Mahindra & Mahindra will unveil at least two new
concepts at the 2018 Auto Expo. In the latest teaser video shared by the
company, silhouettes of two small car concepts can be seen. Both Mahindra
concept cars will, presumably, be fully electric concepts in line with the
‘Future of Mobility’ theme.
While one appears to be a two-door hatchback, the
other concept has a more van-like profile hinting at a voluminous cabin. Both
concepts could spawn future Mahindra Electric products. In December 2017, the
company confirmed that three new EVs were under development and expected to
arrive by 2020. However, the presentation shown seems to hint that these new
products will be based on existing and upcoming SUVs.
Mahindra Electric is pumping money into the
development of new powertrains, which will produce up to 201 hp and
400 Nm of torque. These will be highly efficient Permanent Magnet Synchronous
Motor-type and vector controlled drive systems, which will level up the
efficiency from 80% to 94%. The company will offer the new powertrains in
single and dual drive architecture with maximum outputs ranging from 90-165 kW.
High-density batteries is also an area of focus for
Mahindra Electric. The company aims to increase density from 80Wh/kg to
200Wh/kg to pack up to seven times the energy capacity from 10kWh to 70kWh.
These 48-volt to 650-volt systems, the company claims, have the capability to
deliver a real-world range of up to 400 km.
