India EV sales to cross 1 million in 2022 but demand for petrol & diesel cars to remain strong

Sales of electric vehicles (EVs) in the country could surpass the 10-lakh (one million) mark in 2022, according to the Indian government’s data but this may not slow down the demand for petrol and diesel passenger vehicles in the near-to-medium term.

 

EV sales figures from Vahan database

 

According to data from the Union road transport ministry’s Vahan database, 9.95 lakh (995,000) electric vehicles have been registered in the country so far in 2022. In comparison, this is a 3x rise from 3.22 lakh (322,000) in 2021 and around eightfold surge from 1.21 lakh (121,000) in 2020.

With the global ID.Aero, Volkswagen plans aggressive launches in US, Europe, China

Volkswagen (VW) is set to unveil the global ID.Aero, its electric vehicle (EV) — which would replace the Passat — in the second half of 2023 in North America, China and Europe, and with this roll out, the company may be planning an aggressive global launch of its EVs.

 

VW had showcased the ID.Aero in June this year, and depending on the market response, it would accelerate the transition of its line up of existing internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles into EVs.

Tata Punch EV may see a huge response

Tata Motors has been slowly and steadily upping its affordable electric vehicle (EV) range, and now, its popular compact SUV the Punch electric may be launched soon, which could see a phenomenal response in the passenger vehicles market and make the auto giant retain its top slot in India’s EV space by a wide margin, even in the long term.

The Punch EV will be showcased at the Auto Expo 2023, and production could start in June 2023 while the actual roll out may take place around the festive season beginning October 2023.

Will Maruti Suzuki launch Omni in its electric avatar?

Is the country’s leading car manufacturer Maruti Suzuki gearing up to bring back the Omni in its electric avatar and could this give it an edge over rivals in the electric vehicle (EV) space?

The Omni van was the country’s best-selling family car once but the car market in India has transformed to a great extent since then.

BMW to bring in India’s best e-scooter CE 04 but price could be high | Pure Electric ecoDryft may be priced smarter

Hyderabad-based electric two-wheeler brand Pure Electric has unveiled its new electric motorcycle, the ecoDryft, which may see good response, given its style and smart pricing, while the BMW CE 04 e-scooter would be the best electric scooter in India but the price may be high.

BMW CE 04 scooter

The two-wheeler unit of Bavarian manufacturer BMW had released a teaser image of the CE 04 electric scooter recently. 

Will MG 4’s five-star rating give it an edge in India?

The MG 4 electric vehicle (EV), a hatchback, has clinched a five-star rating in the latest round of Euro NCAP safety tests and this may give it an edge over its rivals in India.

MG India had unveiled the MG 4 around July and the company has said that it would be up for display at the Auto Expo 2023.

Mercedes-Benz EQB SUV is feature rich with smart pricing

Mercedes-Benz has just rolled out a new electric vehicle (EV), which it calls the all-new EQB, in India, giving luxury car buffs yet another feature-rich choice, and that too, at a smart price point.

The EQB 300 4M fully-electric SUV is designed keeping Indian car buyers and Indian conditions in mind.

With Innova Crysta EV plan, road ahead for Toyota could be electric

Toyota Innova Crysta’s electric multipurpose vehicle (MPV) was showcased as a concept in April 2022, but now, it seems the maker of hybrid vehicles is finally readying the Crysta’s electric vehicle (EV), implying that the road ahead for the company would be electric.

Like India’s Maruti Suzuki, Toyota also does not want to jump straight into EVs but instead, it would be rolling out strong and mild hybrids in the interim before going full throttle on electric cars.

After JLR, could we see Tata Motors foray into hydrogen cars?

Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has for quite some time been working on a prototype hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) based on the Land Rover Defender with testing set to begin soon... and so, it could be possible that even Tata Motors is thinking of entering the arena of hydrogen cars with its fleet.

 

The company had said that the FCEV concept is part of JLR’s strategy to achieve zero tailpipe emissions by 2036, and net-zero emission in its supply chain, products and operations by 2039. 

Hyundai Nexo hydrogen car will sell well in India only after charging infra gets a boost

The Hyundai Nexo 2022 is all set to make a foray into India but the price tag seems to be steep for it to gain acceptance in a big way and also, the fuel type of the car is yet to get a boost in almost all countries globally.

According to Hyundai, even among its cars, the 2022 Nexo is unique in many ways, and among them are the design and fuel type. 

Will Ultraviolette Automotive F77 electric bikes have a smooth ride in India?

Ultraviolette Automotive has rolled out its F77 electric bike in two variants — F77 Original and F77 Recon — but will these bikes have a smooth ride in India at such steep price points?

Both the bikes are different so far as battery capacity, range, performance and price are concerned. 

Besides, there is also another variant on offer — the F77 Limited Edition — that has the highest performance levels. And, only 77 units of this edition will be manufactured.

Will Pravaig electric SUV ‘Defy’ all logic?

Bengaluru-based automotive start-up Pravaig Dynamics has launched a premium electric SUV, the Defy electric vehicle (EV), priced around Rs 39.5 lakh (Rs 39,50,000), but it is to be seen whether buyers would flock for it at such a price point, especially because it is from a start-up.

