceptible. Even during the axle twister, where one wheel was in the air, the software sensed the slip and reallocated torque within milliseconds. Kulkarni emphasized, 'We didn't use mechanical aids like diff locks. It's all software. Torque vectoring, traction prediction, terrain mapping—all of it is done by the brain of the car." And it works. No drama. No mechanical clunks. Just progress. Also Read : Tata Harrier EV takes electric SUV game to next level. What makes it unique? Tech zone: A software-defined vehicle, with Indian priorities If the Off-Road Zone was about physical proof, the Tech Zone was about technological vision—only this time, grounded in day-to-day Indian reality rather than Silicon Valley showmanship. Here, the Harrier EV presented itself not just as an electric SUV, but as a Software-Defined Vehicle (SDV)—built on Tata's new ' (Tata Intelligent Digital Architecture Layer) platform. Running 500 million lines of code, it connects everything from motor control to ADAS, infotainment, telematics, and payment systems. But what makes ' stand out is not just what it does, but what it consciously chooses not to overdo. It focuses on real-world utility rather than ticking boxes. Take the Low-Speed Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), for instance—it's not just another radar-based system thrown in for formality. It's carefully calibrated for India's dense, erratic traffic, where most Western ADAS setups either overreact with sudden braking or disengage altogether. The Tata Harrier EV gets several convinience features such as the Summon Mode which allows the car to park in a pararell parking without driver inputs Then there's Dead-End Assist, a segment-first feature that allows the vehicle to automatically reverse along the last 50 meters of its path—a simple yet brilliant solution for tight lanes and tricky U-turn situations in crowded neighbourhoods. Summon Mode, activated via Tata's new circular key, lets the SUV inch in or out of tight parking spots autonomously, complete with full obstacle detection. And the 540° transparent view camera system doesn't just offer a top-down perspective; it delivers real-time stitched visuals, including side and underbody views, enhanced with rim protection alerts—making it genuinely useful for negotiating potholes, high kerbs, or narrow parking bays. What impressed me most wasn't that these features existed—but how calmly they worked. There was no jarring intervention. No frantic beeps. Just consistent, usable assistance. As Kulkarni put it: 'ADAS shouldn't be a backseat driver. It should feel like a co-driver—always watching, but never taking over unless it absolutely has to." Even the AI-powered Park Assist, developed with Continental, was a lesson in subtlety. The system scanned irregular parking spaces (not laser-marked slots), identified viable options, and parked itself with steering, braking, and acceleration control. And if someone walked by? It stopped. Gently. Collaboration by design, not compromise One of the more underrated aspects of the Harrier EV is how thoroughly it has been shaped through partnerships. Tata Motors has embraced a global collaboration model, but with Indian calibration and context firmly at its core. The result is a vehicle that reflects both international technological excellence and local relevance. Continental, for instance, provided the intelligence behind the ADAS suite and Auto Park Assist—custom-developed for India's unpredictable road realities. As Prashanth Doraswamy, CEO of Continental India, described it, the system is 'a human-like AI that understands Indian parking challenges—unclear lines, sudden obstacles, narrow bays." Harman and Samsung delivered the world's first 14.5-inch Neo QLED display in a production car, paired with JBL Black's Dolby Atmos 5.1 audio system—not for flamboyance, but to create a 'third space" that seamlessly blends work, entertainment and travel. Also Read : Tata Harrier EV: A showcase of Tata Motors' global tech ties and EV ecosystem vision On the drivetrain front, Tata AutoComp and Schaeffler engineered the front induction and rear PMSM motors, respectively, with TACO contributing India's first integrated induction EV drivetrain. The ADAS controller itself runs on Mobileye's globally benchmarked EyeQ chip, fine-tuned specifically for India's chaotic traffic environment. The plus architecture, underpinning the Tata Harrier EV is a collaborative effort between Tata Motors and various other leading global suppliers Qualcomm provides the SDV backbone, enabling over-the-air updates and modular software enhancements, while Bosch, ZF, LG Chem, and Magna form part of Tata's tier-one ecosystem, supporting everything from battery systems to structural components. Yet, none of these partnerships were plug-and-play. Each supplier was asked to co-develop, co-calibrate, and rigorously test their systems with Indian use cases in mind. As Kulkarni succinctly put it, 'These aren't just tech tie-ups. They're part of a new Tata philosophy—collaboration by design." What the Tata Harrier EV really represents The Tata Harrier EV doesn't overwhelm. It impresses with restraint, earns trust through refinement, and redefines what it means to be a true Indian electric SUV. It's capable where it matters, intelligent where it counts, and most importantly—it feels complete. With a real-world C75 range of 480–505 km, support for 120 kW fast charging, V2L (Vehicle to Load) and V2V (Vehicle to Vehicle), the Harrier EV isn't a flash-in-the-pan launch. It's Tata's opening move in a much bigger EV play. More importantly, it's a product that acknowledges its customer—a 30–40-year-old urban explorer who wants range, refinement, and ruggedness, without feeling like they're compromising on identity or practicality. This is an SUV built for weekday office commutes and weekend adventures, for chauffeured comfort and hands-on control, for those who want freedom without friction. In a market where most EVs still struggle to find balance, the Harrier EV finds its footing not in gimmicks, but in grounded, honest capability. And perhaps that's the boldest move of all. First Published Date: 17 Jun 2025, 08:51 AM IST
Economic Key
08-04-2025
