The Indian Government has stated that India is set to be an all-electric country in terms of urban mobility by 2030. Recently, the Government has outlined the plan to build the infrastructure in order to support electric mobility and it is undoubtedly a move in the right direction. Automobile manufacturers are bullish about the prospects that going all electric offers and are readying their product offerings on that front. On that note, here is a list of some of the exciting new electric cars we can expect to launch in India within the next two years.
Hyundai Kona
Hyundai India has already expressed its interest to launch electric vehicles in India and even showcased the IONIQ at the Auto Expo held in Delhi in 2018. The Korean car company, however has announced that their first EV for India will in fact be the Kona SUV which is set to arrive by 2020. It is a robust looking SUV that follows Hyundai’s fluidic design theme and will come fitted with a state of the art in-car connectivity system. Powering the Kona will be an electric motor and an efficient battery pack which will give this SUV a range of 400 km per charge. It is expected to be priced around INR 20 lakh and will pave the way forward for the brand in the Indian EV market.
Tesla Model 3
US car manufacturer, Tesla has been rather outspoken about their ambitions to retail their products in India. Elon Musk, the head of Tesla, has even taken to Twitter to talk about his plans for India and he is finally set to make that leap in 2019 with the launch of the Model 3. It is the most affordable car in Tesla’s portfolio currently, however it comes with the performance, safety and range that Tesla is known for. The Model 3 can seat five adults, boasts of an efficient electric powertrain that delivers a range of 500 km on a single charge and can do 0-100 km/h in just 3.5 seconds. It is a feature rich car and comes equipped with LED lighting, 8 exterior cameras, a high end infotainment system, dual zone climate control, 8 airbags, electronic stability and traction control.
Maruti Suzuki WagonR
Maruti Suzuki has already started trials of the WagonR EV in India. It is one of the most popular cars in their portfolio and the company is working on offering it with an electric drivetrain by 2020. The prototype is based on the latest generation WagonR that was introduced in Japan in 2017. Maruti Suzuki has inked a Memorandum of Understanding with Toyota Motors in order to jointly develop the electric drive technology which will undoubtedly be a major benefit considering the fact that Toyota is a global leader in the hybrid and EV space. Maruti Suzuki is also making investments in a lithium-ion battery manufacturing unit as well as a facility to produce electric motors. In doing so, they are looking at making the technology more affordable in order to price their EVs aggressively. The WagonR EV is expected to be priced in the INR 6-8 lakh range.
Nissan Leaf
The Nissan Leaf is a stunning looking car that boasts of sharp lines, LED projector headlights, a floating roof design and the signature Nissan grille up front. It is an upmarket product that gets all the bells and whistles which include a large touchscreen infotainment system, digital driver display, climate control air-conditioning and a very premium fit and finish. The Leaf is a large car that offers ample room for five adults and comes with an enhanced battery pack that allows for 250 km of range on a single charge. The Nissan Leaf is expected to be introduced as an import initially and the price will be in the INR 20 lakh range. It is expected to launch towards the end of 2019.
Mahindra KUV100 EV
Mahindra is the first automobile manufacturer in the country to offer an electric vehicle in its portfolio, namely the e2o. The company has expanded its range to include the e-Verito as well as a last-mile pickup truck called the Supro. Mahindra has shown a strong commitment on this front and amongst their list of potential EVs is the KUV100 EV. Showcased at the Auto Expo earlier this year, the Mahindra KUV 100 EV could benefit from the same electric drivetrain that does duty in the e-Verito. It offers a range of 100 km per charge which is more than enough for city drive cycles. Mahindra is said to be working on new electric powertrains for their future products and by the time the KUV 100 EV hits the market in 2020, it just might come with an enhanced unit and a higher range. Mahindra is expected to price the KUV 100 EV aggressively in the INR 7-9 lakh price range.
Tata Tigor EV
Tata Motors showcased their electric ambitions at this year’s Auto Expo held in New Delhi in February 2018 with a range of their existing cars albeit with an electric drivetrain. Following up on that, the Indian conglomerate has done a soft launch of the Tigor EV which is currently on offer only to the EESL (Energy Efficiency Services Limited) of the Central Government, however the plan is to introduce it for sales to the public by 2019. The Tigor EV is currently powered by a 30kW electric motor and a 216Ah battery pack that gives it a range of 130 km. It is capable of touching a top speed of 100 km/h and is currently offered in the XM trim which gets dual front airbags, air-conditioning and power windows as standard features.