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      Mercedes EQC Electric SUV India Launch Price Rs 99.3 Lakh

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      Mercedes-Benz India had showcased the all-electric EQC luxury SUV at Auto Expo 2020

      The Indian automotive industry is actively focusing on all-electric and electrified forms of powertrains across a wide price segment. In the ‘relatively’ affordable category, our market has only three desirable choices: Tata Nexon EV, MG ZS EV and Hyundai Kona. Mahindra Electric is almost ready with the eXUV300 (a direct rival to the Tata Nexon EV).
      On the higher end of the spectrum, luxury car manufacturers are also analysing the feasibility of their successful global EVs in India. Porsche India recently confirmed the launch of the performance-focused Taycan four-door coupe.
      Now, Mercedes-Benz India has launched the new EQC all-electric compact luxury crossover SUV at a starting price of Rs 99.3 lakhs, ex-sh. This is an introductory price, and is only valid for the first 50 buyers.
      The German automaker had showcased the same at Auto Expo 2020, held in early February. The first 50 buyers of the Mercedes EQC will also get the wall charger as well as installation free of cost.

      Introduced to the world at 2018 Paris Motor Show as the production version of Mercedes-Benz’s 2016 Generation EQ concept, the all-new EQC (internal codename: N293) is based on the current-gen GLC. It is one of 10 new ‘three-pointed star EVs’ coming to reality by 2022.
      The new Mercedes-Benz EQC has no direct rivals in India but in foreign markets, it faces strong competition from the Audi e-tron, Jaguar I-PACE and Tesla Model X. Indian EV enthusiasts have been eagerly waiting for Tesla’s arrival for quite a few years.
      Powertrain and specs
      Available only in EQC400 4MATIC (AWD) avatar, the 2020MY Mercedes-Benz EQC400 is powered by dual asynchronous electric motors (one on each axle) collectively rated at 300kW or 402bhp. Peak torque stands at 760Nm. The EV is able to do a 0-100km/h acceleration sprint in 5.1 seconds. However, top speed is limited to just 180km/h — considerably lower than most cars coming at half its price point.
      The 80kWh battery pack promises a range of 354km on a full charge as per the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Interestingly, WLTP (World harmonized Light-duty vehicles Test Procedure) rates it as 417km. Using a DC fast-charger, the electric SUV can attain 80 per cent charge from nearly empty in about 40 minutes.
      On the inside, the Mercedes-Benz EQC400 is as rich as other modern-day ICE products in the portfolio. For starters, the list includes a pair of 10.25-inch screens loaded with the latest MBUX infotainment suite. Drivers can also adjust the amount of brake re-gen via dedicated paddles behind the steering wheel. More

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      Top Selling Electric Cars Sep 2020 – Tata Nexon EV Leads With 61% MS

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      Electric cars have a few takers in India as of now, however, their numbers has increased over a period of time
      While electric vehicles (EVs) might still not have that kind of command of Indian roads, their strength has been on the increase in recent times. Apart from various -scooter models that have come up recently, the limited options in the passenger vehicle segment have been met with decent responses.
      Tata Nexon EV- Leader of the pack

