The electric vehicle landscape in India is becoming more exciting on a daily basis, with existing players planning massive expansions to their product portfolios and infrastructure and new players entering the market on a regular basis. While the electric two-wheeler space has already seen some major play, the electric car segment is still under a rudimentary stage of development. With only a few models on offer in select areas and major players yet to come out with genre-defining car models, the time is ripe for a new, seasoned player to enter the market with a bang.
This is exactly what New Jersey-based automaker Triton EV has in mind. With a large existing portfolio of electric cars that includes luxury sedans, SUVs, and spacious trucks, Triton EV has zeroed in on India as one of the major growing markets for electric cars and set up base here, aiming to bring at least two of their much-acclaimed products to the country. With pre-bookings open on their first offering since May 10 this year, it can be a good idea for people considering EV adoption to take a closer look at the company, the competency, and industry knowledge they bring to the table, and what they have planned for the Indian EV landscape.
The triton EV Journey
Triton EV emerged as a logical new subsidiary of industry veterans Triton Solar, market leaders and innovators in the field of battery engineering and solar panel technology. While Triton Solar has been leading the effort to make solar energy more accessible and convenient for all use cases, Triton EV was created to take that dream forward with a common-sense diversification into the realm of electric vehicles.
That is what sparked the creation of Triton EV, a subsidiary brand focusing on electric vehicles that aim to make use of the closely related expertise of Triton Solar to create high-quality, luxury electric vehicles. Ably led by an engineer, entrepreneur, and avid car enthusiast Himanshu Patel, Triton EV already plans to offer several electric car models for purchase in other nations. Recently, however, they have set their sight on India with plans to bring several of their already popular electric car models to the country.
Currently conceived Triton EV models include the luxury sedan N4, a luxury SUV, the Model H, and a production-ready prototype of their electric semi-truck with a hydrogen cell stack.
Recent developments
In an exciting recent development, Triton EV made its first inroads into the Indian EV market by officially registering a subsidiary titled Triton Electric Vehicles India Pvt. Ltd. According to an official company statement, the aim of this subsidiary is to build India as one of the largest markets for electric vehicles outside of the US. For the initial phase, Triton EV aims to bring two models to the Indian market—the luxury SUV Model H and the luxury Sedan N4.
According to company CEO Himanshu Patel, the company is already in conversation with various state governments for establishing manufacturing facilities. With time, the aim of Triton EV in India would be to manufacture and sell electric vehicles of all types, including vehicles in the luxury and economy category, mass transit vehicles, specialized vehicles for military use, and small commercial transport vehicles. These production facilities would not only cater to the Indian market, but also create vehicles for export to other countries, including Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, the Middle East, and Africa.
To this end, they have also already signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Bharat Electrics Limited (BEL) for local assistance on manufacturing practices, cooperation regarding the manufacture of electric vehicles and energy storing technology. The company website is already operating a waiting list for pre-ordering the Model H SUV while pre-orders for the N4 sedan are expected to open soon.
The CEO projects that the Model H will become available for purchase in India in June 2021 while the N4 sedan will start selling in October 2021. Both models are in various stages of development with a prototype for the SUV currently being designed in Pune. The company also aims to manufacture and assemble its cars in an entirely localized manner, with everything being manufactured within India for the Indian market.
Taking a look at the models
The Model H SUV is slated to be an 8-seater model with a proprietary 200 kWh battery designed in-house by Triton EV. The SUV will have a whopping 700-mile range and provide unmatched storage space and power, marking many firsts in the Indian EV market. It is supposed to be available in a variety of color options and trim levels.
The N4 sedan brings several exciting prospects to the Indian EV landscape with never-before-seen features and functionality. It is a luxury sedan with state-of-the-art features including a plush interior, comfortable seating room for 5 adults, two powertrain options (front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive), and a high-resolution touchscreen-based infotainment system. The company already promises two trim levels, the SR with a 75 kWh battery and 523 kilometers of range, and the LR with a 100 kWh battery and 696 kilometers of range. The car would be able to charge to 80% of its capacity in an hour using fast charging.
One very unique feature is the panoramic sunroof fitted in the N4, which will house a proprietary transparent solar panel. This panel will be able to power the onboard electronics of the car while also providing a passive charge to the battery when the vehicle is under direct sunlight. This is a revolutionary feature not yet seen in most electric vehicles. The car is also designed to power small households with reverse power from the battery in power outage situations. Overall, these features can really make Triton EV an exciting prospect for the Indian market, where power outages happen commonly and range anxiety prevents many from adopting electric vehicles.
Key takeaways
Considering the focus on India, the rich industry knowledge and cross-competencies, and a careful evaluation of the needs of the Indian consumer, Triton EV looks poised to make a mark on the Indian EV landscape.
