The Indian electric car market is growing at a fast pace. Tata Motors is currently ruling the EV market with close to 80% market share. However, things could change in near future as more brands are entering the EV space. Mahindra has officially announced to launch the new XUV400 electric SUV in January 2023. The current EVs on sale in our market are expensive and most of models cost above Rs 15 lakh. In the next 6 months, 3 brand new affordable electric cars will be launched in the country and are expected to cost in the range of Rs 10 lakh to Rs 15 lakh.
1. Tata Tiago EV
Tata Motors has officially announced to introduce 10 new EVs across different segments, body styles and affordability levels. The company has also confirmed that the new Tata Tiago electric hatchback will be launched soon in the country. It will be the smallest electric offering from Tata Motors in the country. It is expected to be launched before the end of this year, most probably around Diwali.
The Tata Tiago EV is likely to be offered with a 26kWh or a 30.2kWh battery pack sourced from the Tigor EV or Nexon EV respectively. It is expected to offer a range of around 300km on a single charge. The small EV will come with Tata’s advanced Ziptron high-voltage architecture that comprising of a permanent magnet synchronous electric motor along with the lithium-ion battery pack.
2. Citroen C3 EV
Citroen is developing an entry-level electric vehicle for the growing markets including India and Brazil. The company will launch an all-new electric car based on the C3 hatchback. It is expected to be unveiled by December 2022, while launch could take place in Q1, 2023. The new model is based on the heavily localised CMP platform, which is compatible with multiple body styles and powertrains including electric.
This modular platform currently underpins the Peugeot e-208, which features a 50kWh battery pack in Europe. Coupled to an electric motor with an output of 136PS and 260Nm, the Peugeot e-208 is claimed to offer a range of up to 362km in Europe. It is expected that the upcoming Citroen C3 electric could get the same battery pack. It is likely to come with multiple battery size options. The entry-level variant could receive a smaller battery pack with a claimed range of around 300km.
3. MG Small EV
MG Motor India has started testing its new entry-level electric car, which is expected to be launched in the first half of 2023. It is based on the Wuling Air EV, internally called E230 that debuted in Indonesia earlier this year. The small EV will be tweaked to meet the Indian market demands. The new EV will cost somewhere between Rs 10 lakh and Rs 15 lakh, and will be positioned as an urban commuter in the crowded cities.
The entry-level MG EV has a wheelbase of 2,010mm and measures 2.9 meters in length. The Indonesian-spec model rides on 12-inch steel wheels; however, the India-spec model could get alloy wheels. MG Motor India will source the battery pack from the homegrown Tata AutoComp. It will use LFP cylindrical cells. It is reportedly to have a battery pack capacity of around 20kWh to 25kWh, which is likely to offer a real-world driving range of 150km.
