Among the pioneering efforts for a greener tomorrow is the abandonment of petrol/ diesel vehicles to make way for greener EVs. Hence, if you are planning to buy a new EV in India, these are your top bets.
Rising fuel prices have become a cause of concern for commoners, who are forced to shell out as much as Rs 100 for a litre of petrol. The diesel, on the other hand, is inching close to petrol with difference reduced to only Rs 5 per litre. On the top of that, global warming is looming as a genuine threat, with all-time high temperatures recorded in Canada and Antarctica, while floods have been creating havoc across the globe.
Given these factors, countries, including India, are pushing for more EVs on the road and offering various subsidies for faster adoption of electric vehicles. On one hand, buyers are looking for credible options, on the other, their are only handful of electric cars in India under Rs 25 Lakh. With the launch of the Tata Tigor EV, we have a quick refresher for you about the electric vehicle options in the Indian market right now.
Tata Tigor EV
We are starting our list with the homegrown manufacturer, Tata Motors, who has recently become the only carmaker in India to offer two separate electric vehicle under Rs 15 Lakh with over 300 km all electric range all thanks to the Tigor EV, that has recently been launched at a starting price of Rs 11.99 Lakh. There are three variants to choose from and the top spec model is priced at Rs 12.99, making it the most affordable EV with 306 km electric range. The next electric car is also Tata Motors’ product – the Nexon EV.
The new Tigor now gets the Ziptron technology with a 26.4 kWh battery that promises a range of a little over 300km on a single charge. The car comes with two driving modes ie Drive and Sports, the latter of which gives you the complete power. Speaking of which, the car gets a Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor at the front that delivers 75PS of power and 170Nm of torque. The Tigor EV can be charged with a 15A socket in about 8.5 hours. With a Fast charger, the battery can be replenished to 80 percent in about 60 minutes.
Tata Nexon EV
Next in the line is the Nexon EV, that comes as the most affordable electric SUV in India, being almost Rs 6 to 7 lakh cheaper than its closest rival, the MG ZS EV. In addition to this, the numbers on the car are nothing short of impressive as well. The Tata Nexon EV gets a 30.2 kWh battery that promises a range of a 312km on a single charge. It gets a Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor at the front that delivers 129PS of power and 245Nm of torque.
The Nexon EV can be charged with a 15A socket in bout 8.5 hours. With a Fast charger, the battery can be replenished to 80 percent in about 60 minutes. The prices for the Nexon EV starts at Rs 13.99 Lakh and goes upto Rs 16.85 Lakh. You also get the Ziptron technology, iRA connected suite with 30+ features like remote diagnostic, range, charging status among others.
MG ZS EV
The ZS EV was MG’s second product in India and came at a time when the brand was still making its name, which suggests that it had to work a wee bit extra to stand out. And we are happy to report that it did not disappoint us. The ZS EV is a good looking car and closely resembles its petrol twin sold abroad. The one motor on the ZS EV takes its juice from a 44.5kWh, liquid-cooled lithium ion battery. MG promises a maximum range of 340km which is a little bit higher than the Nexon EV. The motor puts out 143bhp and 353Nm of torque which gets it from a standstill to a 100kmph in just 8.5 second.
The ZS EV also comes with three driving modes ie Eco, Normal and Sport, that alters the throttle response and the power available to you. In terms of charging, MG has installed 50kW DC Fast chargers at its dealerships. With it, the car can be charged up to 80 percent in 50 minutes. Additionally, the company will also fit a 7.4kW AC home charger that will take around 6 to 8 hours to be fully charged.
Hyundai Kona Electric
The Kona Electric was the first ever proper electric SUV to enter the Indian market. Electrifying one of the most popular badges around the world itself says something about Hyundai’s intentions behind the car. Now, the Kona might be more expensive than the monikers we discussed till now, but the premium price also brings along some premium aspects on the table.
Starting with the battery, the Kona Electric gets 39.2-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion polymer battery which, according to Hyundai, offers an ARAI claimed a range of 452 km. This clearly surpasses the range we have seen up until now. You get four driving modes including Eco+, Eco, Comfort and Sport.
