Force Motors is set to launch its first electric Traveller models in the January-March quarter of 2027. The manufacturer has now finished development on the range and is undertaking final testing and homologation with the Automotive Research Association of India.
Traveller EV Enters Final Stages Of Development
Force first unveiled an electric Traveller at the 2024 Auto Expo and has further developed the model since.
“We have completed our development on the model and are now undertaking the final stages of testing and homologation,” Managing Director Prasan Firodia said.
We expect the initial range to include an electric ambulance. However, Force has not yet announced when the models will be launched, pricing, or detailed specification.
Many Different Uses
The Traveller has many uses in a commercial setting, so Force Motors will be adding electrified versions of many models. This includes ambulances, school buses, employee transport, police vans and delivery vehicles.
This gives Force Motors the chance to enter very specific commercial markets. The different models will have different requirements, such as range, seating, load carrying capability and charging.
Ambulances will have high availability requirements, so will need very reliable vehicles with fast charging capabilities.
Slower Transition To EV
“The transition to EV in the passenger carrier industry is going to be slower than we have seen with two-wheelers and passenger cars. We have to consider the total cost of ownership for commercial operators,” Firodia said.
Range, charging and vehicle availability are all key issues for fleet operators. Private car owners will not have the same requirements as commercial operators. They will want vehicles that can cover predictable journeys without needing to stop frequently to charge.
School transport may be one of the first sectors to move to electric Travellers. School buses tend to have predictable routes and times which makes charging easier to plan.
Tourism and inter-city transport are likely to have less predictable journeys. This may mean they need more flexible charging and careful route planning.
Urbania EV Being Developed
Alongside the Traveller EV, Force Motors is also developing an electric Urbania people carrier. This model is a couple of months away from being homologated.
The Urbania EV will likely be used in many of the same commercial markets. This includes employee transport, tourism and shuttle services. However, this will be a bigger model and may need a different battery and charging solution.
Force Motors will be rolling out electrification of its other platforms. This means they can trial different uses.
Big Investment In Electrification
Force Motors is investing a huge ₹3,000 crore into building new capacity, engineering, electrification, hybrid drivetrain and digitisation. This shows how committed they are to preparing for a bigger transition to cleaner vehicles.
They are also looking to increase their production capacity to 85,000 vehicles. This will be important for them to be able to scale their EV programme.
The investment into hybrid drivetrains is also impressive. It shows that Force Motors isn’t putting all their eggs in one basket and may look to hybrid solutions.
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No Details On Pricing Or Specification
Force Motors has not released any details on pricing or specification for the Traveller EVs. Buyers will have to wait until closer to launch.
There are many key points missing such as battery size, range claims, charging times, motor power, seating options and different variants. These are all going to be key to how competitive the Traveller EV is.
One of the first models to catch peoples eye will likely be the electric ambulance. If Force can offer a reliable and well specified ambulance then there may be a lot of demand for it from hospitals, emergency services and private healthcare.
Growing Market In India
India is slowly seeing a transition to EVs in the commercial sector. The most promising areas are those with predictable journeys. This includes school buses, employee transport and last mile delivery.
By Force Motors launching a range of different Traveller EVs they will be able to capitalise on this growing market. Offering different configurations will allow them to meet the needs of many customers.
How successful the Traveller EVs are will depend on how Force Motors balance out range, charging times, load carrying and total cost of ownership. This will determine if commercial buyers feel the electric Traveller is a viable option over diesel/CNG alternatives.
Force Motors are getting closer to launching their first Traveller EVs in Q1 2027. They have now finished development and are undertaking homologation.
The initial range will be focused on very specific uses such as ambulances, school buses, employee transport, police vans and delivery. This means Force Motors have got a clear route into the commercial EV market.
With a huge investment of ₹3,000 crore and plans to increase production to 85,000 vehicles, Force Motors are preparing for a bigger transition to electrification. How successful the Traveller EVs are will be an important indicator of how EVs can work in the commercial market in India.
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