Mahindra’s eco-friendly auto-rickshaw launched

Automobile major Mahindra & Mahindra’s arm on Thursday rolled out two variants of electric 3-wheeler autorickshaw in Bengaluru.

“The 3-wheeler range Treo and Treo Yaari are powered with lithium ion battery, which gives 170 km ride for a single charge, said Mahindra Electric Mobility Ltd Chairman Pawan Goenka on the occasion.

The $21-billion Mahindra group has invested Rs 100-crore in setting up a technology plant in the city’s southern outskirts, with an installed capacity of 25,000 units per annum to make the e-autos for Karnataka initially.

“The e-auto is priced at Rs 1.36 lakh, with subsidy from the Faster Adoption and Manufacture of Electric (FAME) vehicles scheme of the central government’s 2015 National Electricity Mobility Mission plan, drawn to encourage increasing use of electric vehicles,” said the company in a statement later.

In addition to the clutch-less, noiseless and vibration free e-autos, the hi-tech plant makes battery packs, power electronics and motor assembly for the electric power train.

“The new hub aligns with our belief in an all-electric future, based on mobility vision of producing clean, connected and convenient vehicles, said Goenka.

The e-autos will be available at select dealerships across Bengaluru and Hyderabad and later in other cities in a phased manner.