Tata Motors to supply 500 EVs to Lithium Urban Technologies

Tata Motors has reiterated its commitment towards the future of electrification in the country by signing a partnership with Lithium Urban Technologies, a large-scale commercial EV fleet provider. The partnership, in the long-term, will explore a multi-modal approach to address specific requirements of customers across passenger, mass transit and freight segments

However, for the first leg of this alliance, Tata Motors has been tasked with providing 500 EVs to Lithium, 400 of which will be the brand's recently-updated Tigor EV. The Tigor EVs will be supplied by FY20 for deployment across India. As per the agreement, Lithium also plans to induct 100 additional EVs to its fleet for corporate transport services. These 100 units will comprise of Tata's forthcoming electric models like the Nexon EV. At present, Lithium Urban Technologies boasts an EV fleet of about 1,000 units.

Talking about the new partnership, Mr Shailesh Chandra, (President – Electric Mobility Business & Corporate Strategy) at Tata Motors said, 'This is not just the most significant milestone for Tata Motors’ E-Mobility Business, but also a big turning point in the EV market, which is now likely to see fleets electrify faster than ever before. We are delighted to enter this partnership with Lithium, who are on their pragmatic journey of expanding their zero-emission transport service rapidly. We are committed to nurturing this valued partnership as we address the evolving mobility needs of our customers through various disruptive business models.'

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Sanjay Krishnan, (Founder - Lithium Urban Technologies) said, 'We are excited to partner with Tata Motors for the supply and co-development of EVs...this partnership with Tata Motors will ensure availability of new form factors and enable the viability of new market segments across passenger, mass transit and freight. Lithium would move quickly to integrate the company's paradigm-shifting LUTEC (LithiumUrbanTec) EV mobility utilisation software with the new vehicles.'

In October 2019, Tata launched an extended-range version of the Tigor EV that comes with a bigger 21.5kWh battery pack, giving it an on-paper driving range of 213km. With this, Tata also took the opportunity to open the sales of the Tigor EV to private buyers for the first time.