India surpassed Japan to become the world’s third-largest automobile market. The beginning of this success story started decades ago, keeping a foundation for the revolution we are witnessing today.
Another drastic change for the automotive world was the introduction of electric vehicles and in some way or other, India has managed to accept it quite swiftly. Do you as a customer want to contribute to the success story of India? Or let’s just tweak this question in a better way. Are you someone planning to shift from a conventional ICE-powered car to an EV?
Well, if you are, we have listed down the top five electric cars in India to make this transition a little bit smoother.
Tata Tiago.ev
Tigao.ev aims to fill a sweet spot and it isn’t as electrifying as one would expect it to be. But that is not even the purpose of this electric vehicle. It’s a pocket-friendly car and serves the purpose of being the best alternative to the conventional ICE-powered small hatchbacks available out there.
On sale with two battery pack options where the first one is a 19.2kWh unit and the second one is a 24kWh unit, Tiago.ev does make a lot of sense. The power figures derived from each of them are different and as claimed by Tata Motors, they stand at 61HP/110Nm for the former and 74HP/114Nm for the latter.
The range from the base variant with a smaller battery pack is 250 km*. Meanwhile, the practical variant with a 24kWh pack returns an overall range of 315 km*.
There are some crucial features on the new Tiago.ev worth mentioning and to be precise, the list includes a tyre pressure monitoring system, an 8-speaker Harman surround sound system, 3-level regen braking and edition-specific bodywork among others.
To conclude, performance is something one should not expect from this hatchback.
Specifications:
- Battery Pack: 19.2kWh, 24kWh
- Power: 61HP (19.2kWh), 74HP (24kWh)
- Torque: 110Nm (19.2kWh), 114Nm (24kWh)
- Range: 250 km* (19.2kWh), 315 km* (24kWh)
- Charging time: 2.6 hours using a 7.2kW AC Charger
- Price (ex-showroom, Delhi): Rs.8.69 to Rs.12.04 Lakhs
Tata Tigor EV
Back in 2017, Tata Motors got the opportunity to supply 10,000 units of Tigor EV to EESL, an entity that reports directly to the Ministry of Power, Government of India. It has been a while since then and it seems like, the time frame given was enough for Tata Motors to mature.
Now, Tigor EV once again has made its way to India and if we compare it to what the car used to be, this one has been reworked from scratch. It now uses the brand’s reliable Ziptron technology making it robust for extreme Indian conditions (be it road or climate). Another feather in the electric sedan’s cap is obviously, the 4-star rating at the Global NCAP.
Loaded with crucial features and just enough space, Tigor EV is sensible as an everyday ride. The car comes loaded with a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, 8-speaker Harman surround sound system, multi-mode regenerative braking and tyre pressure monitoring system among others, to offer a complete package to its buyers.
The automaker also boats that the sedan uses a 26kWh battery pack that works with a permanent synchronous motor to churn out a decent 75HP and 170Nm of peak torque. The claimed range from the same stands at 315 km* but in the real world this might differ by up to 100 km because of the individual’s driving style.
Specifications:
- Battery Pack: 26kWh
- Power: 75PS
- Torque: 170Nm
- Range: 315 km*
- Charging time: 9.4 hours from 10% to 100% (15A plug point)
- Price (ex-showroom, Delhi): Rs.12.49 to Rs.13.75 Lakhs
Mahindra XUV400
This list of top five electric cars includes vehicles that take inspiration from their ICE-powered counterparts. The ideology, in this case, remains the same but apart from the overall design, there’s a massive difference between the XUV300 and what we have in front, XUV400.
Starting with the major highlight, the all-new EV is an extended wheelbase version of the XUV300. With this change, the electric SUV comes with ample legroom and boot space making it better in every way possible. Another interesting fact about it is that the carmaker has also arranged the space for the battery pack in such a manner that it doesn’t confine the under-thigh support.
Mahindra has confirmed that it will be available with two battery pack options. However, the permanent synchronous motor is exactly the same with overall output rated at 147.51HP and 310Nm of peak torque, making it a decent ride for everyday use.
What might excite the customers about it is the simplicity and to be precise, the features that are available are basic yet crucial and they are: an electric sunroof, multiple drive modes, push button stop-start and 60+ connected car tech among others.
Specifications:
- Battery Pack: 34.5 kWh, 39.5 kWh
- Power: 147.51HP
- Torque: 310Nm
- Range: 375 km (34.5 kWh), 456 km (39.5 kWh)
- Charging time:
- Price (ex-showroom, Delhi): Rs,15,99 to Rs.18.99 Lakhs
Tata Nexon EV MAX
Three products from Tata Motors straightaway paving their path to this list, are we kidding? Tata Motors has been the market leader for a while now and to justify that, just look at the products they offer. They are feature-loaded, premium and are backed by a strong after-sales service network. Not only this, the affordable price tags these cars and SUVs are carrying are pushing Indian buyers to try something they haven’t tried.
Coming back to where we were, Tata Nexon EV MAX is the next on this list because it has got almost everything one would expect from. The sub-four meter SUV is said to be using a bigger battery pack that offers an overall range of 453 km.
So, is it powerful? Check. Does it get enough range? Check. Are features available justifies the price tag? Check.
So, why are we even discussing the other products? Well, to answer that, we have only one thing to say. The requirements of the buyer. If range and budget are not a constraint, let us jump on to our next one, the all-new MG ZS EV.
Specifications:
- Battery Pack: 40.5 kWh
- Power: 143HP
- Torque: 250Nm
- Range: 453 km*
- Charging time: 6 hours using a 7.2 kW AC charger
- Price (ex-showroom, Delhi): Rs.16.49 to Rs.19.54 Lakhs
MG ZS EV
When called Astor, this thing compares with some tall warts such as Hyundai Creta and Kia Seltos, making it the right fit for the compact SUV segment. But in the EV space, it’s kind of confusing because if you go for the ZS EV, you are on the verge of entering range anxiety mode. But if you don’t, Nexon’s sub-four meters make, limits the interior space marginally.
Frankly speaking, on the space and creature comfort front, MG ZS EV is far better. That also brings us to say that tough choices have to be made while selecting one product over the other.
To be available with a 50.3kWh liquid-cooled, lithium-ion battery pack, ZS EV does get better than before. Better not only in terms of range that stands at 461 km* but the overall performance. The EV is peppy in nature and uses a permanent magnet synchronous motor that churns 177HP and 280Nm of peak torque making overtakes quite easy.
Now, coming to the features, it is equipped with a 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system, a 7-inch all-digital instrument cluster, electrically adjustable driver’s seats and a massive panoramic sunroof for a premium cabin feel. Additional to this is the Advanced Driver Assistance System with several autonomous driving features has also made its way to the 2023 model.
Specifications:
- Battery Pack: 50.3kWh
- Power: 177HP
- Torque: 280Nm
- Range: 461 km*
- Charging time: 7.8 hours using a 7.4kW AC Charger
- Price (ex-showroom, Delhi): Rs.23.38 to Rs.27.40 Lakhs
Still confused about the available options? Try matching these electric cars to your requirement and figure out which one suits your need in the best way possible. And for similar updates, keep reading The Indian Wire.
*Claimed range: It might not match the real world range from these EVs