      Among them, Tata Nexon EV has received the best response from consumers as it registered 303 units sold in September 2020. This is the first time Nexon EV sales in a month has crossed the 300 mark.
      It is also the highest number of EV units sold of a particular brand in a month this fiscal year. Its cumulative figure stands at 1,151 units in the current fiscal year starting from April this year. The Nexon EV bettered its record by 7 units sold in August 2020 and as for the market share, it occupies a total of 61.4 percent of EV market in India.
      Electric Car Sales India – April to Sep 2020. MS = Market Share
      MG ZS EV shows decent numbers
      MG ZS EV comes second in the list with 127 units sold last month as compared to 119 and 85 units sold in August and July this year. In the current fiscal year, MG Motor has retailed a total of 514 units of ZS EV and commands 27.4 percent of EV market share in India.
      MG Motor has expanded wings as the ZS EV will now be available in ten more cities across India. These places include Kolkata, Lucknow, Ludhiana, Coimbatore, Dehradun, Nagpur, Agra, Aurangabad, Indore and Vishakapatnam. The electric crossover was launched earlier in January this year in five cities initially which has now expanded to 21 cities cumulatively across the country.
      Others lag behind
      Hyundai Kona is the next in line with just 29 units of it being sold in the past month. The electric crossover from the Korean brand has not had many takers this year with its cumulative sales this fiscal year accounting for 100 units. It occupies a market share of 5.3 percent in India.
      Similar is the case with Tata Tigor EV which also has registered sales of just 100 units this fiscal year and accounts for 5.3 percent of India passenger EV sales. However, unlike Hyundai Kona, which is available in the open market for general public, Tigor EV is only available to fleet and cab operators in select cities.
      Mahindra e-Verito, on the other hand, is facing a sort of existential crisis as it registered just two units sold last month. Its total sales this fiscal year stands at a dismal nine units with a market share of just 0.5 percent.
      Future of EV market in India
      Although the overall EV volume is way below the expected level, we have to understand that EV market in India is still at a nascent stage in India and would take time to gain some pace. It also requires added infrastructure such as charging stations and battery disposal units to support EVs. Hopefully, in coming future, these issues will be sorted out and more EVs can be seen on Indian roads. Also Read – Top 10 Cars In Sep 2020 More

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      MG ZS Electric Launched In 10 New Cities – 127 Units Sold In Sep

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      MG Motor had launched its electric SUV- ZS EV in January this year, with initial availability limited to only five cities
      MG Motor has begun with its next phase of expansion of ZS EV with the electric crossover being launched in ten more cities across India. With the addition of these ten new cities, total availability of ZS EV has risen to 21 cities.
      New Cities On List

      The newly added cities to the list are Kolkata, Lucknow, Ludhiana, Coimbatore, Dehradun, Nagpur, Agra, Aurangabad, Indore and Vishakapatnam. The electric car was launched in January this year in eleven cities at a starting price of Rs 20.88 lakh (ex-showroom) which remains untouched yet.
      ZS EV is offered in two variants– Excite and Exclusive, the latter is offered at an ex-showroom price of Rs 23.58 lakh. Deliveries of ZS EV began in January this year across five cities- Delhi/NCR, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad and Bangalore. Those who booked the electric crossover on or before 17 January 2020 had to pay around Rs 1.0 lakh less than the actual marked price.
      MG ZS EV Sales in FY 2020
      Sales have been slowly picking up. Now, with the addition of 10 more cities, MG is expected to increase sales of ZS EV even further. In Sep 2020, 127 units were sold. For a hassle-free ownership experience, the manufacturer has launched MG eShield, a free-of-charge 5-year manufacturer warranty for unlimited kilometres on the car and 8 years/150,000 km warranty on the battery. In addition to this, MG offers 24×7 roadside assistance (RSA) for 5 years along with 5 no-cost services.
      Powertrain
      ZS EV is powered through a 44.5 kWh battery pack which supplies power to a motor mounted on the front axle. This electric motor produces an output of 141 bhp and 353 Nm of peak torque. All that torque is instantly available which helps it breach the 100 kmph mark in just 8.5 seconds while top speed has been capped at 140 kmph. MG offers a claimed range of 340 km on a single charge.
      Features
      Just like other MG offerings, ZS EV comes very well kitted. The equipment list consists of an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, iSmart connectivity tech, an inbuilt air purifier, a panoramic sunroof, automatic projector LED headlamps, keyless entry and lots more. It is also heavily loaded with safety tech which includes six airbags, ABS with EBD, rear parking sensors, hill descent control, hill start assist, brake assist and ESC.
      Charging Infrastructure By MG Motor
      For owners to overcome range anxiety issues MG Motor has installed ten DC fast chargers across dealerships in India. The company has teamed up with Fortum Charge & Drive India to install these chargers in showrooms across five cities in India where ZS EV was first made available. We can expect MG Motor to expand its charging infrastructure further with the expansion of availability of ZS EV. More

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      Nissan Leaf Electric Modified As A Disaster Recovery Vehicle – Named ReLeaf

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      Nissan Re-Leaf is based on Leaf electric and has been modified to provide emergency power in case of a calamity
      Electric Vehicles (EVs) are the future of mobility. While many countries have already accepted this fact, some are still in the process of accepting. Over the past few years, many automotive manufacturers have been working in developing better and more sound EV technologies and have made serious progress in this respect.