SUV’s exterior design

The Pravaig Defy is offered with angular styling, which gives it a crossover-like look. Pravaig bills the styling theme as ‘brutal sophistication.’

New Tigor EV set to propel Tata Motor’s sales

Tata Motors has rolled out an upgraded Tigor electric car, which is priced higher at Rs 12.49 lakh (Rs 12,49,000)-Rs 13.75 lakh (Rs 13,75,000), and offers a higher range, but will this propel the electric vehicle’s (EV’s) sales as it has not been doing too well (like the Nexon EV) in the Indian market?

This new version of the Tigor comes with a litany of new features and two new variants are also on offer. The most notable change in the new Tigor is the range of 351 km — but it is just 9 km more than the previous version.

Actually, PMV EaS-E may not go the Tata Nano way

Mumbai-based electric vehicle (EV) start-up PMV Electric has rolled out its micro car, the EaS-E, a four-door car for the masses, but whether it will go the Tata Nano way is to be seen.

 

This car is almost a quadricycle with a quirky look. It has circular headlamps, a LED light bar along the full width of the car and sleek LED lamps.

Net-zero initiatives lead to a surge in EV adoption in US

The US electric vehicles (EV) market is growing leaps and bounds with the number of EVs turning out to be nearly 7 per cent of all vehicles in 2022 from just 1.8 per cent in 2018 and a move towards net-zero emission globally has contributed greatly to this.

 

North America is the region that has the highest pollution from vehicles globally, found a recent study.

Rolls-Royce’s Spectre to be world’s best electric car

Rolls-Royce, the ultimate luxury car maker, is all set to enter the electric vehicle (EV) space with the launch of the world’s best electric car, the Spectre, and the “Richie Rich” would wait with bated breath until its roll out.

 

Rolls-Royce, which is now a BMW-owned brand, is targeting to become an all-electric car maker by 2030, and for that to happen, it has to rush with its EV plans.

PMV EaS-E a car for the masses | Honda new e:N series concept in China a safety marvel

Mumbai-based PMV Electric will be launching its first electric vehicle (EV) in India for the masses — the EaS-E, which would be unveiled on November 16, while Honda showcased its new concept, the second one in the e:N series for electric cars in China, where it plans to roll out 10 cars in five years.

 

PMV Electric is targeting daily urban users, who would be going from home to office, factory or shop and back. The EaS-E is likely to come in three variants.

Subaru’s Impreza 2024 teaser doesn’t reveal much

Subaru has said that it would give details of its new Impreza 2024 at this year’s Auto Show in Los Angeles and has just released only one teaser image of the new model.

This teaser, unfortunately, doesn’t say much about the new car and a complete picture would emerge on November 17.

Future of autonomous vehicles

Autonomous vehicle technology could change how we live and move around in the future in cities but we need to take care of issues such as malfunction of technology before we go full throttle on this.

 

Malfunction of technology may lead to potential accidents and a total stoppage of autonomous vehicle technology, or in simple terms, of self-driven cars.

MG Air EV to come early next year but is India ready for a two-door micro car?

MG Motors has finally unveiled that its two-door Air electric vehicle (EV) would be rolled out early next year, and as the Indian market is not too keen on micro cars, the company must price it judiciously to get a good response for its e-car.

Morris Garages or MG could showcase the Air EV at the upcoming Auto Expo 2023 for a preview.

Pravaig Dynamics to launch ‘powerful’ electric SUV in November

We have seen start-ups in India entering the two-wheeler electric vehicle (EV) space but Pravaig Dynamics is one of the rare small firms that is planning to roll out its first ‘powerful’ four-wheeler electric car in India and some information on this would be available on November 25 this year.

This Bengaluru-based electric auto company has been planning to launch an EV for quite some time and earlier Pravaig had said it would roll out a sedan, Extinction MKI, initially but now it says its first e-vehicle would be an SUV.

Hyundai’s $5-billion EV plant in Georgia to rev up US presence

Hyundai Motor has started work on its first mega electric vehicle (EV) factory in Georgia, US, with the South Korean auto giant planning to set up the unit for a whopping $5 billion and this will give a huge leg up to its presence in the American market.

This unit is expected to employ over 8,000 people and will roll out more than 300,000 EVs annually.

Musk loses confidence on self-driven cars | Tesla talks of cheaper EVs

Elon Musk seems to have lost confidence that Tesla’s self-driven cars would get approval anytime soon, and also, a top company executive had excited the market when he talked of cheaper Tesla electric vehicles (EVs).

Tesla had earlier revealed that it would not require any driver and there is also no need to keep an eye on the road when its driverless cars are rolled out.

Ola Electric eyes petrol scooter owners with S1 Air e-scooter launch

Ola Electric has just revealed yet another S1 series e-scooter, the S1 Air, which comes cheap, but the range is not commendable enough, and it seems that the company is targeting the segment that is using public transport for daily travel or those using petrol scooters.

This Ola S1 Air is cheaper than the current S1 and S1 Pro (price of the Air is similar to petrol scooters) but the range is less than the previous two Ola models.

What is the Toyota Corolla Altis hybrid’s flex-fuel engine?

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has just unveiled India’s first car with a flex-fuel engine in Toyota Motor’s Corolla Altis sedan that comes with a hybrid powertrain.

This roll out is part of a pilot project to promote flex-fuel strong hybrid electric vehicles (EVs) in the country. 

