India in for more electric cars in 2022
Electric cars are no longer the future when there are enough options in the market to suit everyone's needs.
image for illustrative purpose
Hyderabad Electric cars are no longer the future when there are enough options in the market to suit everyone's needs. The market saw more than ten EVs in 2021 which started from just three. In 2022, that number could double within the first six months, if things go as per carmakers' plans and there's no interruption in new car sales.
A few EVs we can expect to be available in showrooms in 2022 are from Tata, Volvo, Mahindra, BMW, Ford, Mercedes, Hyundai, MZ and Tesla.
Tata Altroz EV
It is expected to be launched in mid-2022, with price tag of Rs 13 lakh. With the Nexon and Tigor EVs in its portfolio, Tata Motors is India's leading EV maker and the Altroz EV will be a new addition to that lineup. It was first displayed at the Geneva Motor Show in 2019, and later at the 2020 Auto Expo. We expect Tata to offer something similar to that of the Nexon EV, considering the Altroz is perceived as a premium hatchback.
Volvo XC40 Recharge
It will be launched in early 2022, expected price Rs 60 lakh. Volvo wants to switch to electric vehicles soon. While its intent has been made public, the globally renowned carmaker doesn't sell an EV in India. But all that could change in 2022 with the XC40 Recharge. It's the same SUV as the XC40, but it has electric motors instead of engine, and a battery pack. The XC40 Recharge gets an AWD system, and it has a range of over 400km (WLTP cycle).
Mahindra XUV300 Electric
It is expected to be launched around April 2022 with the estimated price of Rs 15 lakh. It is a natural rival to the Nexon EV, and if priced correctly, it could even bring down the Tata car and become the new highest selling EV in the country. While Mahindra has been pushing its ICE (internal combustion engine) cars like the Thar and XUV700, it has maintained radio silence on introducing EVs. As they have grand plans for fully electric cars, the electric XUV300 could be one of 2022's highlight launches.
BMW i4
The German carmaker plans to bring in the i4 in mid 2022 with the price range of Rs 80 Lakh. BMW's EV offensive began with the iX SUV. Based on BMW's 4 Series Gran Coupe, the e-sedan could have both RWD and AWDs. It has an 83.9kWh battery pack, and according to estimates, it's good for 365km (AWD version with larger wheels).
BMW Mini Cooper SE
It is expected to launch in Feb 2022 with expected price of Rs 50 lakh. The Cooper SE has a modest 233km range and an electric motor that makes 184PS/270Nm. The battery pack is also relatively small at 36.2kWh. The best bit is that the Mini Cooper SE will be a three-door offering, rising its style quotient.
Ford Mustang Mach-E
It will be launched in mid-2022 at an expected price of Rs 80 lakh. Ford stopped making cars in India but selling cars in India. The American giant has decided it will offer its high-end products here. The electric Mustang is a crossover-style SUV, and in its quickest avatar, it can make the 0-96kmph sprint in just 3.5 seconds. The RWD model can go more than 500km on a single charge. With such versatility, we reckon the Mustang Mach-E will cater to a broad audience.
Mercedes-Benz EQS
Mercedes revealed the car a few months ago, and with the S Class comes with a lot of expectations. The launch is expected to be in mid-2022 with the price tag of Rs 2 crore. It packs a gigantic 107.1kWh battery pack, translating to up to 770km on a single charge. It is among a handful of cars with such a massive range. The EQS is available in RWD and AWD configurations, and Mercedes might offer both in India. It also gets cool features like automatically opening doors and rear-wheel steering.
Hyundai Kona Electric 2022
It is expected to be launched in mid-2022 with a likely price of Rs 24 lakh. The Kona Electric will forever remain India's first long-range EV. The necessary infrastructure was absent, the price was too high, and buying an EV was steeped in too many unresolved questions. Even in recent years, the Kona Electric's numbers haven't been that impressive. That's because other EVs have undercut it in price while also offering a more affordable package. Hyundai, however, plans to reverse its fortunes with an update to the Kona EV in 2022, and it'll hope that it gets second-time lucky.
MG ZS EV 2022
It will be launched in mid-2022 at an estimated price of Rs 22 lakh. Even MG will be updating the ZS EV in 2022. It will get similar cosmetic revisions as the Astor, which is the ZS EV's ICE equivalent. It sits between the Hyundai Kona Electric and Tata Nexon EV, and MG has been able to sell quite a few of these. With the 2022 update, it could get more features onboard -- like the AI robot in the Astor -- to further boost its appeal. It will also get the option of bigger battery packs for increased range.
Tesla Model 3
Tesla is expecting its Model 3 EV launch by Diwali 2022 and its price is Rs 70 lakh. Tesla's entry into India has been nothing short of contentious. It is not even sure of a particular date as Tesla has been silent on the matter. If it does make it to India in 2022, it has been spied multiple times in the country, the Model 3 is expected to be available in a fully loaded avatar.
