India's first fully electric sedan to have a starting price of Rs. 8 lakh, ex-showroom
File Photo: e-Verito showcased at the 2016 Auto Expo
After the recent ban on large capacity diesel vehicles in Delhi, the National Green Tribunal has implemented the rule in Kerela (Click here to know more) as well and plans to extend it to 11 more major cities. Manufacturers like Mercedes-Benz and Toyota have taken a hit owing to their models having engine capacities of or over 2,000cc that cannot be registered in the two aforementioned states. Indian carmaker Mahindra is all set to launch the e-Verito, the first ever fully electric sedan in its segment, on June 2 this year. Is this a reaction to the ban? We don't know that yet, but what we do know is that the electric sedan will have the same underpinnings as its diesel-powered sibling.
Showcased at the 2016 Indian Auto Expo, the e-Verito is powered by a 3-phase 72V electric motor that is capable of generating 41PS of max power and 91Nm of peak torque and can cover 100km when fully charged. It seems good enough for city runabouts, but may pose a problem for long journeys as it would take six to eight hours for a full charge. Mahindra will also introduce a fast charge option on the top-of-the-line variant that would charge the batteries in one and a half hours.
The Mahindra e-Verito will be available in three trims namely D2, D4 and D6, and its prices are expected to start from Rs. 8 Lakh, ex-showroom, which is at a premium considering the oil burner is priced at Rs. 7.1 Lakh, ex-showroom, Delhi. Should the authorities reduce taxes on electric cars in order to promote them? It is clearly a better option than any other fuel for driving in a city, however, there are a number of challenges ahead of it in the country as of now.