Mercedes-Benz EQS 580 4MATIC to offer most comfortable drive

The Mercedes-Benz EQS 580 4MATIC is the world’s most aerodynamic car and comes with a drag coefficient of as low as 0.20, implying it would offer one of the most comfortable and seamless drives.

An aerodynamic car reduces drag and wind noise, minimises car noise and lowers to a considerable extent aerodynamic instability at high speeds. It ensures a very smooth drive and high stability, when driven at speeds of over 110 km per hour (69 miles).

MG Motor India’s Air EV to take on the Tata Tiago electric

MG Motor India is set to bring in its fourth electric vehicle (EV), the Air, to India and this car is rumoured to be taking on the Tiago electric, which Tata Motors is slated to launch around early next year for a price tag starting Rs 8.49 lakh (Rs 849,000).

 

India will witness a mega roll out by the British auto giant (Morris Garages or MG) and this ‘budget electric car’ would be based on the Wuling Air EV.

Hyundai Ioniq 6 EV’s 614 km range could make it a preferred choice in Europe, US

Hyundai Motor Company’s electric vehicle (EV) portfolio is set to get a big boost with the Ioniq 6 launch and the car will come with a mind blowing 614 km range on a single charge, which could make it the preferred choice of buyers in Europe and the US.

 

The Hyundai Ioniq 6 will come in two options — a 77.4-kWh battery with 2WD, 18-inch tyres as well as a 53-kWh battery with 2WD, 18-inch tyres.

Mercedes-Benz EQS 580 860-km range EV is made in India

Mercedes-Benz EQS 580 has just become the first electric vehicle (EV) to be assembled in India and with the launch of this made-in-India 860-km range car, it is yet another milestone in India’s EV journey.

 

This Mercedes-Benz EV has been rolled out from the Chakan facility in Maharashtra and is set to pave the way for many more assembly of luxury electric cars in India in the near future.

Tata Tiago EV introductory starting price a tad higher at Rs 8.49 lakh

With the Tiago electric vehicle (EV) launch, Tata Motors has rolled out India’s most affordable electric car but we feel that even the introductory pricing could have been a tad cheaper at a starting price of Rs 7.5 lakh (Rs 750,000).

 

The new Tiago EV will, however, carry a price tag starting Rs 8.49 lakh (Rs 849,000) for the base version and the price goes up to Rs 11.79 lakh (11,79,000) for the top model. And, only the first 10,000 buyers would get the variants at these introductory prices.

Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara hybrids come with smart pricing

Maruti Suzuki India has rolled out the Grand Vitara for between Rs 10.45 lakh (Rs 10,45,000) and Rs 19.65 lakh (Rs 19,65,000), which is a smart pricing strategy, given the popularity of SUVs in India’s auto market and the fast-growing appetite of the country’s car buyers towards hybrids.

With the Grand Vitara launch, India’s largest car maker wants to slow down the adoption of pure electric vehicles (EVs) and is trying to wean away EV buyers towards hybrids.

Fisker to foray into India with Ocean EV, offer battery safety, higher range

Tesla rival Fisker is gearing up to foray into India with its Ocean model and the company’s USP is that it would offer solid-state batteries that would come in smaller battery packs, implying higher range and safety as well.

 

This type of batteries is among the safest today for electric vehicles (EVs) and would minimise any chances of fire or explosion.

 

Tata Nexon EV conquers world’s highest motorable pass | Tiago electric vehicle teaser

The Tata Nexon electric vehicle (EV), which is set to face stiff competition, is showcasing its achievements — it has just broken into India’s Book of Records after conquering the world’s highest motorable pass, Umling La, in Ladakh, and, on the other hand, Tata Motors has also revealed some details of its new budget car Tiago.

 

The pass, which is 19,024 feet (5,798 metres) above sea level, has for the first time seen an EV conquer it. Tata Motors has managed to set this record with its recently-launched Nexon Max.  

Volvo plans aggressive India strategy | Honda’s first e-scooter may be cheaper than Activa

Volvo India is charting an aggressive India strategy while Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India’s (HMSI’s) electric scooter is almost ready for launch, and speculation is rife that it may cost less than Rs 70,000, a tad lower than its popular petrol model Activa.

80% of Volvo cars in India to be EVs by 2025

Volvo is chalking out a quick plan for India, where it is eyeing 80 per cent of its total sales to be electric vehicles (EVs).

Hyundai’s two new EVs will replace i10 in Europe by 2024, may see good response

Hyundai is planning to replace its i10 petrol variant in Europe by 2024 with two affordable electric vehicle (EV) models and being small and budget cars, they may elicit a good response from this market.

 

Europe has always been fond of compact cars but its definition of affordable has a much higher benchmark compared to Asian and African nations.

Harvard-backed 3-minute EV charger lasts 20 years I Would ultra-fast chargers become redundant?

Would fast and ultra-fast chargers soon become a thing of the past even without them being rolled out commercially as a Harvard University-backed start-up — Adden Energy — has come up with something mind blowing — a charger that can charge an electric vehicle (EV) in three minutes flat and can last for a whopping 20 years?

 

Currently, the world over, we are seeing fast charging catching up, though it is in its infant stages and ultra-fast chargers are still under research and development (R&D).