      Access to an electric car is still limited in a country like India since infrastructure to support such vehicles is sparse. However, many other countries have moved way ahead in this respect and hence manufacturers are thinking of future EVs as more than just personal mobility solutions.
      Nissan Leaf is one of the most popular electric cars in passenger vehicle segment and is also the first electric car to be mass-produced. While it has been honoured with several accolades in the past, its latest transformation is truly praiseworthy. Response vehicles play a crucial role during an emergency and natural calamity. This new transformed Leaf happens to serve the same purpose.
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      What is this ‘Re-Leaf’?
      Dubbed as ‘Re-Leaf’, this e-vehicle has been designed to serve as an emergency response vehicle which is capable of supplying power during relief efforts. Prefix ‘Re’ refers to three major elements of disaster preparedness – response, recovery, and resilience. The Japanese automaker claims that Re-Leaf has been designed in such a way that it is able to drive straight into the centre of a disaster zone to provide a fully mobile and reliable power supply to aid in the recovery process.
      Technologies offered in Re-Leaf
      Nissan Re-Leaf comes with weatherproof plug sockets mounted directly on the exterior which enables 110 to 230-volt devices to be powered from the car’s high capacity lithium-ion battery. Mobile power supply can be very critical during emergency situations as it has a wide range of applications such as communications, heating, medical, lighting and other essential equipment.

      Nissan further highlights some of the emergency equipment that can be powered by Re-Leaf. This includes pressure ventilation fans, a 100-watt LED floodlight, an electric jackhammer and an intensive care medical ventilator. Apart from all the nitty-gritty tech available on this electric car, it has been equipped with a set of all-terrain tyres to navigate through all possible pathways.
      Currently, Nissan Leaf allows customers to draw power from its battery to charge and supply power back to the grid through V2G (Vehicle-to-Grid) technology and also directly to electronic devices through V2X (Vehicle-to-everything) technology. Latest generation Nissan Leaf e+ comes equipped with a fully charged 62 kilowatt-hour (kWh) battery which is enough to provide power to an average European household for six days. The same is likely to have been installed in Re-Leaf.

      Re-Leaf concept has already proven to be effective. Nissan has already been using the Leaf to provide transportation and emergency power post natural disasters since 2011. The Japanese brand has formed partnerships with over 60 local governments to support disaster management activities. Nissan Re-Leaf could be recharged once power in the affected area has been restored or from a nearby available source. More

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      Maruti Patents Invicto, Plazeria, Excursio – Future Electric Car Names?

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      Maruti has recently filed trademarks for 6 new names which may or may not materialize as commercial nameplates
      It is not uncommon for automakers to file several trademark applications to protect their prospective new car nameplates. Just last week, news about three new Maruti trademarks – Libertas, Espaco and Solido – came out. The automaker seems to be on a spree as three more trademark filings have emerged online now.
      Maruti Invicto, Plazeria, Excursio

      Maruti Invicto, Plazeria and Excursio are the latest names that were trademarked by the OEM. While the names alone don’t mean there will be corresponding products lined up, they make for interesting speculations. Usually, OEMs explore different nameplates for a single product and eventually arrive at a final choice after several rounds of shortlisting processes which sometimes include customer survey as well.
      The name Invicto sounds like something that would suit an SUV while Excursio has a MUV vibe. Associating Plazeria to a body style is tricky but we think it could be adopted by a small car or a sedan. Or these could be variant names of their future electric cars. It is also very possible that none of these brand names will graduate to being commercial nameplates.

      Or, these names could simply be some kind of new dealership experience. For example, the name Nexa was also registered in a similar filing. And we know that Nexa was not used to name a car by Maruti, but to launch an entirely new dealership network. Similarly, it is too early to say for sure if these new names could be used for naming new cars, or something else from Maruti Suzuki.
      Upcoming Maruti cars
      Maruti Suzuki is currently working on a range of new products most of which will likely retain the existing nameplates. For example, the heavily updated Alto and the next generation Celerio which are currently under advanced stages of testing are not likely to adopt new branding. The Maruti Wagon R EV is not expected to be rebranded either since the existing moniker enjoys one of the strongest brand recall in the small car segment.

