The razzmatazz of the electric vehicle (EV, in short) industry in India continues to grow exponentially, but those who are skeptical about the sector being relatively elite and high-maintenance might be backtracking their comments soon enough. If the trend is to go by, the investment in electric vehicles in India will be spear-headed by various local and foreign players and the upcoming electric cars in India will prove testament to that.
When I use the term “investment”, I don’t refer to the money that’s being pumped into the sector. That’s just the monetary aspect of it and it exists as something which is a by-product of the gradual shift, where understanding the technology behind EVs, consumer demographic and post-buy experience is given a higher priority. The money will come, regardless.
Talking about the electric vehicle policy in India, it is liberal enough to allow and attract various industry giants to test the waters in a country which plans to be a market leader. This gives room for local players (predominantly in electric 2-wheelers & 3-wheelers, with some in 4-wheelers) and foreign players (with a significant portion in 4-wheelers) to launch electric vehicles in India which cater to a diverse economic stratum.
Our previous blog post discussed the impact of Indian start-ups in the electric 2-wheeler and 3-wheeler market and this post will focus on the upcoming electric cars in India in 2019 and in the immediate next couple of years as well. We’ll do a categorical breakdown, starting from detailing the most affordable/ cars and moving on to the high-end luxury models, briefly discussing their pros/cons and highlighting the change which the aspire to make:
1. Mahindra KUV100 NXT EV
One of the most exciting upcoming electric cars in India is the KUV100 by local big boy Mahindra, and various sources have confirmed its launch in mid-2019.
<figure”>
Mahindra KUV100 NXT EV
With a projected drive range of 140 km and the provision of fast charging (claiming to charge 80% of its lithium-ion battery in less than an hour), the KUV100 is an electric SUV and will debut in India in April 2019, as per reports.
The price range of this SUV is expected to be anywhere between INR 9 lakh – INR 11 lakh.
2. Hyundai Kona
Moving slightly upwards, another one of the much-hyped upcoming electric cars in India will be Hyundai’s Kona, which will be released in India with some changes as compared to its international version. The Kona is expected to launch around September 2019 and sources have reported that its drive range will be close to or above 300 km in one single charge.
<figure”>
Hyundai Kona Electric Car
Kona is expected to be in the price range of upwards of INR 20 lakh.
3. Nissan Leaf
As we move further up, we come across Leaf, a Nissan vehicle with its sleek and bold design to entice the Indian consumers who prefer a combination of power and efficiency in the same vehicle.
<figure”>
Nissan Leaf Electric Car in India
Leaf will reportedly host a 30-kW motor which is projected to provide a drive range of 300 km or above on a single charge. As of now, it is expected to have a price tag between INR 35 Lakh – INR 40 Lakh.
4. Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV
Powered by a sturdy petrol engine as well as a 12-kW motor, the Outlander is an SUV which is expected to give a 50 km drive range on a single charge and is projected to have a top speed of 120 kmph, when running on all-electric mode. In totality, the car consists of 3 different drive modes which are: Series Hybrid, Parallel Hybrid and All-Electric.
<figure”>
Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV Electric Car In India
The Series Hybrid mode allows the petrol engine to charge the batteries as the car runs on them whereas the Parallel Hybrid makes use of the batteries to assist the petrol engine and true to its namesake, All-Electric runs on the car’s batteries.
The Outlander PHEV is expected to launch in India in mid-2019 at an expected price range between INR 35 lakh – INR 40 lakh.
5. Audi E-Tron
The biggest, baddest of them all, the much-anticipated Audi E-Tron is expected to launch somewhere in the 4th quarter of 2019 to early 2020 in India and is one of the most exciting prospects in the upcoming electric cars in India, and for good reason.
<figure”>
<figcaption”>Audi E-Tron Electric Car
Using a 150-kW fast DC charger which charges a 95-kWh battery pack, that powers a 125-kW motor at the front and 140-KW in the rear, the total 300 kW output is enough to unleash the car’s full power. As per reports, the E-Tron will be priced somewhere in the range of INR 90 Lakh – INR 1 Crore.
What’s interesting to note is that the EV sector is evolving in a 360-degree manner, providing value for customers across all types of financial strata. Not only that, the idea of local production for EV batteries is expected to propel India right at the forefront of the EV race, which will bring in various trade opportunities for export to other countries and open trade relations in the West/Asia Pacific.
Even then, achieving a 30% conversion rate from fuel-based to EVs in India by 2030 doesn’t seem impossible, now. The future is green and we’re loving it!
–
Written by Sahib Singh