With Avenger launch plan, Jeep does not have any aggressive strategy on EVs

Jeep has unveiled its global electric vehicle (EV) plans and India would also be a part of it with the Avenger roll out and it seems that the company will not adopt an aggressive strategy in the electric vehicle space in any of its global markets.

The Avenger — which would have a range of around 400 km on a single charge — is set to be Jeep’s EV in the compact SUV space and no technical details of the SUV are out as yet.

Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder hybrid SUV priced competitively

Toyota has brought in the company’s first mid-sized SUV, the Urban Cruiser Hyryder, into India with competitive pricing, and offering a hybrid SUV at this price point could see many altering their electric vehicle (EV) plans and flocking for these hybrids.

For now, Toyota has set the prices for its top variants only and includes strong hybrids as well as a mild hybrid — the V AT variant.

Tata Tiago EV, a car for the masses, may be priced at Rs 7-8 lakh

Tata Motors has revealed that it will launch an electric version of its entry-level car — the Tiago — later this month itself, and by bringing an electric vehicle (EV) to the masses, it definitely plans to expand its lead before the EV space in India becomes too crowded.

 

With this move, the Tiago EV would become its third electric vehicle after the Nexon and Tigor in the passenger vehicle segment, and could be priced around the Rs 7-8-lakh mark (Rs 700,000-800,000), as per our estimates.

Would Mahindra XUV400 EV pricing be smarter than Tata Nexon EV?

Mahindra and Mahindra (M&M) has finally unveiled its all-electric XUV400, which is based on the XUV300, and going by the smart looks, and if the pricing is right, it could aim to dislodge the Tata Nexon EV in sales.

 

Besides, if the performance is commendable, and given the slightly higher distance travelled on a single charge — in the medium-to-long term — it would definitely upset the Nexon’s applecart. 

Tata Motors to roll out ‘affordable’ EV next year

Tata Motors is paving the way to strengthen its grip in the electric vehicle (EV) space in India and is planning to bring in affordable EVs as early as next year or the first half of 2024, but how affordable would they be?

The cars Tata Motors is planning to roll out may not strictly be in the affordable category in India and could be priced just below the Nexon EV, that is, maybe around the Rs 10-lakh mark (Rs 10,000,00).

Ford jumps to second place after Tesla in US EV market with 307% sales surge in August

Ford has invested a lot of time and effort in transforming itself into an electric vehicle (EV) player and jumped to the second position in the US EV market in sales after Tesla with the iconic internal combustion engine (ICE) brand seeing figures skyrocket by 307 per cent in August 2022.

Ford started seeing success in the EV space after it converted some of its most sought-after ICE models into electric cars. The Mustang Mach-E was among the first brands to be converted into an EV in December 2020.

Will Maruti Suzuki’s leadership position in India’s car market be dented if its first EV rolls out in 2025?

Maruti Suzuki has been adopting a wait-and-watch strategy and does not want to dive into electric vehicles (EVs) right away and many experts feel that this may dent its leadership position in the car market, at least in the medium-to-long term.

In about five years, the car market in India may see over 30 per cent EVs and other green vehicles plying on the road and a majority of these EVs could be from the stables of Tata Motors and Mahindra and Mahindra (M&M).

Can BYD Auto remain world’s top EV seller after dethroning Tesla?

For the first time ever, China’s BYD Auto has dethroned Elon Musk’s Tesla to become the world’s largest electric vehicle (EV) seller, and could this lead to the iconic American brand losing its sheen in the global electric car space?

According to a report, during the second quarter of this year, global passenger EV sales grew a whopping 61 per cent to 2.18 million cars compared to the second quarter of last year.

BYD does not want to play volume game with Atto 3 launch in India

The world’s largest electric vehicle (EV) maker BYD is gearing up to roll out its electric SUV — the Atto 3 — in the next few months and it seems that it does not want to play the volume game in India and would be placing its offering in the premium segment.

The Chinese company had earlier introduced its E6 multi-purpose vehicle or MPV in India a few months ago and this was only for fleet customers. Even then, it had shied away from luring budget segment buyers.

California ban on petrol, diesel car sales from 2035 may set a trend worldwide

California has decided to ban sale of petrol (gasoline) and diesel-powered vehicles in the state from 2035, and this could set a trend to discourage the manufacturing of internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles in the US as well as the world from now onwards.

 

This move would prompt car majors across the world to overhaul their assembly lines in the near future so as to only manufacture electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrids, that too, on a war footing.

Comfort, performance to woo Mercedes-Benz AMG EQS 53 EV buyers in India

Mercedes-Benz AMG EQS 53 EV has been rolled out in India to cater to the ultra-rich segment and this category of users would not look for affordability but the motivation for them to buy this car would be comfort and performance.

 

Mercedes AMG EQS 53 is one of the company’s most stunning battery-powered cars and is the second EV from the luxury car maker’s stable to come to India, after the EQC.

Toyota to price hybrids judiciously | Mahindra XUV400 may not offer price advantage

In a bid to take on pure electric vehicle (EV) makers like Tata Motors and Mahindra and Mahindra (M&M) head on, Toyota plans to bring in hybrid vehicles, which it said would be priced judiciously while M&M’s EV XUV400 may not come with a price advantage.

