Hero Electric part of larger Hero group plans to introduce a e-car or electric car in India by 2013. Tata has already said it would launch Indica electric in 2009 and Mahindra is planning to introduce a similar car in 2010. Pininfarina has also said that it will launch an electric car in 2014.
“Hero is becoming green everyday. We want to be a major player in the electric transportation, in which we are investing heavily in carrying out research. In the next five years, we will be launching electric three and four wheelers here,” said, Hero Electric Chief Executive Officer Sohinder Gill.The company is currently carrying out the research and working on the prototypes of the models, he added. Hero Electric is investing Rs 80 crore in this financial year for expansion of its storage capacities, R&D and indigenisation of technologies. “The passenger car will not be on the conventional battery mode as running cost is very high. We are developing it on capacitors, which can be charged instantly and can go on for longer distance,” Gill said, adding the company is checking out the viability of the model in Indian condition.
Hero will also launh an electric three wheeler soon.The three wheeler would be offered in limited editions with carrying capacity of fixed load.Hero electric has also firmed up plans to expand its product portfolio in e-bikes by launching two more products in the high-speed category.