2013 Tata Nano on available in Jamaica from Metis Motors by December 15th 2012 - All-Electric Vehicles potential in Jamaica Gangham Style

“At $14,000 [per month], it brings the Nano to the lives of people who would never own a car”

Joe Ferreira, Director of New markets at Metis Motors

The much touted 2^nd Generation 2013 Tata Nano is coming to Jamaica by Saturday December 15^th 2012 with business set to revv up by February 2013 as stated in the article “Tata time - First Nano deliveries expected this month”, published Sunday December 2, 2012, The Jamaica Gleaner. 

And based on the words of Joe Ferreira, Director of New Markets at Metis Motors, if it lives up to its promise, it’ll mean not only more Jamaica owning fuel-efficient vehicles, but it’ll also spark interest in All-Electric Vehicles as well as predicted in my Geezam blog article “Metis Motors intro’s 2nd Generation Tata Nano to Ja signaling Black and Yellow for All-Electric Vehicles”. 

After, all, that’s why he’s here, based on his words earlier in September 2012 in the article “Tato Nano makes debut”, published Friday, September 21, 2012 By Rory Daley Observer writer, The Jamaica Observer.

The specs of the 2013 Tata Nano are promising and so’s the payment options:

Specs:

1.      Weight: 635 lb (288 Kg)

2.      Doors: 4

3.      Engine: 2 cylinder, 625cc Engine

4.      Clearance: 8”

5.      Fuel Efficiency: 60 mpg (26 kpl)

Accessories:

1.      Boss Radio with the option for better Speakers, Bluetooth Streaming and DVD/CD/Thumb Drive Player

2.      Central locking

3.      2 front door Powered Windows

4.      Manual Steering

5.      Refuels from the Front

6.      Larger Trunk

7.      Battery under the Car Seat

Costs:

1.      Price: JA$940,000; $893,000.00 with discounts

2.      Warranty Servicing: 25,000 kilometre or two-year warranty

3.      Monthly Payment Option: JA$14,000 per month

Note: “mpg” = Miles Per Gallon; “kpl” = equals kilometers per litre, the metric equivalent

Jamaicans love with the SUV is very much on display with the recent choice of gas-guzzling SUV’s by the Minister of Government when they could have purchased All-Electric or Flex Fuel Vehicles as noted in my blog article entitled “GOJ buys SUV's for Ministers of Government from Toyota Jamaica - All-Electric Vehicle Importation Support is needed from GOJ to be The Master of our Fuel Consumption”.

Thanks to our past Prime Minister PJ Patterson, Jamaica’s insatiable love affair with these American influence gas-guzzlers is unabated, making many who know Jamaica’s rough roads doubt the Strength of the obviously much improved 2^nd Generation 2013 Tata Nano. Joe Ferreira is apparently aware of this and other aesthetics many may find unpleasant about the smaller vehicle, quote: “A lot of people are skeptical, will always love bigger and better. I hear people complain it does not have a nose.”

The vehicle’s also ready for the Jamaican road conditions as well, as confidently touted by Joe Ferreira in September 2012 in a previous article “Tato Nano makes debut”, published Friday, September 21, 2012 By Rory Daley Observer writer, The Jamaica Observer, quote: “I've been to India and their conditions in terms of road network and climate are far worse than Jamaica. If it can survive there, from my own local testing, Jamaica will be a piece of cake”.

The attractions of the vehicle to Motor Vehicle Hobbyist's endless; you can change the engine, get bigger wheels, modify the drive train, add power steering, Seat and Outer Exterior Accessories, Duco job, even adjust the suspension clearance and still be within budget. Not to mention it’s kinda hard to steal the Battery if it’s strapped under the Seat!

Its weight is the reason why it’s so fuel efficient; the Engine and Drive Train less work to do in order to move it along on the roads. Increasing the Wheel base and adding better asphalt gripping tyres would dramatically push the fuel efficiency into the 100 miles per gallon territory.

What I’d love to see is modifications by Tata Motors to make an All-Electric version, as its weight makes it ideal for this upgrade as surmised in my Geezam blog article “Metis Motors intro’s 2nd Generation Tata Nano to Ja signaling Black and Yellow for All-Electric Vehicles”.

A good example of this is the 2013 Nissan Leaf, who’s many improvements includes reducing the weight of the vehicle using Aluminum Alloys in order to increase the driving Range as noted in my blog article entitled “Nissan Debuts the 2013 Nissan Leaf - 228 km range good for commute to The House at the End of the Street”.

The promise of Oregon-based company Porteon coming to Jamaica to assemble All-Electric Vehicles and Vans has yet to materialize as promised in the article “Electrifying Rides – Porteon plans 2012 Electric Car roll-out in Ja”, published Sunday December 4^th 2011 by Mel Cooke, The Sunday Gleaner and my Geezam blog article “Oregon-based Porteon to assemble All-Electric Vehicles in Jamaica – One By One”.

Thus the coming of this vehicle and its expected rapid adoption may, amusingly, be the REAL Catalyst for the introduction of All-Electric Vehicles in Jamaica and not necessarily the Politicians, Gangham Style.

After all, their vehicle choices leaves many Jamaica to question if they really are concerned about the plight of the Jamaican Motorists, reducing pollution by adopting more Environmentally-friendly vehicles or even reducing Jamaica’s ballooning Fuel Bill. Not to mention the costs many Motorists must endure to keep up appearances of being successful while his vehicle’s maintenance costs drain his pocket.

Now all we needs is a contractor to build Solar Powered Charging Stations islandwide and we’re good to go, Gangham Style….