 

Toyota plans to whittle down the cost of full hybrid powertrains by manufacturing them in the country and it would also source its materials from India. But the auto giant has remained mum on putting a tag to the prices right now.

Royal Enfield to sell ‘affordable’ e-bikes in global market | Kia launches India’s fastest EV charger

Royal Enfield may be developing a slew of “affordable” electric motorcycles, which it would set aside for the global market, and these electric vehicles (EVs) may also be sold in India while Kia has just rolled out India’s fastest EV battery charger. 

But to make the e-bikes in India within the reach of the people, the prices should start from around Rs 3 lakh (Rs 300,000) and not any higher. 

Affordable compact electric car Sion, powered partly by solar energy, in Europe soon

Sion, a compact electric car — propelled partly by solar energy — is set to go into production soon, and this could not only give a big boost to clean energy efforts in the automobile sector… but also see the launch of an affordable car in Europe!

The design of the Sion, the car to be made by German electric vehicle (EV) start-up Sono Motors, was unveiled in the recent past at a company event in Munich.

Mahindra, Ola Electric gear up to take on Tata Motors in India’s EV space

On the 75th year of India’s Independence, Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) and Ola Electric are gearing up to take on market leader Tata Motors in India’s electric vehicle (EV) space.

While Mahindra has unveiled that it would be launching five SUVs from 2024-end up to 2027, Ola said the company’s electric four-wheeler will be rolled out in 2024 and its acceleration and range would be its USPs.

Can the US make EVs more affordable by keeping China out?

The US Congress recently approved the climate and energy package that aims to achieve two goals: Make EVs cost effective while keeping China out of the supply chain.

But can the US achieve this? After all, China happens to be the epitome of everything that is “budget” in the world.

Electrify America-IKEA US pact may set a trend in ultra-fast charging

IKEA is set to collaborate with Electrify America to install ultra-fast public charging stations at over 25 IKEA retail locations in the US and this could be a trendsetter that may prompt more players to get into this fast-charging market and revolutionise the electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure.

 

It is set to add 200 ultra-fast chargers that come with charging speeds of 150kW-350kW for customers at IKEA stores in 18 US states. It could take only 30 minutes for cars to be fully charged via these ultra-fast chargers.

Maruti’s first e-car to be budget SUV | After Sanand unit buy, Tata Motors to price EVs competitively

Maruti Suzuki plans to launch a pure electric vehicle (EV) by 2025 and its e-car could be priced competitively while Tata Motors’ buying of Ford’s Sanand plant in Gujarat could make its EVs cheaper in the medium term.

 

Maruti’s first EV in 2025

 

Hisashi Takeuchi, Maruti Suzuki’s chief executive officer (CEO), said that it is difficult to price its first EV model below Rs 10 lakh (Rs 10,00,000) owing to the astronomical cost of technology and batteries.

Shell Lubricants’ plan to roll out EV fluids is good news for India

Seeing India rev up its electric vehicle (EV) space, Shell Inc’s arm Shell Lubricants is set to roll out fluids for EVs that would be suitable for India’s climatic conditions, and this could be good news, considering the battery fire incidents in India recently.

 

According to Shell Lubricants’ global executive vice-president Machteld De Haan and its India head, Debanjali Sengupta, the firm would initially import the EV fluids. However, at a later stage, Shell Lubricants will manufacture the fluids in the country.

MG4, most technologically-advanced EV offering from Morris Garages, to launch in UK

British car giant Morris Garages (MG Motor) is rolling out its all-electric long hatchback, the MG4, in the UK soon, and as per the company, this would be its most technologically-advanced electric vehicle (EV) offering.

 

According to MG, the electric vehicle is based on its Modular Scalable Platform (MSP) and would come at a starting price of £26,000 (Rs 24.9 lakh or Rs 24,90,682). 

Hyundai’s budget hatchback EV for Europe could find many takers

South Korean automaker Hyundai is believed to be developing a budget electric vehicle (EV) for the European market, and given Europe’s preference for hatchbacks and small cars, this car could find many takers.

In the recent past, a top executive of Hyundai Europe indicated this plan of the auto giant in a media interview.

With 10 e-cars in 5 years, Tata Motors to remain India’s top EV seller in long term

We have seen Tata Motors unveiling the Curvv and Avinya EV concepts in the recent past, and now, it clearly wants to stay on top in India’s electric vehicle (EV) space in the long term by launching 10 electric cars over a period of five years.

Shailesh Chandra, who is president of the passenger vehicles unit at Tata Motors, reiterated the company’s ambitious plans in India’s EV market.  

Can Ola Electric ensure safety of its new EV batteries?

Ola Electric is set to be among three Indian firms that would come up with locally-manufactured electric vehicle (EV) battery cells in a bid to boost the EV ecosystem in the country but the company along with others must first ensure safety while making batteries.

Along with Reliance New Energy and Rajesh Exports, Ola Electric has inked pacts under the central government’s production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme of Rs 18,100 crore to make battery cells.

GM’s one million EV production target annually from 2025-end maybe ambitious

American auto giant General Motors (GM) has lined up plans to manufacture one million electric vehicles (EVs) annually from 2025-end but looking at the sales of EVs in the US, this may seem rather ambitious.

