Electric cars in India: Current EVs and future launches

The driving force behind electric cars in India is the high cost of fuel – much higher than US. Not any love for the environment. Well, whatever is the reason, electric cars pollute much less (especially if the electricity is produced from hydro-electric projects) and cost a lot less to run.

Tata Motors, who showed off the $ 2,500 car Tata Nano to much acclaim, have announced their plans to launch an electric version of the Nano. Many others too have spoken of their plans in the electric car market in India. Let us take a look at who is doing what.

Reva Electric Car Co

Revai electric car

These guys have been around for quite some time, though their little car never picked up sales. Reva Electric  has manufactured a total of 2500 cars in 7 years – out of which 700 were sold in London as the G-Wiz.

In India, the running cost of the latest Reva, the Revai, is 40 paise per kilometer. (100 paise = 1 rupee, 43 rupees = 1 USD). The Revai has a claimed maximum speed of 80 kmph (50 mph) and a range of 80 kms too. After tests in Europe showed the Reva to be very unsafe, the company claims that the car has been strengthened. In Europe anyway it comes in the quadracycle category which means they do not have to pass carcrash safety tests.

In New Delhi, after concessions from the central and state governments, the Revai electric car now costs Rs 2.99 lakh in New Delhi, otherwise it woud put you back by Rs 3.49 lakhs. No wonder it does not sell much, at that price, one can easily buy a Santro or an Alto and get a much more powerful car that carries 4 adults in comfort.

Seating Capacity: 2 Adults & 2 Children below 12 years
Payload: 227 Kgs
Top Speed: 80 kmph
Charge Time: 80% charge in 2.5 hrs, 100% charge in 8 hrs
Availability: Now

The Reva NXG, a concept, shows promise with vastly improved speed, charge time and range. However, yu will have to wait till those features make their way into a standard Reva electric car you can buy.

Hero Electric

Joining the electric car bandwagon in India is Hero Electric, the manufacturer of two wheelers. Hero Electric will introduce an electric car in another five years and is also planning to come out with a battery-driven three wheeler. The company is said to be now busy with research on prototypes of an e-car so that it can meet its commitment. Hero Electric says that its car won’t use conventional batteries but capacitors for instant charging. How that works, I have no idea!

Availability: 2013. You will be an old by then, and you can buy it for your teen daughter!

Mahindra and Mahindra

Yet another Indian major that will see its own electric car in a few years is Mahindra and Mahindra. The SUV maker is working on an electric car for India and is expected to roll out its first electric car by year 2010. The Mahindra car will be a four-seater that will run on lead acid battery initially. The company might opt for nickel metal hydride later on.

The Mahindras have said that the its electric car would be bigger than the Reva and might cost more. Reva currently carries a price tag of Rs 3.5 lakh for the base model in Bangalore, while it sells for Rs 2.9 lakh in Delhi. Mahindra and Mahindra plans to roll out its electric car initially in India and then take it to the overseas market. Electric technology is not new to M&M as it has already tested the market with its electric three-wheeler called Bijlee. It is also working on an electric adaptation of its three-wheeler Alfa.

Mitsubishi Motors

Japanese car maker Mitsubishi Motors is also said to be making its electric car for the Indian car mart. To be powered by lithium-ion batteries that can be charged up to 80 per cent in 30 minutes with a special charging system, the Mitsubshi e-car would have a motor placed at the back of the car.

The Mitsubishi e-car is expected to run approximately 90 miles in a single charge with the top speed of around 90kmph. Mitsubishi Innovative Electric Vehicle (MiEV) has already been launched in Japan and Hong Kong, and will be seen in India in a few years.

Tata Motors

Tata Motors’ electric dreams would ride on a Nano, it is rumoured. The Indian giant plans to roll out its electric car as a variant of Tata Nano in the country. To be called the E-Nano, the Tatas will make the car in association with Norwegian electric car specialist Miljoebil Grenland.

There is a an electric Indica car which might appear in Norway within an year. Tata has not said if that would come to India, though.

The electric Nano is something to get excited about, I think. Tata Motors has shown that they can deliver on their promises most times, and once the Nano is available in India, we think the electric Nano plans would be accelerated.

Availability: 2010?

Ajanta electric car

Yes, Ajenta the clockmaker. They are planning an electric car that would be available at the Rs 1 lakh price of the Nano. Currently they are in research mode, and it seems they already have an electric scooter in the market called Oreva – who knew!

Anyway, there is a market in electric cars in India for sure; we would buy anything that saves us running costs. Hopefully, in a few years time, we would have a good idea what is going to be launched, and when.

Interesting but unrelated story: If you think electric cars can’t be fast, take a look at the Eliica electric car!