TVS Motor to launch its first EV by March 2020

It is no secret that TVS Motor is working on electric two-wheelers. The company displayed its Creon concept electric scooter at the 2018 Auto Expo. In latest updates, K. N. Radhakrishnan, President, CEO & Additional Whole-Time Director, TVS Motor Company, confirmed at the Full Year 2019 Earnings Conference Call that the first electric product should arrive in the current financial year.

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Radhakrishnan said:

We have invested in electric technology, and this financial year, we are planning (to launch an EV). Closer to the launch, I'll be able to give you more details.

The TVS Creon concept packed several smart connected technologies that were developed in collaboration with Intel. Apart from regular information like speedometer, tachometer, odometer, trip meter, battery charge and health status, the TFT Screen of the concept scooter displayed GPS, navigation and geo-fencing. The scooter had three custom riding modes, regenerative braking, park assist, cloud connectivity and anti-theft features in the concept version, and it will most likely retain most of them when it moves to production. Do note that most of these features are already available on products from Ather Energy.

The diamond-cut alloy wheels, tubeless tyres, front telescopic forks, rear offset monoshock, all-LED lighting, large under seat storage and a USB charger will most likely be retained in the production form.

Mechanical specifications on the Creon concept include a pack of three Lithium-ion batteries using which an electric motor generates 12 kW (16.32 PS).A 0-60 km/h sprint takes 5.1 seconds. The battery can be recharged to 80% level in 60 minutes, and on a full charge, it provides a range of 80 km. We expect to see even quicker timings as the model gets closer to launch. The production-spec model will also have petal-type disc brakes on both ends, although the safety net of ABS will be available only at the front.

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Regular readers would know that TVS Motor Company has a 14.78% stake in Ultraviolette Automotive, a Bengaluru-based start-up. The first product from the Ultraviolette, the F77 electric bike, was spotted near Bengaluru last month.