India’s first Maruti Suzuki Gypsy Electric SUV [Video]

The Maruti Suzuki Gypsy is a favourite of the Armed Forces, the rallyist, off-roaders and car enthusiasts. There have been instances of owners of this SUV replacing its petrol engine with a diesel mill which offers higher torque and lowers running cost.

The customizer of the vehicle in the video here, however, wants these benefits with the facet of eco-friendliness. Here's a look at India's first Maruti Suzuki Gypsy Electric SUV -

The customizer of this old Gypsy has replaced the 996 cc, four-cylinder, carburetted engine with an electric motor and a pack of three batteries. A micro-controller manages the performance of the electric motor and the battery pack while an induction motor helps the car move forward. The original wiring has been replaced to support the electric powertrain. The owner has designed the setup at home.

Another highlight is the system through which the owner charges his Gypsy. The battery pack of this Maruti Suzuki Gypsy Electric SUV is charged by a solar panel. In all likelihood, this is the first time that a Gypsy SUV has been given an all-electric powertrain.

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First launched in December 1985, the Maruti Suzuki Gypsy is likely to be discontinued in India because of its inability, in the current specification, to meet the crash safety norms of the Bharat New Vehicle Safety Assessment Program (BSNVAP). All cars that do not meet the norms cannot be sold after 1 October 2019, and many vehicles based on antiquated platforms need heavy and expensive reinforcements to meet new norms.

In its stock format, the Gypsy features a 1.3-litre, four-cylinder, MPFI petrol engine that outputs 80 bhp and 103 Nm.