Electric mobility is the way forward and it is here in India and how! India is one of the largest passenger car markets on the planet, but the sales of the electric vehicles in India form a very insignificant part of the total sales! With the government's push towards electric mobility and electrification and the recent launch of the Hyundai Kona Electric SUV has paved the way for other electric cars that could be launched in India in the next one year!
(MG Motor will assemble the eZS electric SUV in India)
MG Motor took the wraps off its eZS electric SUV earlier this year in April. MG says that it will launch the eZS in India by end of 2019 or early 2020. It will be the second launch from MG after the Hector, which was recently launched. The eZS EV will get over-the-air technology and will have a range of 300 kilometres on a single charge from its lithium-ion battery. MG is yet to announce the exact specifications for the eZS but the company has confirmed that it will be assembled in India in order to keep the costs competitive. It has also tied up with a Finland-based company called 'Fortum' to install 50 kilo watt fast-charging DC chargers in India.
(The Nissan Leaf is the best-selling electric vehicle across the world)
Up next is the Nissan Leaf! Yes! Nissan has confirmed that it will be launching the Leaf in India this year. Fun fact, the Leaf is the highest-selling highway capable electric vehicle in the world and we expect it to be launched at about a price of 35 to 40 lakh rupees. The fact that it is an import pushes the cost up! The Leaf gets a 40 kilo watt hour battery which can offer a range of up to 400 km on a single charge, and has a power output of 148 bhp and peak torque of 320 Nm. Charging time of the battery is between 8 and 16 hours, depending on power capacity. The car also gets a quick charging feature which can give 80 per cent battery charge in just 40 minutes.
(Audi has confirmed that it will launch the e-tron in India this year, possibly in the next few months)
Among the luxury car manufacturers, Audi is gearing up to launch the e-tron in India. It will be the first fully electric luxury SUV in India. We expect it to be priced above Rs. 1.50 crore, considering it will be a CBU. On a full charge the e-tron gets a range of 400 km and that's quite good. The e-tron gets two electric motors, one on each axle. The one on the front makes 125 kW while the rear motor makes 140 kW, with the combined total of 265 kW or 355 bhp. The peak torque output is 561 Nm. In the boost mode, the power output goes up to 300 kW or 408 bhp. It has a range of 400 km on a single charge according to WLTP cycle and can touch a top speed of 200 kmph.
(The Jaguar I-Pace is a true-blue performance SUV. It does the 0-100 kmph sprint in 4.5 seconds)
Jaguar Land Rover too has plans of launching the I-pace in India, but only towards the end of 2020. The I-pace is the company's first all-electric SUV and it was first showcased in March 2018. Jaguar took 4 years develop the car from its concept version to the production version. The I-Pace comes with two synchronous permanent magnet electric motors at the front and the rear axle which have a combined power output of 395 bhp and makes maximum of 696 Nm of torque. It also features an AWD system. A 0-100 kmph sprint takes 4.5 seconds and the performance SUV will have a range of over 480 km.
(The Mahindra KUV100 Electric will be launched in India by the end of 2019 or early 2020)
Mahindra has always been a pioneer in the field of electric mobility. And it has confirmed that the electric version of the KUV100 will be launched in 2019. Exact specifications aren't confirmed but its electric motor could churn out about 50 bhp and 120 Nm. All these variables could change once the final production model is launched. Expect the electric KUV100 to be priced around 10 lakh rupees.
