General Motors India (GMI) today has unveiled the Chevrolet Beat Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) at Delhi, as part of the ongoing celebrations of World Environment Day and is brought to India to study the feasibility of electric vehicles in major metros. It’s notable that this is not a launch, and just a showcase.
BA readers were told earlier about the Beat EV and now demonstration vehicle will be used by GM India to showcase the effectiveness of battery electric vehicle technology in India. The battery pack is adopted from the Chevrolet Volt which in its concept form was shown at the Auto Expo in New Delhi last year.
The Chevrolet Beat Battery Electric Vehicle is powered by a 300 cell lithium-ion battery weighing 270kg with a total energy capacity of approximately 20 kWh. GM India says that under everyday driving conditions, the car will operate for 130 km. The liquid cooled battery can operate in temperatures ranging from approximately -20℃to 45℃, with charge times of less than 8 hours using a 240V outlet. Power from the battery is transferred to the drive wheels through a single speed drive unit and an electric motor producing approximately 45kW (61 PS) of power.
“General Motors is committed to providing customers around the world with electrification technologies that will reduce their fuel consumption, helping them save money. GM India will lead in this ‘tailored for India’ demo program for battery electric technology, with Chevrolet Beat chosen as the best way to evaluate the technology. We are delighted that Chevrolet selected India as an important market to test battery electric technology, while recognizing the capabilities of our engineering team to help identify ways to make this technology more affordable,” Mr Karl Slym, President and MD, GMI, said.
GM has one of the most advanced battery labs in the world at its Technical Center in Warren, Michigan in the United States and will be opening a new battery lab in China soon. GM will start testing the car in India with no definite plans to launching this vehicle on the market, as the press release states that India is one of the test markets for this product along with China, Korea and Germany.
Also see – GM India to Launch Chevrolet Beat Electric This Month
