The year 2020 has been the sickest year ever that has changed the entire landscape of the world. However, among all the bad things that have happened in the year, one good thing happened in the form of Electric cars; in India, half a dozen electric cars have launched in 2020.
Although this figure could have increased if COVID wouldn’t have happened, for sure in the years to come, India will emerge as the biggest market as the smart generation’s next choice is Electric Cars. So, apart from the reputed manufacturers, we have seen a lot of new faces and in 2021, we will see almost triple the number of Electric Cars launched in India this year.
TATA Motors has been making some great budget Electric Cars for Indian consumers while companies like MG and Hyundai have made premium cars more economical. Next year will be a crucial one as Tesla will also join the party, but as we goodbye 2020, here are the Top 5 Electric Cars launched in India this year:
5. Tata Tigor EV
Price: Rs. 9.58 – 9.90 Lakh
This is a revamped Electric version of the original Tata Tigor and so is quite affordable and costs under Rs. 10 lakhs. The Tigor EV is a 5 seater sedan and has a length of 3992mm, a width of 1677mm, and a wheelbase of 2450mm.
It comes with Automatic transmission and some standout features of the car include a Harman Kardon sound system, Anti Lock Braking System, Automatic Climate Control, and Electric drivetrain. This is a great car as it has decent torque of 105Nm@2500rpm along with max torque of 10.23bhp@4500rpm.
Being a budget Electric car it has a max range of 213km only and a max speed of 80km/h. There are a lot of basic safety features included with the car and the inclusion of the Apple CarPlay makes the car more feature-rich.
Also as a TATA car, the advantage it enjoys is that the company is leading the line in making a wide number of charging stations throughout the country.
4. Tata Nexon EV
Price: Rs 13.99 lakh – Rs 15.99 lakh
TATA Motors is indeed making some great budget Electric cars out there in India and the electric version of the Tata Nexon has been one of the most praised budget electric cars out there. This is also a 5-seater car that uses Tata’s Ziptron EV powertrain technology that features a 30.2kWh lithium-ion battery with a claimed range of 312km.
The electric SUV is priced between Rs 13.99 lakh and Rs 15.99 lakh (ex-showroom). It is sold in three variants: XM, XZ+ and XZ+ Lux. The battery gets an 8-year standard warranty and an IP67 waterproof battery pack. The electric motor has a performance rating of 129PS and 245Nm.
The battery can be charged from 0-80 percent in 60 minutes at charge stations and a home wall box charger could end up taking 8 hours to charge it from 20 to 80 percent. This is one of the most feature-rich SUV featuring a semi-digital instrument cluster with a 7-inch TFT display, auto AC, auto headlamps, a sunroof, a 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system, and connected car technology.
The engine has got torque of 105Nm@2500rpm along with max torque of 10.23bhp@4500rpm. With a wide range of features and a bold look, this is a great Electric SUV for family and the price at which it comes in provides a lot more value to Indian customers.
3. MG ZS EV
Price: Rs 20.88 lakh – Rs 23.58 lakh
The MG ZS EV is another good offering at its price ranging from Rs 20.88 lakh and Rs 23.58 lakh, it is available in two variants: Excite and Exclusive. The ZS EV’s 143PS and 353Nm electric motor is powered by a 44.5kWh lithium-ion battery which is claimed to provide a range of 340km on a single charge in real-world conditions.
When it comes to charging, MG provides you a lot of options, it offers a 7.4kW charger which easily can be installed at your home or office and charge your batteries from 0 to 100 percent in 6-8 hours. Also with the portable charger, which can be plugged into a 15A power socket, can charge the car in 16-18 hours.
While there are some MG’s 50kW DC fast chargers at some of its dealerships, which fast charge the batteries from 0 to 80% in less than 50 minutes. It has also got a wide range of features, including an 8-inch infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.
The Electric car has a panoramic sunroof, an inbuilt air purifier, and connected tech like the popular MG Hector. It features 60:40 split rear seats, power-adjustable ORVMs, cruise control, auto AC, and projector headlamps. For safety, you have six airbags, three-point seatbelts for all five passengers, ABS with EBD, and Brake Assist.
Overall, at its price, this is a value for money, well build, a feature-rich electric car that has been praised by many and is now available in more cities.
2. Hyundai Kona Electric
Price: Rs 23.75 lakh to Rs 23.94 lakh
It’s another 5 seater Electric SUV by Hyundai fueled with a 39.2kWh battery which offers an exceptional range of 452 km. The car offers a horsepower of 134.1 Bhp with dimensions: length of 4180, a width of 1800, and a wheelbase of 2600.
Also, Hyundai’s Kona Electric is the only car to have broken the Guinness World Record for the highest altitude achieved in an electric vehicle. The car is capable of doing 0-100kmph in 9.7 seconds and maxes out at 154kmph.
The Kona Electric comes with 50kW fast charging support which enables it to fully charge up from 0 to 80% in under 60 minutes. However, it takes 6 hours and 10 mins with a 7.2kWh charger to get charged fully.
Coming to the features, the car offers 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, voice command recognition, wireless charger, dual-zone climate control, front ventilated and heated seats, 10-way power driver seat, 8-speaker KRELL audio system, heads-up display, electric sunroof, and cruise control.
It comes with features like 6 airbags, ABS with EBD, blind-spot detection, and autonomous emergency braking for safety. Overall it’s a very complete and powerful Electric SUV that is available in India also gives a premium feel in its price range.
1. Mercedes-Benz EQC
Price: Rs 99.30 lakh
If you are looking for the absolute best then there’s no better than the premium Mercedes-Benz EQC that not only offers best-in-class features and specs but also offers the best mileage on a single charge. It is available in a single variant called 400 4MATIC.
This car also has a 5-seater layout and comes with a large 80kWh battery pack that powers two electric motors, one on each axle. This provides a total output of these motors at 408PS and 760Nm. According to the NEDC (New European Driving Cycle), the EQC can be driven more than 450km when fully charged even though it packs in more horsepower.
When it comes to charging, the car comes with a 7.4kWh home charger that can charge the electric SUV from 10 to 100% in 10 hours. While if you want, you can charge it with a 15A socket but taking about 21 hours, whereas a 50kW DC fast charger takes just 1.5 hours to charge the EQC from 10 to 100%.
Being a Mercedes car, the EQX has some of the best feature like a head-up display, two 12.3-inch screens with the latest MBUX infotainment system, touchpads on the steering wheel, smartphone-based connected car tech, a 13-speaker Burmester sound system, three-zone climate control, and 64 levels of ambient lighting.
Let us know in the comments down below which car you want to buy or wish to buy in 2021. Do let us know your thoughts on Electric Cars in India…😉