      However, few of the newly registered trademarks could be used for variant extensions. Moreover, going by Maruti’s history of numerous special edition variants, we won’t be surprised if these trademarks are used for upcoming editions.
      Festive season push
      With festive season inching closer, Maruti Suzuki is gearing up to cater to the increased demand. The Indian automobile market is showing signs of recovery post lockdown as dealers are reporting strong re-start to the business. The collective hope is, the increased preference for private transport would help the market recover not just to pre-pandmic levels but also post positive YoY growth.

      The company which has ditched diesel engine altogether has floated a marketing campaign to promote its petrol-only by encouraging the prospective customers to calculate the cost-benefit balance between petrol and diesel engines based on their usage patterns. More

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      Hyundai Kona Electric Rally Spec To Produce An Insane 800 bhp

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      Paddon Rallysport’s champion rally driver Hayden Paddon has said that the Hyundai Kona Electric for the race track should be ready in the coming months
      The company plans to develop one prototype for the race-specific model and make it operational by next month. If everything goes as per plan, it will undergo complete public evaluation and development by December this year. The ultimate goal of the company is to make use of this high-performance fully electrified Kona for the New Zealand rally Championship next year and other races henceforth.
      Details of the Project

      The project was announced last year by Paddon in order to give New Zealand’s motorsport community a global reach. The Kona Electric Rally spec is being developed jointly by Hyundai New Zealand and Paddon Rallysport with assistance from Yes Power, University of Canterbury and STARD, which is an Austrian motorsport team working on electric rallycross vehicles and part of the Stohl Group.
      Paddon Rallysport recently unveiled the aftermarket suspension setup to be used in this Kona Electric rally version. The company had partnered with Italian aftermarket automotive manufacturer- Extreme Racing Shox in developing the custom made suspension setup. Thanks to this new suspension, the rally-spec Kona Electric sits very low as compared to the standard road-specific model. It also is heavier than the regular model.

      At the start of manufacturing the rally-spec Kona Electric, the car was dismantled to its last bit and later reassembled to form an electric car. The process saw a big delay in April and May this year when the Covid-19 pandemic hit hard and was at its peak in New Zealand.
      This made them cut their budget so that no member had to be dropped from their team due to this crisis. The team is back on track and is confident of completing the prototype ahead of next year’s New Zealand Rally Championship although they are likely to miss the first few rounds.
      Mechanical Details
      By June this year, the cage and chassis were almost ready with the transmission and motors to be incorporated next. The battery arrived at its expected time in July when most of the car was ready. As for the body-kit, Haydon had revealed that they will be using carbon to manufacture it. By early 2021, the team expects the custom Kona Electric to be doing hill ascents and short sprints.
      A total of four motors can be packed on the rally car, each of them capable of generating around 300 PS of power. In the rally though, a twin motor setup will be employed which would be generating nearly 600 bhp of power. However, for the short runs and hill ascents, all four battery packs could be used to give a power of around 800 bhp. Paddon is also expected to get behind the wheels of the Kona Electric during the rallies. More

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      Tata Nexon Electric Subscription Plan Prices Cut by Rs 7k – Now At Rs 35k PM

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      Whether or not subscription plans take off in India is yet to be seen but for now more and more manufacturers are ensuring that such an option is being offered to consumers
      Tata Motors had also announced subscription plans for Nexon Electric. This was first announced last month. Prices revealed that time, started from Rs 41,900 per month. Now, about a month later, Tata has revealed prices of subscription plan has been slashed by Rs 7,000.

      Today, Tata has revealed a subscription offer on Nexon EV, at an all-inclusive fixed rental starting at only Rs. 34,900/- per month. This is a limited period offer, and is only valid till till 30th November 2020. The offer duration coincides with the ongoing festive season, and is quite limited in availability.
      This isn’t unexpected since EV sales are right now low compared the the vehicle market size in India. The subscription offer can be availed by the first 100 subscribers only, and does away with commitments that are tied to traditional vehicle ownership, including road tax and registration, insurance renewals, servicing and maintenance.

