Auto Expo 2016 (India) - Sustainability news from Tata Motors

As part of my ongoing low-carbon virtual visits to the world's motor shows extracting interesting sustainability updates, I'm heading to New Delhi in India for the Auto Expo 2016 to check what Tata Motors have been up to...  Whilst we wait for autonomous vehicles and traffic light integration, have Tata offered us a glimpse at the future of urban mobility in the shorter-term?

Tata Motors

Tata Motors are owners of Jaguar Land Rover, and haven't yet made much traction with hybrid/electric powertrains in their Jaguar or Land Rover brands, other than:

• JLR have just registered the i-Pace and i-Type names, presumably for electric versions of the F-Pace and F-Type Jaguars
• There is a hybrid Range Rover, but it has minimal electric range, and not a mass-market pricepoint
• They released the Plug-in Hybrid Electric (PHEV) C-X75 concept 

Back in India though, where air pollution is such a problem that Delhi has introduced alternate day driving restrictions, there are some interesting developments from JLR's parent, Tata Motors.

Tata Magic Iris Ziva Fuel Cell

'Last mile commuting' in India offers a huge opportunity for low-carbon solutions, with inefficient  'auto rickshaws' and taxis dominating the streets.  Tata have revealed a four-wheeled concept to enter the market, the Tata Magic Iris Ziva Fuel Cell.  Critically, it's hydrogen-powered, so the only emissions are pure water.  It seats four passengers, and the driver (this sounds optimistic seeing the pictures!).

Tata Magic Iris Ziva

It's got a 9kW electric motor, a 40km electric only range, and without gears or a clutch, makes for easy driving in urban environments.  Cleverly, the 8" infotainment screen can also send GPS data and fault codes to authorised repair centres.  The vehicle might look a little quirky, but we might just be looking at the future of urban mobility...
There's more information here.

To carry a larger number of passengers, Tata Motors have also introduced the world's first commercially produced CNG hybrid bus, the Starbus Hybrid.

Tata Motors Starbus Hybrid

And finally, an all-electric bus, the Ultra Electric.

Tata Motors Ultra Electric Bus