Tired of increasing fuel costs? We’ve got some electric news for you!
Although this year has kept us on edge for all the wrong reasons, we’ve managed to stumble upon one good one – five new electric cars launching in the months to come.
Over the last decade, electric cars have gained traction all across the world. But the year 2020 will be remembered as the one that sparked the electric vehicle revolution in India. With the new generation of consumers being more environmentally aware, and the surging price of fuel across the country, electric cars would indeed bring a breath of fresh air to the market and the world at large.
Not to mention, prudent options like leasing a car instead of buying it outright, have further increased acceptance for the Electric Vehicle segment. Because when you lease, you don’t have to worry about maintenance and insurance hassles, and neither do you suffer from vehicle depreciation. You can find out more about car leasing in India, here.
The Auto Expo 2020 gave us a peek at dozens of EVs of different sizes, prices and from a wide range of manufacturers. So let’s have a look at the list of upcoming electric cars in India.
Mahindra eKUV100
The Mahindra eKUV100 is powered by a 40 kW (53.6 hp) electric motor, producing a torque of 120 Nm and drives the front wheels. The eKUV100 offers a range of 147 km in a single charge and can be charged to 80 per cent in just one hour through DC fast charging. Mahindra has also confirmed that the eKUV100 can be pre-cooled, remotely switched on and off, and will have digitally connected features that will be revealed closer to the launch.
Nissan Leaf
After several postponements and presentations as a technology demonstrator, the Nissan Leaf, the most recognizable electric car in the world with over 400,000 units sold since 2010, will be launched in India this year. While that update was received before the pandemic, the car is now expected in 2021.
The new generation Leaf uses a 40 kWh e-powertrain and delivers 110 kW of power and 320 Nm of torque, with an improved acceleration of 7.9s to sprint from 0 to 100 km/h. Charging time from alert to 80% through a 50 kW quick charger takes 40 to 60 minutes, while it takes around 7.5 hours to 100% with a 7 kW charger.
Audi e-tron
Spearheading the electric segment for Audi in India is the Audi e-tron, to be launched in the second half of 2020, having already been unveiled locally last year. The e-tron is powered by a 95 kWh battery mounted beneath the passenger compartment that feeds two electric motors, one on each axle. The combined output of up to 300 kW enables the e-tron to reach 100km/h from standstill in just 5.7 seconds, with a top speed of 200 km/h and a driving range of 436 km (WLTP). With the help of fast DC charging stations at up to 150 kW, the e-SUV can be recharged to 80% capacity in 30 minutes.
Jaguar I-pace
Jaguar’s electric SUV, I-pace, delivers sports car performance combined with five-seat SUV practicality. A 90 kWh Lithium-ion battery uses 432 pouch cells to deliver a range of 470 km (WLTP). 80% of the battery can be charged in just 40 minutes using a 100 kW DC rapid charger while a 7 kW home charger can do the same in just over 10 hours. Two electric motors placed at each axle offer 400 PS of power and 696 Nm of torque that can launch the I-Pace from 0 to 100 km/h in just 4.8 seconds. It’s expected to launch in the upcoming festive season this year.
Tata Altroz EV
Based on the versatile ALFA (Agile Light Flexible Advanced) architecture and Ziptron technology, the all-new Tata Altroz EV is a premium car that is confirmed to launch in 2021. Powered by the same ZIPTRON powertrain as the Tata Nexon EV, the Altroz EV has been spotted testing earlier on Indian roads. The car comes with a battery that powers a 300-volt AC motor, coupled with a single-speed gearbox. The ZIPTRON powertrain has a range of about 250 km in the real world.
Besides these, there are a number of more launches lined up for this year and next – including the Tata Hornbill Electric, Renault Kwid Electric, Mercedes EQC, and the Volvo XC40 Recharge. And while these vehicles will hit the showrooms soon, you can also check the list of upcoming models with a car leasing company like ALD Automotive and find out what it would cost you to get it the hassle-free way.