Anand KulkarniAs India’s electric passenger vehicle market gradually moves beyond early adopters, automakers are increasingly focusing on solving practical ownership concerns around charging convenience, battery durability and safety. Tata Motors’ refreshed Tiago EV reflects this shift. The company has introduced significant improvements in charging performance, vehicle safety, ride quality and connected technologies while retaining the car’s accessible positioning.
In an interaction with ETAuto, Anand Kulkarni, Chief Product Officer, Head of HV Programs and Customer Service, Tata Passenger Electric Mobility, discusses the engineering philosophy behind the updated Tiago EV, the rationale for introducing a lifetime battery warranty and the broader evolution of EV technologies in India.
Edited excerpts:
What were the key engineering priorities while developing the updated Tiago EV?
The Tiago EV has been one of the most successful electric cars in the country, with over 75,000 customers and more than 2.3 billion kilometres of accumulated usage data. As the market transitions from early adopters to the early majority, we wanted to address the remaining customer concerns and make EV ownership even more convenient.
Our first priority was charging speed. We made changes to the battery cell geometry and chemistry to enable significantly faster charging. As a result, fast-charging performance has nearly doubled and charging times have reduced by around 50 per cent. Customers can now add about 100 km of real-world usable range in roughly 18 minutes.
The second major focus area was battery durability and customer confidence. Leveraging extensive field data and advancements in battery management systems and software algorithms, we have introduced a lifetime battery warranty for the first owner. We believe this will significantly strengthen consumer confidence in EV ownership.
Beyond this, we also worked on efficiency improvements, driveability refinements and throttle calibration enhancements, while ensuring the vehicle meets the highest safety standards.
The updated Tiago EV now comes with six airbags. What changes were required from a safety engineering perspective?
Safety remains one of Tata Motors’ core brand pillars. Integrating six airbags and meeting increasingly stringent crash regulations required extensive engineering work.
We focused on optimising load paths and energy distribution during impact events. Several structural reinforcements were introduced, and both bending and torsional stiffness have been significantly enhanced. In fact, the body stiffness is now comparable to that of a compact SUV.
These changes contribute not only to stronger crash performance but also to overall vehicle robustness and driving confidence.
Has the increase in structural stiffness also translated into improvements in ride quality?
Absolutely. One of the key upgrades is the introduction of dual-path strut mounts in the suspension system.
This allows smaller road imperfections to be absorbed more effectively through softer components, while larger impacts continue to be managed by the suspension springs. The result is a quieter chassis, improved ride comfort and better NVH performance. Customers will immediately notice the refinement and smoothness when driving the vehicle.
The battery pack capacities remain unchanged. Did you consider increasing battery size or changing battery chemistry?
The battery capacities remain at 19.2 kWh and 24 kWh because we believe they are well aligned with customer usage patterns. While the chemistry continues to be based on LFP technology, we have modified the formulation to support faster charging.
Could we have increased battery size? Certainly. The platform has that capability. However, our analysis showed that enabling significantly faster charging would provide greater real-world value than simply increasing battery capacity. The lifetime warranty further enhances the ownership proposition and reinforces long-term confidence in the product.
Tata Motors recently introduced a new powertrain architecture in the Punch EV. Was that evaluated for the Tiago EV as well?
At this stage, we have retained the existing powertrain architecture in the Tiago EV. Future technology decisions will continue to be driven by customer use cases and the pace of technology integration across our product portfolio.
What are the key technology and connectivity upgrades inside the cabin of the new Tiago EV?
The electrical and electronic (E/E) architecture has evolved considerably. We’ve adopted an upgraded architecture derived from our newer vehicle platforms, providing greater computing power and improved capability to support advanced telematics features.
This has enabled us to introduce a larger infotainment screen, enhanced instrument cluster functionality and a richer connected-car experience. One notable addition is the 360-degree surround-view system, which is a segment-first factory-fitted feature in this category.
How do you see battery technologies evolving in India over the next few years?
From an Indian market perspective, LFP remains an excellent balance of safety, performance and cost. Energy densities continue to improve, and several next-generation battery technologies are approaching commercialisation.
As these technologies mature, we will continue evaluating them to optimise energy density, weight, durability and overall customer value while maintaining safety and affordability.
What broader EV trends do you expect to shape the industry over the next five years?
One of the biggest trends will be increasing integration and consolidation of vehicle systems. Components that were previously separate are becoming highly integrated, reducing packaging space and costs while enabling more functionality.
Beyond electrification itself, customers will increasingly expect higher levels of comfort, convenience, connectivity, premium materials and sustainability. These trends will influence both EVs and internal combustion vehicles, and they will continue to shape future product development across the industry.