As per GM’s Sustainability Report of 2020, the auto giant sold 202,488 electric vehicles during the year. Majority of these EV sales were in China and not the US.  

Triton hydrogen fuel two-wheelers unlikely to come cheap in India

American carmaker and Tesla rival Triton is set to roll out two-wheelers and three-wheelers from India, and given its portfolio of premium cars, its two-wheelers may be out of reach of the common man.

Since it may not be playing the volume game as far as two-wheelers go, Triton would be among companies in the high-end two-wheeler segment, where the competition is intense but profits may not be too attractive.

Strong hybrids may slow down pure EV India journey

Recently, it has been noticed that many who have booked pure electric vehicles (EVs), like the Tata Nexon EV, are reconsidering their choices, and if this trend continues, you could actually see strong hybrids slow down the pure EV journey in India.

Car buyers are waiting with bated breath for Toyota and Maruti Suzuki to announce the prices of the Hyryder and Grand Vitara, respectively.

Tesla’s numerous price hikes this year | Fans may be disappointed

Tesla has been raising prices on numerous occasions in the recent past, and this may not go down too well for the “Cult” brand’s fans. 

 

It is astounding to note how many times the electric vehicle (EV) giant has revised prices just this year. So much so that even its chief executive officer (CEO) Elon Musk said that Tesla’s prices are at embarrassing levels.

Xiaomi EVs could be priced judiciously

Almost six years after launching an electric scooter, China’s tech giant Xiaomi is gearing up to unveil the prototype of its first electric vehicle (EV), and it seems that being from the Xiaomi stable, the cars that will roll out could be fairly priced, similar to its mobile phones.

 

Xiaomi has a history of pricing its mobile phones reasonably, which are also highly durable, and even its first car, which it plans to launch in 2024, may either be a mass market EV or it could be priced judiciously.

Citroen C3 Aircross mild hybrid, EV in India by 2024 | C3 petrol version launched starting Rs 5.7 lakh

Citroen has rolled out its C3 petrol version with a price of Rs 5.7 lakh (Rs 570,000) and the French company is also eyeing India’s hybrid car market and could bring in the next-generation C3 Aircross in its mild hybrid and electric forms.

The C3 Aircross, which could be a mini SUV like the C3 rolled out in India on July 20, 2022, may launch in 2024.

Nissan Leaf discontinued over range issues | Hindalco’s batteries to boost EV range

Nissan is discontinuing the iconic Leaf electric vehicle (EV) because of its range problem and will concentrate on other vehicles such as the Ariya and electric SUVs while Hindalco is tying up to make aluminium-air batteries in a bid to boost the driving range of EVs.

The Leaf EV was first rolled out in 2010 and was pitched as one of the first mass-market battery cars.

Honda, Toyota hybrid plans to counter Tata, Mahindra pure EVs

Honda and Toyota are gearing up to drive in their hybrid electric vehicles (hybrid EVs) that will compete with pure EVs from the stables of Tata Motors and Mahindra and Mahindra (M&M).

Honda will roll out a mid-sized hybrid SUV for the Indian market like it did for the City Hybrid.

Tata Nexon battery price is Rs 7 lakh | Nexon Prime rolled out for Rs 15 lakh

If the price of the battery of the Tata Nexon electric vehicle (EV) is Rs 7 lakh (Rs 700,000), is this not enough to drain an e-car owner’s pockets in case the battery lets him down?

An owner of a Tata Nexon, who drove 68,000 km in two years of ownership, saw that his battery stopped functioning after the charge fell to 15 per cent and this comes even as Tata Motors gave car buffs yet another option with the roll out of the Nexon Prime.

Will staff layoff become a bane for Tesla?

Tesla's plan to layoff 10 per cent of its employees has come as a boon for American carmakers Rivian Automotive and Lucid Motors, which are hiring talent from these laid off staff and could this ultimately become a bane for Tesla?

Now, rivals are looking to rev up their electric vehicle (EV) offerings in the US and Tesla’s current and former employees are clearly on their radar.

Mahindra XUV400 may roll out in first quarter of next year

Mahindra and Mahindra (M&M) has finally revealed that the all-electric version of the XUV300 will be rechristened ‘XUV400’ and this SUV could roll out as early as the first quarter of next year.

Mahindra has also said that the electric SUV will be its first long-range electric vehicle (EV).

Volvo XC40 EV to launch on July 26 | LML Electric to bring in electric hyperbike

Volvo Cars is set to roll out the XC40 Recharge SUV, its first electric vehicle (EV) in India, on July 26, while LML Electric would soon unveil its electric hyperbike along with two other two-wheelers.

 

The XC40 electric variant was scheduled for launch last year but Covid delayed Volvo’s plan.

Hybrid plan smart move by Maruti Suzuki | HM to launch EV two-wheelers in early 2024

Maruti Suzuki India is banking on hybrid technology across its models for the next five to seven years and this could be a smart move as apprehensive buyers may not want to shift to pure electric vehicle (EVs) straight away in view of the recent fires.

Also, Hindustan Motors, which was believed to be working on an electric Ambassador, has revealed that it is tying up for electric two-wheelers, which would launch around March 2024.