- Automotive
- Economic Key
GB Auto Officially Launches the Hyundai IONIQ 6 in the Egyptian Market with Advanced Technology
Under the slogan 'Beyond Electric,' GB Auto, the exclusive distributor of Hyundai vehicles in Egypt, announced the official launch of Hyundai's latest electric vehicle in the Egyptian market, the IONIQ 6—the newest addition to Hyundai's lineup of electric models. This launch reaffirms GB Auto's commitment to leading the transition towards a sustainable future, placing innovation at the core of its strategy to deliver advanced electric mobility solutions that go beyond conventional vehicles. The IONIQ 6 embodies this holistic vision, offering the perfect balance of superior electric performance, technological efficiency, and environmental sustainability to meet the needs of Egyptian consumers. To mark the launch, the IONIQ 6 will be available for a limited time with a special offer of up to EGP 150,000, with official prices starting from EGP 1,790,000. In that regard, Fady Mohsen, Hyundai Vice President at GB Auto, stated that the launch of the IONIQ 6 reflects GB Auto's strategy of bringing the latest technological innovations to the Egyptian market. He stated: 'At GB Auto, we strongly believe in the importance of adopting environmentally friendly technologies. This model reinforces our vision for a more sustainable future that aligns with global trends.' Mohsen added: 'GB Auto is committed to providing full support to IONIQ 6 customers through an extensive network of service centers and showrooms across the country. As part of its strategy, GB Auto is also working on developing an electric charging infrastructure in collaboration with specialized partners, making the ownership and operation of electric vehicles more convenient.' The IONIQ 6 feature a dynamic design that balances elegance with practicality. Its well-proportioned dimensions ensure optimal comfort for users, with a length of 4,855 mm, width of 1,880 mm, height of 1,495 mm, and a wheelbase of 2,950 mm, enhancing stability while driving. Additionally, it offers a spacious 401-liter trunk capacity for added convenience. Electric Performance The IONIQ 6 is powered by a Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor (PMSM) delivering up to 325 hp, with an optional all-wheel-drive (AWD) system that enables acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in less than 5.1 seconds. The model offers multiple rear-motor configurations, starting at 111 kW in the base variant and reaching 168 kW in higher trims. The rear motor's power output begins at 151 hp in the entry-level version and increases to 229 hp in the top-tier models. Additionally, all IONIQ 6 models provide a strong and consistent torque of 350 Nm, ensuring smooth acceleration and high efficiency in various driving conditions. The vehicle is equipped with a 77.4 kWh Lithium-Ion battery, depending on the trim, offering multiple power options to suit different needs. Its maximum driving range reaches up to 614 km. The Hyundai IONIQ 6 also boasts ultra-fast charging capabilities, enhancing its practicality for daily use and long journeys. It supports 350 kW fast charging, allowing the battery to charge from 10% to 80% in just 18 minutes, delivering unmatched convenience and speed. Additionally, a 50 kW fast charging option is available, which takes up to 73 minutes, depending on the model. Safety Features Alongside its advanced technology, the Hyundai IONIQ 6 offers the highest safety standards, earning a 5-star rating from the NHTSA, as well as the TSP+ rating from IIHS in the United States and EURO NCAP in Europe—a testament to Hyundai's commitment to providing a safe and reliable driving experience. Additionally, the vehicle has achieved Level 1 certification from KNCAP, further confirming its outstanding performance in global safety tests. The IONIQ 6 is equipped with a comprehensive suite of safety and driver-assistance systems, including Lane Keeping Assist, Lane Following Assist, FCA (Forward Collision Avoidance Assist), BCA (Blind Spot Collision Avoidance Assist), BSVM (Blind Spot View Monitor), and PCA (Parking Collision Avoidance Assist- Reverse). These features enhance driving confidence and safety in various conditions. Premium Interior for an Exceptional Driving Experience The Hyundai IONIQ 6 offers a luxurious and comfortable interior, featuring high-end materials and advanced amenities that elevate the driving experience. It comes with premium seats for both the driver and front passenger, ensuring maximum comfort—especially on long journeys. Additional features include a driver's seat memory function, heated and ventilated seats, and high-quality interior finishes such as metallic door handles. The vehicle is also equipped with front sun visors with mirrors, illumination, and sliding function. Exterior Features The IONIQ 6 boasts a sporty and modern exterior design, highlighted by 20-inch sporty alloy wheels that enhance its dynamic appearance. It also features power-folding electric side mirrors for ease of use, a rear spoiler for improved aerodynamics, and aero wiper blades. Additionally, the vehicle is equipped with LED headlamps for enhanced visibility and safety, along with a panoramic sunroof that adds to its premium appeal. Entertainment & Comfort Features The vehicle includes a 12.3-inch infotainment screen and a Heads-Up Display (HUD) for an immersive driving experience. It is also fitted with a 6-speaker premium audio system by Bose, complemented by active sound design technology to ensure crystal-clear sound inside the cabin. Furthermore, the IONIQ 6 is equipped with a 360-degree camera, providing a comprehensive view to enhance safety and convenience while driving. The launch of the IONIQ 6 is a key step in Hyundai's transition to fully electric vehicles by 2030, aligning with Egypt's Vision 2030, which emphasizes sustainable development and the transition to clean energy. With this vehicle, GB Auto is opening the door for Egyptian consumers to enter a new era of mobility that goes beyond efficiency and innovation, making the IONIQ 6 the perfect choice for those seeking a combination of performance, technology, and sustainability. تم نسخ الرابط
