India is in the midst of an EV revolution. This EV revolution started globally with concerns around emissions, climate change, reducing dependence on fossil fuels and building a sustainable ecosystem for mobility. In India, the EV revolution has really gotten off to a good start in the two-wheeler and last mile mobility space, but it hasn’t gained the same momentum in the passenger car segment.
The Indian passenger car EV segment has yet to spread its wings and currently has a very small slice of the pie compared to the ICE (internal combustion engine) cars on the market. That said, EVs are gaining a lot of traction and the sales numbers don’t really show the bigger picture. A recent survey found that about 45 percent of new car buyers in India are considering an EV when buying a new car. This didn’t quite translate into an actual 45 percent sale due to multiple factors such as existing EV infrastructure, range and pricing, and more.
With the pace that EVs are gaining space in Indian people’s minds, the transition to electric cars in India will become easier. EVs are an evolving technology and their shortcomings are being solved by the manufacturers. In the past year we have seen electric cars charge quickly, gain greater range and improve EV infrastructure.
Tata Tiago EV
Tata has confirmed the launch of the Tiago EV. It will be positioned as the most affordable EV offering in the company’s product portfolio. They also announced that they plan to launch 10 EVs in different product segments and with different body styles. Tata Motors also said there are currently more than 50,000 Tata EVs in use by Indian customers. However, they have not disclosed the timeline for the launch of the Tiago EV, but looking at Tata’s EV portfolio, one can say that they have the technology and resources to introduce the Tiago EV as early as this holiday season. The specifications of the Tiago EV are unknown, but it could have a similar configuration to the Tigor EV, which has a 26 kWh battery and produces 74 PS and 170 Nm of torque. It has a 0-100 km/h time of 8.5 seconds and takes 60 minutes to charge with a fast charger. The Tigor EV has a starting price of Rs 12.5 Lakh and Tata Motors is eager to make an impact by launching the Tiago EV under the Rs 10 Lakh bracket.
BYD Atto3
Tata Altroz EV
Tata Motors is at the forefront of India’s passenger car EV revolution and has paved the way for other manufacturers. News of the Tata Altroz EV has been popping up online for quite some time now and with Tata confirming the Tiago EV and revealing its plan to introduce 10 EVs to the Indian market, we assume Altroz EV will be next. The Tata Altroz EV could have a similar configuration to the Nexon EV Prime, which has a 30.2 kW battery that produces 127.2 horsepower and 245 Nm of torque and has a range of 312 km. It has a 0-100 km/h time of 9.9 seconds and takes 60 minutes to charge with a fast charger. Tata Altroz EV is expected to cost around Rs 15 Lakh.
Hyundai Ioniq 5
Hyundai is also looking forward to a green EV future. Hyundai had previously confirmed that it will bring the Ioniq 5 to India later this year. We could be approaching the Ioniq 5 as we get closer to the holiday season in India, where the highest car sales in India occur every year. The Hyundai Ioniq 5 is offered with two options outside of India – the standard and the long range.
The standard model has two sub-variants, one with one electric motor and one with two electric motors. The single-motor version uses a 58 kW battery pack that produces 168 hp and 350 Nm of torque. It offers a range of 354 km and can go from 0 to 100 km/h in 8.5 seconds. The twin-motor version also uses a 58 kW battery pack, but delivers 230 hp and 605 Nm of torque. It offers a shorter range compared to the single-motor version, but with the help of two electric motors it can go from 0-100 km/h in just 6.1 seconds.
The long-haul model also has two sub variants, one with a single electric motor and another with two electric motors. The single-motor version uses a 72.6 kW battery pack that produces 214 hp and 350 Nm of torque. It offers a range of 488 km and can go from 0 to 100 km/h in 7.4 seconds. The twin-motor version also uses a 72.6 kW battery pack, but delivers 301 hp and 605 Nm of torque. It offers a shorter range than the single engine version, but with the help of two electric motors it can go from 0 to 100 km/h in just 5.2 seconds.
Hyundai Kona facelift
Hyundai Kona is a relatively new product in the Indian market, but it seems old. This is something that is part of the electronics industry, the technology is obsolete in a very short time. Hyundai is expected to launch the facelift of its Kona electric car later this year. The facelifted version of the Kona is likely to get updates for exterior, interior and features. It is expected to get a new front and rear bumper design, with sharper headlights and a new grille. The interior could get a new dashboard layout with a larger touchscreen infotainment system. Today, the screen sizes are the new craze and usp in the industry. The Hyundai Kona is expected to offer the existing 39.2 kW battery pack configuration, but it may come with a different tuning. Hyundai can also offer a larger battery pack in the Kona with a range of 500+ km. The facelifted Kona costs about Rs 50 Lakh.
