Electric vehicles aren’t only the domain of multinational corporations. The electric drive in India has been significant, with not just the world’s biggest companies vying to be first movers, but also some of our own domestic manufacturers. Tata Motors has already reinforced itself in the EV category with the Tata Nexon EV and the Tigor EV, and it is planning two additional cars. With the recent debut of the XUV400, Mahindra has entered the space. Then there’s Ola, which may or may not enter the market this year, but it’ll be interesting to see what the cab firm turned EV maker comes up with following its S1 and S1 Pro scooters.
Overall, despite the current lack of sufficient charging infrastructure, the Indian electric industry is promising, and it is only a matter of time before EV sales outweigh regular ICEs. However, in the meanwhile, here are some of the electric vehicles from Indian manufacturers that we are eagerly anticipating.
Let’s begin with the Mahindra XUV400. The pricing of the recently unveiled EV SUV will be disclosed this month, with deliveries beginning in February or March. Much of the style and panelling are carried over from the XUV300. It is, however, longer than its ICE equivalent, reaching 4,200 mm in length. However, that is not the only distinction. The XUV400 is painted blue with copper accents all around, giving it a highly premium appearance. The grille is closed because it is no longer utilised, and the Mahindra emblem is prominently shown. The interiors of the EV will also be more luxurious.
A 39.5 kWh battery pack coupled with a single front axle motor producing 150 horsepower powers the XUV400. Mahindra claims 456 km on a single charge and a 0-100 km/h sprint pace of 8.3 seconds in an EV from an Indian company.
Tata is one of the few Indian automakers with a strong presence in the electric vehicle industry, due to the Nexon EV and Tigor EV. Their electrification aspirations, though, are far broader, with the Tiago currently on the market and deliveries expected to begin in January. The Tiago design is a straight ICE to electric conversion, therefore there aren’t many adjustments. There are several not-so-subtle differences between the two, such as the closed grille and blue accents.
Tata plans to introduce the electrified version of the Punch by the holiday season, with its initial unveiling expected for the 2023 Auto Expo. Unlike the company’s other EVs, the Tata Punch is built on the Sigma architecture. This is a modified version of the ALFA platform that supports the ICE-powered Punch, designed with electrification in mind. Because of the flat floor generated by the elimination of the transmission tunnel, the automobile will be lighter and more capacious. While exact specs are unknown, the Punch is expected to share the powertrain configuration with its brothers.
The Altroz EV was initially seen in pre-production form during the 2020 Auto Expo and has therefore been one of the EVs that people have been awaiting and not receiving for a long, long time. The Altroz EV is now slated to launch with the Punch in 2023. It will be based on the same Sigma chassis as the Punch, with powertrain options comparable to those of the Nexon EV. For background, the Nexon EV comes in two flavours: Nexon EV Prime and Nexon EV Max, with the titles indicating the amount of range you may expect.
Both battery choices, as well as the 129 hp/245 Nm electric motor that powers both Nexon models, should be available in the Altroz EV. Design modifications are mild, with the exception of the typical electric blue highlights, a closed grille, and maybe new alloy wheels. We might see additional and possibly better electronics as well as interior features on the Altroz, but we’ll have to wait and see.
The debut date of the Mahindra eKUV100 has been rumoured for some time, and some of these dates have already gone. 2023 is a new year, and with it, new possibilities. Because of the Rs 8.25 lakh beginning price revealed at the Expo, if the eKUV100 does emerge, it might be the most cheap EV in the Indian market. Yes, the Tiago EV is priced at Rs 8.49 lakh, but this is an introductory price that will soon rise. The eKUV100, which has a 15.9 kWh battery pack and a 54 hp electric powertrain, was presented at the 2020 Auto Show.
The claimed range was 150 kilometres, however this is likely to change when the tall hatchback is released. Apart from that, Mahindra displayed five electric SUV ideas based on a totally new electric platform, although they would only be available on the market starting in 2024.
Maruti Suzuki has announced that it would debut its new electric SUV concept at the 2023 Auto Expo. This automobile will not be produced until at least 2025, but given that it comes from the manufacturer that offers the most cheap car in the country, it should not be overlooked. Of course, the YY8 concept will evolve somewhat before it goes into production, but it will give us a good indication of what to anticipate. The vehicle will be co-developed with Toyota, who will also release an e-SUV. Expect something futuristic in design, with a size comparable to the present Hyundai Creta.
Two battery pack configurations with a maximum range of 500 km are likely to be available. We could guess further on the specifications, but practically everything from the expo introduction will change, so we’ll have to wait and see what Maruti Suzuki says.
The all-electric SUV, codenamed YY8, will have a stated range of 400-500 kilometres. Maruti Suzuki will display the EV idea at the 2023 Auto Expo. The EV SUV is expected to hit the market in 2025; here are five facts about the vehicle.
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