Part two of a special Biofuels Digest report on technology behind the $2500 Tata car

From Biofuels Digest correspondent Joelle Brink, part two of a special report on Tata:

When it debuted earlier this year at the Detroit Auto Show, Tata Motors’ mighty mini was hailed by the automotive press as the most significant new car since the Ford Model T, and “the car we really need.” Now it seems we may be getting it.”

The basic version of the Nano will go on sale in India later this year for the original promised price of about $2000 US. In order to meet this price point despite inflation, Tata had to cut most of its advertising budget for the Nano, a logical move when a car sells itself. The basic no frills model has a two cylinder gasoline engine that gets 52 mpg, meets Euro IV emissions standards, and complies with current crash test standards worldwide. It’s a hard act to follow, even for Tata Group.

But with its larger Indica and Indigo models already selling well in Europe, Tata Motors chairman Ratan Tata recently announced plans to add a common rail turbodiesel (CDRi) engine, a hybrid engine, and a list of luxury options. The Nano is already a world car thanks to its stylish Italian-designed body, but with the design of the diesel version and its fuel injection system, Germany’s small diesel pioneer FEV and Bosch too have joined the Nano design team.

The Nano’s clean diesel power plant will be just as revolutionary as the rest of the car. It is the world’s first two-cylinder, two-stroke turbocharged CDRi engine. Reviving a design not seen since World War II, FEV has eliminated the crankshaft and directly opposed the two cylinders to reduce mechanical power loss. It has also solved the characteristic emissions problems of two stroke engines. Bosch is working on the CDRi injection system, and Honeywell Turbo India is working on the turbocharger, which is designed to further reduce emissions. The diesel Nano is expected to be at least 30% more fuel efficient than the gas powered model and to deliver 70 mpg or better. It is scheduled to go on sale in 2009. FEV is also working on a diesel hybrid version that may achieve as much as 100 mpg. FEV is known for its work with alternative fuels and it is likely that both models will be biodiesel compatible.

Ratan Tata recently announced that for the next three years Tata Motors will concentrate on production for the Indian market, but will also investigate possible production and sales in other countries. Given the response at the Detroit Motor show, one of those countries is likely to be the US.
Read more about Tata and his “People’s Car” here.

Other Biofuels Digest special reports on India

Part One of this special Report

Lalu Prasad Yadav, the rock star of Indian politics, believes in thinking big…

India gets serious about cellulosic ethanol: Special Biofuels Digest report