Choosing the right commercial vehicle for your business can feel like a tough choice, especially when one truck comes with three different engine types. If you are a small business owner, fleet operator, or independent driver looking for a reliable partner for last-mile delivery, the iconic Tata Ace lineup is likely at the top of your list. Known across the country as the "Chota Hathi", the new Pro models are built to handle different types of daily work.
But when you compare the Tata Ace Pro EV, Tata Ace Pro Petrol, and Tata Ace Pro Bi-Fuel, which mini truck actually fits your daily route and budget? In this simple mini truck comparison, we break down the prices, performance numbers, and running costs to help you pick the best one for your business.
When you buy a small commercial vehicle (SCV), the price tag is usually the first thing you look at. These three models sit at very different price points, meaning there is an option for every budget.
If you want to start your transport business with the lowest possible investment, the Tata Ace Pro Petrol is the easiest way to go. With an ex-showroom price between ₹ 3.99 Lakh and ₹ 4.29 Lakh, it requires the least amount of starting money, making it perfect for new business owners.
The Tata Ace Pro Bi-Fuel (CNG + Petrol) sits right in the middle, starting from ₹ 4.99 Lakh. It costs a little more than the pure petrol model, but it helps you save a lot of money on daily fuel bills down the road.
The Tata Ace Pro EV comes with a higher starting price of ₹ 6.5 Lakh. While the initial ex-showroom price is the highest here, you will never have to pay for petrol or CNG again. For businesses that drive a lot of kilometers every single day, this electric mini truck can offer the lowest total cost of ownership (TCO) over time.
Each model handles city traffic, flyovers, and heavy loads a bit differently based on what is under the cabin.
Don't let the 50 km/h top speed fool you. Because it is an electric commercial vehicle, it gives you a massive 104 Nm of max torque the moment you press the pedal. This makes it incredibly easy to pull heavy loads from a complete stop or climb steep flyovers without any engine strain.
The petrol version is lively and reliable. With 30 HP of power, it feels quick in city traffic and has no trouble keeping up on open roads during short trips.
This model runs on CNG but has a small petrol tank for emergencies. It has slightly lower power at 25 HP, but it features an excellent gradeability of 23%. This means it can easily climb steep urban slopes and bridges even when it is carrying a full load.
A mini truck needs to carry plenty of cargo to make you money. Tata Motors kept the dimensions identical across all three models, so you do not lose any cargo space regardless of the fuel type you pick.
All three trucks have the same payload capacity of 750 KG. Whether you are moving market vegetables, water bottles, e-commerce boxes, or hardware materials, these trucks can handle the weight.
They all share the same body size:
While they all carry the same amount of cargo in their Low Deck & Flat bed setups, the trucks themselves weigh differently because of their fuel systems:
Your daily driving distance is the biggest factor in deciding which truck will make your business most profitable.
The EV model uses a 14.4 kWh Lithium Ferrous Phosphate (LFP) battery that gives you a real-world driving range of 100-120 Km per charge. It is the absolute best option for urban transportation where you do fixed-route deliveries every day and can plug the truck in overnight.
With its 10-litre fuel tank, the petrol truck is designed for short distance deliveries around your local area. While you will need to stop at petrol pumps fairly often, you never have to wait for a battery to charge.
If you don't have fixed routes and need to travel across town or to nearby districts, the Bi-Fuel version is an excellent choice. It has a 45-litre CNG tank along with a 5-litre petrol tank as a backup. With a great mileage of 32.44 km/kg on CNG, it offers incredible fuel efficiency and keeps your daily operating cost very low.
Tata has made sure that drivers stay comfortable during long hours on the road, using the same durable setup for all three trucks:
The right truck depends entirely on how many kilometers you drive a day and how much money you want to spend upfront: