Written by Sanjeev Kulkarni
Econintersect: Tata Motors (NYSE:TTM, BSE:TATAMOTORS, 500570) has unveiled Megapixel, a new hybrid car which it claims will deliver fuel efficiency of 100 km per liter (or 236 miles per gallon). This is four times the most fuel efficient Totoyta hybrids which give approximately 50 mpg. The car announcement in the Geneva 82nd Motor Show came three years after launch of Tata’s cheapest car, the Nano.
The company’s news release states the car combines a lithium ion phosphate battery and an on-board petrol engine generator for recharging the battery on the move. Although greater technical details are unavailable this concept might be similar to the configuration used in diesel electric locomotives. The hybrid cars from Toyota, in contrast, use both internal combustion engine and a motor in the power driven train. (Click on picture for larger image.) The Megapixel will have range of to 900 km on a single fuel tank recharge tank of fuel and a “path-breaking” CO2 emission of just 22 gm / km and fuel economy of 100 km / litre (under battery only power).”