TOP 3 non-luxury EVs globally | Ford Mustang Mach-E, Tesla Model 3 and Hyundai Ioniq 5

Our top 3 non-luxury EVs globally are the Ford Mustang, Tesla Model 3 and Hyundai Ioniq 5, not necessarily in that order. Here is a look at the Model 3, Mustang Mach-E and Ioniq 5:

Ford Mustang Mach-E

 

A spin in the Ford Mustang electric vehicle is gripping, and the car is fun to drive. Its grip is commendable and the feedback on its steering control is good. The brakes are also powerful.

After ID4 launch in 2023, Volkswagen may bring only a few EV models to India

Even Volkswagen (VW) India is eyeing the electric vehicle (EV) market in the country, and with its planned launch of the ID4, it will test the waters, and may bring only a few models to India.

After roll out, the all-electric SUV — the ID4 — will only become VW India’s fourth vehicle in its portfolio.

Is Audi e-tron stealing the thunder from Tesla in US?

Is Audi e-tron stealing the thunder from Tesla as the SUV has become the most-searched electric vehicle (EV) in the US, and could this send shivers down Elon Musk firm’s spine?

 

A study on Google volume data searches by Chrysler Capital has found that Audi e-tron is the most-searched EV in the US. It has a total of 4,460 monthly searches, much ahead of Tesla, which did not even make it to the top four in the pecking order. 

Mercedes-Benz’s Vision EQXX does 1,000 km on a single charge again!

German luxury car giant Mercedes-Benz’s Vision EQXX electric vehicle (EV) has pipped its own efficiency record in real-situation driving by doing a whopping over 1,000 km in a single battery charge again!

After an unprecedented drive from Stuttgart (Germany) to Cassis (France) in April, this prototype sedan has achieved 1,200 km by travelling from Stuttgart to Silverstone in the UK on a single charge recently.

iPhone maker Foxconn may produce top-quality EVs but what about the pricing?

Taiwan’s manufacturer of iPhones Foxconn is now planning to venture into electric vehicles (EVs) in India but considering its top-quality products, the company may not compromise on EV quality but it must not price them too steeply either.

 

The India unit will help the Taiwanese firm line up a plan to expand its Asia manufacturing supply chain.

Okinawa’s Rs 500-crore plant in Rajasthan soon | Ellysium e-two-wheeler brand EVeium | EVTRIC Motors e-bike Rise

Electric two-wheeler maker Okinawa Autotech is set to infuse Rs 500 crore to set up a new manufacturing facility in Karoli (Rajasthan) while Ellysium has rolled out new brand EVeium and EVTRIC has launched e-bike Rise.

The Okinawa factory will be spread across 30 acres with an annual production capacity of 10 lakh (1 million) units. It is set to become fully operational by late next year and employ 5,000.

Volkswagen’s ID. Aero sedan concept teased just before roll out

Volkswagen’s ID. Aero sedan concept has been teased just before its June 27 roll out. It was known for quite some time that Volkswagen (VW) is planning to launch a fully-electric four-door sedan. 

This concept was initially named Aero B through numerous teasers. Also, the concept car was to be showcased in China during April 2022 but due to the lockdowns there, owing to the Covid outbreak, the plan was postponed.

Tyre technology pact with Michelin to boost Hyundai’s EV performance

Hyundai and Michelin have inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to conduct research and development (R&D) for making next-generation tyres for premium electric vehicles (EVs) and this would certainly boost the performance of Hyundai cars.

 

This R&D would be done over a period of three years. Both the companies will conduct joint research in a bid to develop eco-friendly tyres. To do this, the duo plans to significantly increase the usage of sustainable materials.

Ola Electric will be new four-wheeler brand, so pricing strategy is key

Ola Electric has teased its first electric vehicles (EVs) for India’s market, but as it plans to launch its four-wheelers, the pricing strategy would be important because it will be a new car brand.

In fact, it recently planned to enter the four-wheeler market and had lined up ambitious plans but all these have been marred by the fire incidents of its scooters.

Many may flock for Hyundai’s budget car

Many manufacturers are working on budget electric vehicles (EVs) with Hyundai also jumping into the fray and this could see many flocking for these vehicles, if they are priced around the Rs 5-lakh (Rs-500,000) mark.

However, for micro EVs, the scope may not be good enough in a country like India as the chaotic traffic in cities would deter their presence.

A peek into the earliest electric vehicles

It was so early when the first electric vehicle (EV) hit the road that its competition was not with petrol or diesel cars but… horses!

The 19th Century is the period we are talking about, when the main mode of transportation was horses. And, at that time, both EVs and internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles were evolving.

MG Motor entry-level EV E230 to be priced steeply

MG Motor India is gearing up with an entry-level electric vehicle (EV) based on the Wuling’s Air that was unveiled in Indonesia recently but the car may not see many takers in the medium to long term because it is likely to be priced steeply. 

The Wuling’s Air EV — code-named E230 — is being designed for low-cost markets and can ideally be used as a mini commuter vehicle in small cities, semi-urban and rural areas in India.

Can Tesla maintain its dominance in the global EV market?

With all the carmakers flocking to the electric vehicle (EV) space globally, can Tesla maintain its market dominance in the medium-to-long term?

With even luxury brands like Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Jaguar and Land Rover as well as BMW gearing up to enter the electric car segment, there will not be any dearth of top-quality e-cars.

Will PMV’s EaS-E go the Tata Nano way?