      Pankaj Jhunja, Head- Mobility Services, Tata Motors said, “It is ideal for customers preferring ‘usership’ over ownership amidst the rapidly growing phenomenon of shared economy.” Tata Nexon limited-period subscription offer is available for a tenure of a minimum period of 12 months, to 24, and 36 months. The service is on offer in Delhi/NCR, Mumbai, Pune, Hyderabad and Bengaluru.
      What is included
      Available as part of a partnership with Orix Auto, the subscription package includes comprehensive insurance coverage, on-call 24×7 roadside assistance plus free maintenance with periodic servicing, and doorstep delivery. A complimentary personal EV charger will be offered for home or office installation.
      Once subscription tenure concludes, customers can either extend subscription, or return the vehicle. The offer is customised, and suited for corporates inclined to lease, those with frequent inter-city job transfers, and expatriates in the country, who are here on fixed tenure, among others. A number of such jobs entail a company car, which would mean companies themselves would need to make a shift to EV procurement for their top employees for such offers to be successful.
      Also Read – Tata Nexon EV Owner Does 250+ kms
      Designed to offer flexibility to customers who already know they would require a vehicle for a fixed period, it’s difficult to imagine other customers making a beeline for subscription offers. For the current financial year, Nexon EV sales has already reached the thousand mark. This includes an order of 150 units from EESL.
      No doubt Tata Nexon EV is on top, but sales volume is noticeably small. A further boost in EV sales can be expected as and when state governments step in to build EV infrastructure and offer benefits for those who adapt. For now, the onus lies on those who are considered to be more environmentally conscious. The current subscription plan is designed to be smarter, affordable and convenient, and to make EVs even more accessible. More

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      Tata Nexon Electric Joins Kerala Motor Vehicle Department

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      Tata Motors also bagged order of 150 Nexon EVs from EESL earlier this month
      The Motor Vehicle Department (MVD) of Kerala had placed an order of 65 units of the Nexon EV earlier this year. Now we can confirm that the deliveries of the Nexon EVs have commenced from Tata Motors’ end.

      The photos show Nexon Electric SUVs in white colour, in the top end XZ+ trim.These EVs will be part of the ‘Safe Kerala’ project (launched in order to ensure better enforcement of the Motor Vehicle Act) and will be used for law enforcement duties in the coastal state.
      The electric SUVs in the photo come along with heavy MVD branding. The MVD logo can be seen on the side and even on the bonnet. Additionally, some more livery can be seen on the side of the car.

      It isn’t clear if these EVs got any additional equipment over the standard Nexon EV. Most MVD vehicles get a dedicated radio, strobes, cameras and radar speed sensors and it is highly likely that these units would have also got the same. However, it is difficult to figure out any additional details on the equipment list from the photos alone.
      Tata Nexon EV EESL Order
      The procurement of EVs for various government offices is being led by the ESSL (Energy Efficiency Services Ltd) which is a department under the Ministry of Power. In the early days, Tata and Mahindra were leading the EV bids and almost had a duopoly.
      However, with more electric vehicles coming in, even vehicles like Hyundai Kona EV are getting additional orders from the ESSL. The procured vehicles for the MVD will be maintained by the ESSL which will also be installing electric charging stations at all offices where these Nexon EVs will be stationed.

      The Nexon EV is one of the most cost effective full-sized electric vehicle on sale in India. It is sold in 3 different trim levels and has its pricing starting at INR 13.99 lakhs. All variants draw power from a 30.2 kWh lithium ion battery pack.
      Total power output of the EV stands at 129 bhp and 245 Nm of peak torque, which it extracts out of its electric motor. ARAI claimed drive range stands at 312 km on a single charge and if driven judiciously, real-life customers also have managed to get a drive of 250+ kms on single charge.
      Competition of the Nexon EV are currently limited, which just include the ZS EV from MG Motors and Kona EV from Hyundai. However, going ahead in the future, Nexon EV might face considerable challenge from upcoming competitors. Speaking of sales, Nexon EV is the best selling EV currently, with over 60% market share this fiscal year. More