What’s eMO?
It’s the result of an engineering study — an electric vehicle designed and developed by Tata Technologies, an India-based engineering services company with a global presence. It’s stylish, comfortable, practical, fuel-efficient and environmentally friendly. It’s the right size for urban transport — easy to park, yet seating four adults comfortably, with a back seat able to be converted into substantial cargo space.
It’s innovative. While working on the study, Tata Technologies developed fresh intellectual property and has 15 patents in process. And it’s designed to be affordable; its estimated manufacturer’s suggested retail price is $20,000 (US), and that’s without any federal or state government incentives.
The eMO itself is quite a story. But there’s another story behind the story that may have greater implications than any single vehicle.
The Birth of the eMo
In the summer of 2010, in anticipation of launching the Vehicle Programs and Development group, Tata Technologies decided to create a complete vehicle as an internal engineering study. As a company with a history of dedicating its resources to specific customer needs, this was a shift in gears.
The group considered numerous concepts. The objectives were to highlight the company’s focus on sustainability, as well as its global experience, knowledge, capacity and innovation across its portfolio of services, which cover the entire product and process development cycle, including:
• Product and Market Definition
• Concepts and Styling
• Vehicle Architecture
• Knowledge-Based Modeling
• Engineering and Design
• Digital Validation
• Prototype and Testing
• Manufacturing Solutions
The team started by reviewing re reviewing relevant media on electric vehicles. “We found very mixed results, ranging from huge optimism to abject pessimism and everything in between,” says Kevin Fisher, president of the Vehicle Programs and Development group.
There was much to study, including a plethora of concepts and reams of data, as well as local and governmental incentives and infrastructure.“We studied and considered what type of electric vehicle is required for different uses, each having a specific purpose and goal,” says Fisher. “We dissected demographics, identifying who would be interested in each segment, determining what innovation and technologies we could bring to this market, with an overall objective of producing a concept that would be an affordable electric vehicle.
Finding the Right Balance
This analysis led to a combined product and process design to find the right balance in the following areas:
•Vehicle Cost of Ownership and Usage
•Innovation and Technology
• Consumer Features and Usable Interior Space.
The research also led to a focus on a city or “New Urban” electric vehicle with an emphasis on the design following the functionality and use of the vehicle. Keeping a low cost of ownership was a priority. The target was to create an electric vehicle that could be purchased for an estimated MSRP at $20,000 (US), without any government or state incentives.
“We believe that most vehicles on the market are actually oversized and over-specified for the majority of consumers’ daily use,” says Fisher. “Our objective was to find the right size for this type of electric vehicle with the appropriate range and speed, without reducing safety and daily usability.”
Functional & Innovative design
The team’s Vehicle Architecture group worked at minimizing the exterior footprint of the vehicle, but maximizing the interior space, including seating for four full-size adults. The team then added flexibility with the rear seating area doing double duty, offering great cargo space. Finally, to make sure everyone can use this vehicle comfortably, the team designed the vehicle with four doors uniquely positioned to make entry and egress incredibly easy for a vehicle of this size, with easy access to the cargo area.
Simultaneously, the development team integrated this overall architectural package with additional unique product design features that are inherent with electric mobility, like shorter overhangs, which led to a flush profile cowl, giving a more uninterrupted aerodynamic profile. Combined with large windows, this creates a dramatic sense of spaciousness and all-around visibility for all occupants of this vehicle.
To increase the space for occupants, the team focused on minimizing the disruption of interior features with thoughtful integration of driver controls and displays into the structure. Another important aspect of this study to ensure a low carbon footprint and to employ a strategy of reuse. “In line with our low-cost emphasis, we questioned traditional vehicle construction,” said Fisher.
The eMO’s overall structure incorporates a steel safety cage. The front and rear fascias and exterior doors are recycled panels with mold-in color. The glazing is a mix of required safety glass and low-mass polycarbonates. This eMO study also used our extensive CAE global knowledge and has been engineered, and CAE simulations performed, to meet the current safety standards and regulations in all major markets.
Green in Every Way
The powertrain — a unique liquid-cooled, dual-motor, front-wheel-drive system coupled with an air-cooled, 18.4-kilowatt, high-energy/density battery — provides the pulse of the vehicle, enabling a vehicle range of 100 miles and a top speed of 65 miles per hour. The suspension incorporates an independent front lower A arm and MacPherson struts. The rear suspension has a semi-trailing link with separate mounting shock absorbers and springs. Front disc and rear drum brakes are antilock with electronic stability control. Steering is provided by an electric power-assisted rack-and-pinion system.
“We wanted to reduce the carbon footprint of manufacturing, assembly and all associated processes, so a Small Assembly Footprint methodology drove our manufacturing solution,”said Fisher. “This eliminates the traditional body shop and paint process and uses as many ‘green’ product materials and processes as possible.”
To sum it up, Fisher said the eMO reflects Tata Technologies’ unique multidimensional approach, its DNA of innovation, as well as its intimate understanding of the demands of both developed and developing markets. The vehicle also benefits from the company’s global delivery model and its proprietary Knowledge-Based Engineering platforms to develop products faster and more cost-effectively.
“We believe this engineering study shows a very pragmatic, innovative and cost-feasible solution for daily-use electric vehicles in a new urban environment,” says Fisher. “And we believe the market exists for a vehicle demonstrating this intelligent combination of performance, safety, function, price and environmental responsibility.”
And there’s more to come. “This study is the first in a series of thought-provoking concepts to showcase our capabilities across the current and future automotive landscape,” he added.
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