BS reported that Ashok Leyland Limited is looking at launching electric variants of its passenger and commercial vehicles, using indigenous technology.

As per report, the company is planning to introduce electric vehicles across the spectrum (both buses and commercial vehicles), including the recently launched LCV Dost.

The technology might be developed by Defiance Technologies (a company under the London headquartered Hinduja Group which also owns Ashok Leyland), a leading provider of engineering, ERP and IT services to global customers leveraging the global delivery model.

Mr V Sumantran board director at Ashok Leyland and also executive vice chairman of Hinduja Automotive and chairman of Nissan Ashok Leyland Powertrain, noted that the world around has been witnessing a growing demand for alternative fuels, especially electric and hybrid technologies.

Ashok Leyland's Japanese partner Nissan has introduced LEAF, an electric vehicle. The 1948 formed Ashok Leyland has a joint venture with Yokohama based Nissan to launch light commercial vehicles.

Mr Sumantran said that "But we will go with our indigenous technology for electric variants." He added that in one and a half years, Ashok Leyland would look at launching Dost in electric version.

Both the partners have said they are betting big on the new premium segment vehicle and have set a target to sell 140,000 vehicles over the next three years. Talks are on with Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers to develop standards for electric vehicles with respect to charging and battery replacement systems on lines of similar patterns existing in Europe.

As for frugal engineering, Mr Sumantran pointed out that its high-tech nature would put a question mark on its affordability in a developing country like India. He added that "The challenge is to develop products that are frugally executed, using lesser materials and resource."

(Sourced from www.business-standard.com)