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Exciting times lie ahead for electric vehicle enthusiasts asIndian automotive giant Mahindra charts its electrifying path with the forthcoming launch of electric vehicles (EVs). While the company had initially aimed to team up with Volkswagen for batteries and electric motors, plans have encountered delays. However, Mahindra remains undeterred and is now turning to Chinese electric car specialist BYD for batteries to power their new EV range.
According to Auto car Professional India, the company's partnership with Volkswagen for battery packs and motors has experienced setbacks, prompting Mahindra to seek alternatives. In this case, BYD, renowned as the world's second-largest EV seller after Tesla, has stepped up to provide battery packs, ensuring that Mahindra's EVs stay on track for their anticipated 2024 launch.
To bolster its electric ambitions, Mahindra is collaborating with French company Valeo to manufacture electric motors. Valeo, with its history of supplying components to global carmakers like Renault, is a fitting partner for Mahindra's electrified endeavours.
With two of the six upcoming Mahindra EVs set to grace Australian showrooms, the company's pivot to BYD batteries showcases its commitment to delivering innovation and sustainable mobility across borders.
Originally, Mahindra had intended to incorporate both 80kWh BYD batteries and 60kWh Volkswagen batteries. Yet, due to the delays in Volkswagen's technology, Mahindra is now expected to rely solely on BYD batteries for both capacities. Volkswagen's batteries, employing a 'unified cell' design, are projected to offer greater energy density, extended range, and faster charging, leveraging lithium-iron-phosphate chemistry, which presents an economical alternative to conventional lithium-ion batteries.
While Mahindra's collaboration with BYD underscores a strategic shift, plans for future models will see the integration of Volkswagen electric motors and battery packs. Navigating a partnership with Volkswagen has proved more intricate than initially anticipated, with bureaucratic processes requiring meticulous attention.
Auto car India reports that the debut EV in Mahindra's new line-up will be the XUV.e8, scheduled for release in December 2024. This will be followed by a sportier coupe-styled version, the XUV.e9, in April 2025, paving the way for the compact BE.05 in October 2025, and mid-size BE.07 in April 2026. Down the road, electric versions of Mahindra's Thar and Scorpio SUVs are expected, constructed on an electric-vehicle platform.
Powered by a 170kW rear electric motor from Valeo, the XUV electric models will be augmented by BYD batteries. The BE models will offer a choice between a single-motor 210kW rear-wheel-drive configuration and a dual-motor, approximately 290kW all-wheel-drive setup, with the option ofVolkswagen batteries.
As the automotive landscape transforms, Mahindra's strategic adaptation demonstrates its determination to propel electric mobility forward.With the likes of Tesla and Toyota also relying on BYD for their electrification pursuits, and Volkswagen venturing into collaborations with other industry giants, the future of EVs promises innovation and collaboration that knows no bounds.
