Electric vehicles are the new buzzword and they are gaining a lot of traction in terms of popularity. With cutting-edge battery technology that has already pushed the range north of 300miles and a promise for sustainable environmental growth, electric vehicles are here to stay. The whole of Europe has already pledged to phase out fossil-powered cars by 2035, it is natural that developing nations such as India will follow suit. Believe it or not but India already has a healthy range of electric vehicles between the range of 7-30 lakh rupees. Not only that, three privately imported Teslas, by the rich and famous of India, are already roaming our streets. Here are the best electric vehicles in India that are available in the Indian market today.
1. Hyundai Kona
The recently launched EV from Hyundai is making a lot of headlines these days. Equipped with an advanced Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor or PMSM, the Kona offers a brilliant range of 450kms or 280miles. The battery is expected to charge in 8 hours and 57% comes up in just 4 hours with fast charging. The major selling point for Kona is that the built quality and material used in interiors are top-notch, you will feel that those 23 lakh rupees are well spent. Performance-wise, in old gasoline terminology, it produces 140bhp and can propel the car to 100kmph in just 9 seconds. At this price point, this is the best value-for-money EV car in the Indian market.
2. MG ZS EV
Another premium offering from a major British brand MG is the ZS EV SUV and has quickly become among the best electric vehicles in India. It comes at a price tag of 20 lakh rupees and promises 340 km or 210 miles of range on a full charge. The EV is feature-rich and offers brilliant comfort and luxury. The voice command feature in this EV is in rage these days. A full charge takes about 8-9 hours but you can fast charge it to 50% in just 6 hours. Due to its large proportions, it has an impressive boot space of 448 liters and has good space management. On the performance front, it produces over 359nm of torques, giving a 0-100 kph time of 8.5 seconds. The SUV is a good value for money.
3. Tata Nexon EV
The local brand Tata has opened a floodgate of EVs for the common commuters. With an impressive price tag of 13 lakh rupees, this EV is now within the reach of many. Although the battery capacity is just 30.2 kWh, it is enough for a range of 312kms or 190 miles. This is perfect for daily city runs and can bring down your fuel costs to up to 80%. The fast charging is best in its class with 80% coming up in just under 6 hours, so you do not have to worry about the range anxiety. Its Li-ion Polymer battery is equipped with liquid cooling, giving equivalent to 127 bhp with a 0-100 kph time of just under 10 seconds. This is a good value product for a person who wants to enter the EV world.
4. Mahindra e2oPlus
Going below the 10 lakh rupee mark is the original EV of India that is a successor of REVAi, which was tagged ‘too little, too early’. Learning from its previous mistake, the Mahindra brand has now come up with a brilliant package. It has a 3-phase, AC Induction Motor that produces 25 bhp, but these numbers are peppy enough for the traffic-congested city commutes. With a small 10kw lithium-ion battery, it can be fully charged under the 6-hour time mark. This little car can seriously cut your transportation expenses and is a good choice for those who want to upgrade from a two-wheeler. The range is 100km or 60 miles, but with a shorter charging time, it should not be a problem. This is strictly a city commuter.
5. Mahindra e-Verito
Another offering from Mahindra is the electric version erstwhile Verito or Logan. This has immense popularity in the commercial sector and you can see many green Ola/Uber Veritos roaming around in your city. Although the EV technology is not the best in business, with a large boot space of 510 liters and a blazing fast charging time of 1 hour 45 minutes, it is no wonder that the commercial sector has happily grabbed it. What’s more, the EV offers best-in-class ride quality and has a good safety record too. The motor is an AC induction one and provides a range of 140 km or 90miles. Verito EV is currently carrying a price tag of around 10 lakh rupees.
Conclusion
So these were the best electric vehicles in India. With great futuristic EV technology already present in India, it is an exciting time ahead. Top players like Audi and Mercedes have already launched their respective EV models, but they are way out of reach. The main concerning thing, however, is that we have a long way to travel to make EV more practical in India. We need more fast-charging networks for these EVs, and the government should also increase the incentives to convert more people towards EVs. There are certain hiccups like EV catching fire and the range anxiety certainly raises questions, but overall, the future of EV in India is a promising one.