PMV Electric plans to launch its first micro electric car — EaS-E — in the country in July 2022 and despite being India’s cheapest electric vehicle (EV) at Rs 4 lakh (Rs 400,000), will it go the Tata Nano way?

PMV claims that its micro car will have a driving range of up to 200 km per charge, which is commendable for a small car. It can be fully charged in less than 4 hours with its 3 kW AC charger.

Will Contessa come in a new EV or hybrid avatar?

It seems the once fuel guzzler Contessa is on a return journey but will Hindustan Motors (HM) bring it back in the form of an electric vehicle (EV) or a hybrid car?

Just a few days back, there was buzz that HM is bringing back the iconic Ambassador in the form of an EV or traditional fuel variants. It now seems that both the Contessa and the Ambassador are seeing rebirth.

Mahindra must price XUV300 EV smartly to take on Tata Nexon Max

Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) has announced that it will launch the electric version of its XUV300 but whether it will be able to take on the Tata Nexon electric vehicle (EV) would depend on M&M’s pricing strategy. 

With the plan for an XUV300 EV, it is clear that Mahindra wants to play the volume game in India’s e-car market, and to reach volume customers, it may be having a strategy to get the pricing right.

Kia’s first e-car in India EV6 price similar to BMW EV!

Kia is testing India’s electric vehicle (EV) market with a premium offering, the EV6, but will this strategy work for a car that could carry a price tag of Rs 60 lakh, which is almost close to BMW’s electric i4?

When Hyundai India had rolled out its electric Kona in 2019, Kia did not drive in its sister car, the Niro EV. But now, it wants to test the EV market in India, perhaps with not the best offering in terms of price.

After i4 smart pricing, will BMW become India’s top luxury EV maker soon?

Premium carmaker BMW has launched a new electric car, the BMW i4, in the country, and its smart pricing could make the German car giant India’s top luxury electric vehicle (EV) maker soon.

The range of the BMW i4 is a whopping 590 km and this could be a game-changer in the luxury EV segment.

If new Ambassador EV is launched, will it sell well?

Hindustan Motors (HM), maker of the once-ubiquitous Ambassador that had gone into oblivion, is planning to recharge itself with an electric vehicle (EV) foray, and maybe soon we will see an Ambassador e-car, but the big question is, will it sell well?

HM has tied up with a European auto company in the electric vehicle space. A pact has been inked and due diligence could take around 2-3 months.

When will Tata Nano EV launch, would it be affordable?

There is buzz that Tata Motors may be planning to launch a Nano electric vehicle (EV), and the first questions that come to mind are when will it launch and would it be affordable, or simply the cheapest e-car?

Considering the failure of the Nano petrol variant, Tata Motors has to not only go for a redesign but will have to price it judiciously for it to gain acceptance among the people.

EV charging concerns | 50% of Brits prefer petrol or diesel cars

It seems concerns regarding charging are paramount among Brits and this one reason has resulted in almost 50 per cent of respondents preferring petrol or diesel cars over electric vehicles (EVs), says a study.

The study conducted on 1,000 Brits by insurance firm NFU Mutual saw that 45 per cent of respondents said they would not swap petrol or diesel cars for EVs in the next 10 years.

CAR REVIEW | Tata Nexon Max a winner compared to Standard variant

The Tata Nexon Standard electric vehicle (EV) is a runaway success in the Indian market where Tata Motors has done a clever balancing act so far as space, pricing and premium features go but the new Max is a clear winner.

Those who have made the Tata Nexon a part of their lives have benefitted tremendously, especially during their long drives, where they have saved substantial costs.

Tesla battle | Why did India lose out to Indonesia?

Irked with India, Elon Musk is exploring other nations in Asia — including Indonesia — for setting up a Tesla factory. 

The high import duties and lack of an ecosystem for electric vehicles (EVs) have prompted Musk to shy away from India despite Union minister Nitin Gadkari assuring all help to Tesla. 

Tips to take care of your electric vehicle

In their bid to minimise the carbon footprint, many nations around the world are slowly adopting electric vehicles (EVs) but people who are flocking to buy e-cars are not fully aware on how to care for an electric car.

In the long term, petrol or diesel cars will be a thing of the past and it will be EVs as well as hybrids all the way. And, this will lead to a cleaner environment.

Ford’s PLI scheme withdrawal | Is poor profit-sharing math responsible?

Ford has withdrawn its application from the Centre’s production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme for the auto sector and is the poor profit-sharing math responsible for the American auto giant’s exit?

So, what is this profit math? This is something that shows how much profit a car manufacturer can make for every car it sells in India.

Tata Nexon EV Max versus Tata Nexon Standard EV

Tata Motors has finally launched the new long-range Nexon electric vehicle (EV) Max in India and the first question coming to everyone’s mind is how different is it from the Standard Nexon EV?

Tata hasn’t phased out the older Nexon and is offering it along with the Max, which means a wider choice for its prospective customers.

EV two-wheeler fires | Insurance firms not to raise premiums for now

Lately, we have seen many electric vehicles (EVs), especially two-wheelers, catch fire, but insurance companies have said that they will not be raising premiums for this, at least in the near term. 

For a vehicle owner to get a claim on fire, he or she will need comprehensive insurance cover.