So you want to save the planet too? You have decided that the next vehicle you buy will not be a smoke-spitting piece of metal? And that you would rather go for a more silent, efficient and emission free ¡°electric¡± vehicle? Well, kudos to you! But we have one more question though. Which electric car or bike will you buy?
In case you haven¡¯t thought of that and have no clue where to begin with, let us help you out. Here, we list the upcoming electric cars in India and what they have to offer so you can judge the best fit for you. In case you are planning to go for an electric two-wheeler instead, you can have a look at this list to know your options.?
Hyundai Kona
Hyundai Kona Electric (Image: Hyundai)
Hyundai¡¯s all-electric SUV has been making waves in the international market. So it was amidst much anticipation that the company announced that it will be revealing the Kona electric SUV in India as well. More importantly, you would not have to wait too long for this one. Hyundai is set to launch the car as India¡¯s first real electric SUV on July 9.?
Powered by a 39.2 kWh lithium-ion battery, the Hyundai Kona will offer a peak power of 134.13 bhp (100kW) and 395 Nm torque. As per Hyundai, Kona will be able to cover 312 km on a single charge, and will be able to gain up to 80% of the same just within 1 hour with a 100kW DC fast charger.?
Hyundai Kona is expected to be priced between Rs 25 to Rs 30 lakh.?
MG eZS
MG eZS (Image: MG Motors)
That brings us to our next electric car - the MG eZS. Why? Well, it will be the only real competition to the Hyundai Kona in its segment for the near future. While MG has recently entered the Indian market for the first time ever with its Hector SUV, it wasted no time in announcing an electric SUV for India too. And as mentioned by the company, the eZS will be available in India by December 2019.?
With a 147.5 bhp (110kW) engine, the eZS will offer a range of 428 km on a single charge, a bit tough to believe but well, that¡¯s what MG claims.?
As per speculations, the MG eZS will come around the same price point as the Hyundai Kona - around Rs 25 lakh.?
Also read:?Revolt RV 400 India's First Electric Bike Unveiled, Bookings Begin This Month
Nissan Leaf
Nissan Leaf (Image: Nissan)
The Leaf has managed to propel Nissan to one of the top spots in the EV industry. The premium electric hatchback is now the highest selling electric car in the world, thanks to a combination of compact, appealing and much practical design as well as a considerable range of 400 km on a single charge.?
Nissan India had earlier confirmed that the Leaf will be launched in the country within this year. It comes with a 147.5 hp (110 kW) electric motor for the base variant which is expected to come to India. With a battery of 40 kWh and a quick charging feature to support 80% charging within 40 minutes, Nissan Leaf might be the perfect fit for the crowded roads of India.?
Nissan Leaf is expected to launch at a price of around Rs 30 lakh.?
Mahindra eKUV 100
Mahindra KUV 100 (Image: Mahindra)
Back home, the one of the two manufacturers of electric vehicles is also planning to launch an electric version of one of its entry-level offerings in the market - the Mahindra KUV100. eKUV100, as it will be known, will come with a 3-phase AC induction `41.5 hp (31 kW) electric motor and a range of 130 plus km on a single charge. Mahindra also says that the battery of the car will be able to charge to 80% within an hour.?
The expected price for the electric hatchback will be around Rs 7 lakh.
Also read:?From Riteish Deshmukh To The Hulk, 20 Celebrities Who Drive Electric Cars
Maruti Suzuki WagonR EV
Maruti Suzuki WagonR EV spotted under testing. (Image: Ketan Thakkar)
The very first electric car from the house of Maruti Suzuki will be an electric remake of its widely popular hatchback - WagonR. WagonR EV has already been spotted under testing multiple times on Indian roads, while the company itself has announced an early 2020 timeline for its launch.?
However, not much is known about the WagonR EV as of now. Its expected range is around 150 km on a single charge and if the speculations around it are to be believed - it will start retailing somewhere around Rs 7 lakh, competing with the Mahindra offering.
Renault City K-ZE
Renault City K-ZE/ Kwid Electric (Image: Renault)
Renault has already unveiled the Kwid based EV in China and considering that the electric car is being manufactured in India, is assumed to retail in the country in the near future too, even though there has been no confirmation by the company on this.?
For now, the electric hatchback is specific to the Chinese market and comes with a 44.2 bhp (33 kW) motor capable of delivering 120 Nm of peak torque. It can cover around 240 km on a single charge and can charge up to 80% of its capacity in 50 minutes.
If it comes to India, the City K-ZE might launch at the same price as the two models mentioned above.