Upcoming Electric Cars Under 15 Lakhs

Sheldon Jones

editor

Electric Vehicles or electric cars are often considered an expensive luxury but the growth of the segment clearly shows that people are looking to better the environment and cut down on fossil fuel use. Given the fact that more people are looking to invest in EVs, manufacturers are introducing cheaper options into the market without reducing their capability to perform. The mid-tier EV collection is quite impressive in India but what we are expecting in the coming months and years is even more so. Here is a look at the upcoming electric cars under Rs. 15 Lakhs in the country.

Mahindra eKUV100

Mahindra is one of the biggest car manufacturers in the country and their durable and sturdy vehicles have dominated the Indian market for decades. Now, the manufacturer is ready to enter the next stage with the eKUV100 electric SUV. The regular KUV100 is one of the manufacturer’s best-selling vehicles and we can only expect that the EV variant will do just as well. The eKUV has been talked about for more than a year now and it seems that it is finally ready to be unleashed into the real world. The car is expected to feature a similar powertrain as the concept Mahindra eVerito which was unveiled at the 2018 Auto Expo. Powering the eKUV 100 will be a 15.9kWh Lithium-ion battery that will give the compact SUV a range of 147 Kms on a full battery. According to the company, the car will have fast charging capabilities that will take the battery from 0-80 percent in a single hour. Mahindra is expected to include a number of upgraded features in the eKUV100 such as location tracking, parking sensors in the rear, over speeding alert, ABS with EBD, dual airbags in the front, and cabin pre-cooling.

Tata Altroz EV

Tata had set a launch date for the highly-anticipated Altroz EV back in 2020 but the worldwide pandemic pushed that dream back a few years. Even though the rescheduled launch date for the Altroz EV was set for March 2022, there has been a further delay. Now, it seems that Tata has set a date for June of 2022 for the upcoming Altroz EV. Inside the Altroz EV, Tata is expected to include a semi-digital instrument cluster which might be a step backward for the company. Otherwise, the Altroz EV is expected to come with other features like automatic air conditioning, a touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity, and a powerful audio setup. The Altroz EV is expected to get its power from a 30kWh Lithium-Ion battery pack and is rumoured to have a maximum range of 300 kms on a single charge. If the regular Altroz is anything to go by, the Altroz EV is destined to be one of the best electric vehicles in the country.

Mahindra XUV400 EV

When it comes to powerful SUVs, Mahindra is a name that stands out from the rest. Ever since they entered the EV market, Mahindra has been gaining a lot of popularity and with the upcoming XUV400 EV, things are looking better than ever. The XUV400 EV will be a 5-seater car and is expected to be powered by a couple of battery options. In terms of the expected range, the XUV400 EV is said to offer anywhere between 437 and 450 kilometers per 100 percent battery charge. Mahindra is expected to add the latest features to the XUV400 EV including a sunroof, connected car technology, rain-sensing windshield wipers, a touchscreen infotainment system, and dual-zone automatic air-conditioning. For safety, the Mahindra XUV400 EV is expected to feature multiple airbags, ABS with EBD, brake control, and ISOFIX Child Seat Mounts. The Mahindra XUV400 EV is expected to go up against other EVs such as the Tata Nexon EV and the MG ZS EV.

Tata Sierra

The Tata Sierra has been making headlines across India for quite some time now and it already looks to be one exciting EV option. Originally displayed at the Auto Expo back in 2020, the Sierra gained a lot of hype for being one of the best-looking electric SUVs in the country. However, the launch date has been pushed back even further for the Sierra which in turn should raise our expectations as well. One of the first things we can expect is that Tata will include an upgraded version of the Ziptron EV powertrain which is currently being used in their EV models. If that is the case, the Sierra will offer a range of about 400 kms on a single charge – something very few EV cars can do right now. However, Tata is expected to first release petrol and diesel variants of the Sierra before the EV version. Some of the features seen on the concept include dual-tone alloy wheels, LED headlamps, and taillights, and will feature the IMPACT 2.0 design by Tata which is based on the ALFA-ARC platform for its design and safety features.

Tata Tiago EV

The automotive industry in India has been developing rapidly and Tata has been leading the race to create a cleaner world. Electric Vehicles or EVs are soon going to be a huge part of our future and the Tata Tiago EV seems like a great way to get there. Powering this car is an expected 21.5kWh Lithium-Ion battery that could offer an impressive 213 kms range on a single charge. Charging the battery to 100 percent should take about 6-8 hours while there could also be fast-charge capabilities that would reduce that time to just 1.5 hours. As of now, not much is known about the Tiago EV other than Tata is expected to launch the model sometime this March of 2023. Currently, Tata sells the regular Tiago which is an exceptional performer and a fan favourite in the country. With an electric option up for grabs, we should see the Tiago EV easily compete with its fuel-guzzling cousin.

Citroen C3 EV

Citroen joined the Indian market quite recently but it has been one of the leading manufacturers in the world for some time now. The C3 EV is expected to make its way to the country in 2023 and we can’t wait to hear more about the vehicle. As of now, there is very little information about the C3 EV. It is expected to be based on the standard C3 which is one of the best-selling models in the country and is expected to offer a range of about 450 kilometers on a full charge. Battery specifications and powertrains are yet to be released but some of the features we can expect to see on the C3 EV include a large 10-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity, automatic air-conditioning, and a digital instrument cluster. We can also expect the C3 EV to come with the latest safety features such as multiple airbags, ABS with EBD, parking sensors, and parking cameras.

OLA Electric Car

OLA entered the vehicle market with its highly-anticipated electric scooter and it gained popularity instantly. The company also announced recently that it will be launching an electric car in the near future. The EV was teased at the Customer Day event where their CEO said more information about the car will be disclosed on the 15^th of August. At the event, OLA teased 3 vehicles including a hatchback, a sedan, and an SUV – all electric-powered. All the cars showcased have the OLA branding and feature the same red colour. OLA also spoke about releasing an electric hatchback at a price point of under Rs. 10 Lakhs. Information about the interiors and electrification for the models is not yet available but given that OLA has already produced an excellent scooter, we should get excited for the EV segment in the near future.

With so much yet to be released, we are extremely excited for the coming months to see what the EV market looks like next year. The cars listed here are from some of the biggest and most reliable manufacturers in the country and they know exactly what they are doing by targeting the mid-tier segment buyers. People are hesitant to buy electric cars right now because they are quite expensive and by introducing the above-mentioned models, we could see a massive rise in EV usage in the near future. Which EV excites you the most and would you ever buy and drive one in India?