India's EV market is booming, offering diverse options in power, size, comfort, and range. Tata Motors has expanded its .ev lineup by launching the Punch.ev, a compact electric SUV designed for affordability and practicality. Built on a pure EV architecture, the Punch.ev combines robust features, impressive power, and a compact size.

Running cost

The Punch.ev comes with two battery options: 25 kWh and 35 kWh, requiring about 25 and 35 units of electricity for a full charge, respectively. With electricity costs in India averaging between Rs. 6 and Rs. 9 per unit, using Rs. 7 as an estimate, a full charge costs approximately Rs. 175 (25 x 7) for the 25 kWh battery and Rs. 245 (35 x 7) for the 35 kWh battery. The claimed ranges are 315 km for the Standard Range (SR) and 421 km for the Long Range (LR), though real-world range varies based on driving style and terrain. On average, the running cost is roughly Rs. 1 per km for the SR and Rs. 0.8 per km for the LR.

Design

The Punch.ev showcases notable design updates over its internal combustion (IC) counterpart. Its front end adopts a modern EV aesthetic, mirroring the new Nexon.ev, while the rear remains largely unchanged. In terms of dimensions, it measures 3,857 mm in length (30 mm longer), 1,742 mm in width, and 1,633 mm in height (18 mm taller), with the wheelbase staying the same at 2,445 mm.

Build Quality and Finish

The Punch.ev, like its internal combustion (IC) counterpart, is expected to achieve a 5-star Global NCAP safety rating. Unlike other Tata vehicles, the Punch.ev generally features consistent panel gaps with no major flaws, though some minor irregularities in panel edge finishes and slight gaps were noticeable. For enhanced safety, the battery pack includes additional reinforcements and a rigid floor structure for added strength. The doors and bonnet are notably robust, contributing to their substantial weight.

Safety

The Punch.ev is fitted with standard safety features such as 6 airbags, ABS, ESP, hill-hold assist, iTPMS, ISOFIX, and rear parking sensors. It also includes all-wheel disc brakes, hill descent control, an SOS calling function, a 360-degree camera view monitor, and a blind spot monitor. The battery pack and motor carry an IP67 rating for water and dust resistance.

Ground Clearance

The ground clearance of punch ev is same as puch with 190mm and for approach angle = 19° (20.3°), departure angle = 28° (37.6°) and ramp over angle 15.1° (22.2°).

Wheels & Tyres

The Empowered variant of both the standard-range and Long Range Punch.ev comes with 16" diamond-cut alloy wheels fitted with 195/60 Apollo Amperion low rolling resistance tyres. The Smart and Smart+ variants, on the other hand, feature 185/70 R15 tyres, with the option to upgrade to 205-section tyres. No spare wheel is provided; a puncture repair kit is included instead. For optimal range, a tyre pressure of 34 PSI is recommended for all four wheels.

Warranty details

The Tata Punch.ev comes with a standard warranty of 3 years or 1,25,000 km, with the option to extend it by one or two years (up to 1,25,000 km). The battery pack and motor are covered by an 8-year or 1,60,000 km warranty.

Acti.EV Architecture

The Tata Punch.ev is the first vehicle to feature the new Acti.ev architecture, which shares certain components with the ALFA-ARC platform used in its internal combustion (IC) counterpart. Designed with electrification in mind, this platform isn’t a fully distinct EV framework but integrates EV components effectively. The centrally placed battery pack ensures a near 50:50 weight distribution. The Acti.ev architecture is adaptable for future battery chemistries and supports Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) and Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) charging, though these features are not yet available in the Punch.ev. Future Tata EVs, such as the Curvv, Harrier, Sierra, and Altroz, will also be built on this Acti.ev platform.