Electric vehicles (EV) as we all know have a unique appeal to themselves, they portray an image of a vehicle which is quiet, comfortable, economical and exciting. The new electric motor in the EV is smaller than the traditional internal combustion engine transcending the whole vehicle into roomy interiors and a peaceful drive. There is nothing to worry about when trying to push these cars to its maximum limit, as torque, or pulling power, is instantly available, one has to just keep in mind that the top speed shouldn’t exceed the legal limits, plus there are no gears to grind, which is indeed an add-on, but sometime could be off-putting as we are all so used to the stick. But in a way, the whole non-gear, automatic upshift and downshift gives you an easy ridability. All electric cars are automatic and include the comforts we expect in premium cars, for instance, satellite navigation (with range advice and options), air conditioning, climate control, phone charger and bluetooth connection.
In addition to all these, many electric car models have additional desirable features such as park assist cameras, high resolution intelligent displays, touch-screens, 30 minute rapid charging capability, automatic wipers and lights, funky design and last but one of the most important parts, they are all environment friendly.
Now, let’s add some facts and figures, to have a better understanding of what the overall EV industry looks like:
A BNEF report projects sales of passenger electric vehicles will first outpace conventional passenger vehicles in 2038, to the tune of 50 million EVs exceeding 47 million conventional cars. By 2040, that gap is estimated to widen considerably, with sales of passenger EVs reaching 56 million units. The report also projects that annual worldwide electric vehicle sales will increase by 54 million over the next two decades, and annual global sales of conventionally powered automobiles will drop from 85 million to 42 million over the same period. In 2025, China is expected to account for 48% of all electric cars sold globally, but by 2040, will only be responsible for 26% of the total. The U.S. is also expected to fall behind Europe in electric car market share during the 2020s, and by 2040, Europe will account for 20% of global EV sales and America will account for 16%.
As of now, you might have an idea about what to expect from the EV industry in the coming times and how it will be creating a space for itself or even acquiring others as well.
As we have some numbers to crunch now, let’s dive into the Indian market of EV and see what all are the vehicles on offer. The number of vehicles available in the Indian market is still very low compared to the international market. In 2022, there are possibly 14 electric cars available in India. Some of the popular amongst the lot are Hyundai Kona Electric, Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo, Audi e-tron GT, Audi e-tron and Tata Nexon EV. One of the cheapest of the lot is the Tata Tigor EV. As the Indian market is a booming place for EVs, it would be interesting to see what other vehicles would be introduced here.
Now that we have some clarity over what to expect from the Indian EV market, let’s explore some of the best luxury EV out there.
Audi e-tron
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Starting at around ₹1.01 crore ex-showroom price, this German machine is one of the finest machines when we look into the luxury vehicular manufacturers. Audi has focused on the aesthetics of dynamic handling with their perfection mindset to give the owners of the car a great feel of luxury. The 95 KWH lithium-ion battery of e-tron 55 variant integrated into the flat underbody offers extremely high performance, both when charging and while driving. In combination with the recuperation system, it provides a range of up to 484 km according to the WLTP (Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test) measurement procedure. Depending on your driving style, the aerodynamics can be actively adjusted in two-way settings for the rear wing as well as the cooling air inlets at the front. The e-tron is available in five variants- quattro 50, quattro 55, Sportback 55, GT quattro and RS e-tron GT ranging from ₹1.01 Cr to ₹1.89 Cr ex-showroom price.
Porsche Taycan
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Porsche Taycan is a 5-seater sedan available for a price range of ₹1.50 – ₹2.30 crore (ex-showroom) for the Indian markets. Taycan is the purest form of expression of a Porsche electric sports car. The more compact performance battery that is fitted as standard in the Taycan, Taycan 4S, Taycan Sport Turismo and Taycan 4S Sport Turismo produces its energy from 28 modules with a total of 336 cells. Up to 560kW (761PS) overboost is activated with launch control helping these cars to accelerate from a standstill to 100km/h in 2.8 seconds; and this can be repeatedly reproduced, meaning consecutive acceleration is possible up to a top speed of 260km/h. Once you are inside the vehicle, it is sure to blow your mind with an optimal driving experience. EV vehicles under the name of Porsche have their own unique characteristics which differentiates them from the other luxury manufacturers. Keeping in mind varied customers preferences, Porsche has given options of ten variants to choose from.
Mercedes-Benz EQC
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Priced at ₹99.5 lakh ex-showroom, Mercedes-Benz EQC is one of the best luxury vehicles in the EV segment. EQC radiates ease and modernity, with the practicality of an SUV meeting the sleekness of a sports car, for greater comfort and performance. This vehicle also offers convenient charging solutions that adapt to your everyday routines. Explore the MBUX Interior Assistant – the revolutionary infotainment system with natural voice control and touch-sensitive surfaces – for a seamless experience. Adding to that is the Augmented Reality for navigation for a smooth transition while on that unknown road of exploration. Mercedes-Benz EQC jumps from 0-100 km/h in just 5.1 seconds (as per company norms) and its battery ranges to 361-420 km (according to WLTP) to provide for a greater distancing coverage without worrying about recharging the battery for a longer period of time. In an overall aspect, this vehicle is surely a win-win option while looking for a luxury EV.
Jaguar I‑Pace
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Priced at ₹1.08 – ₹1.12 crore ex-showroom, Jaguar I-Pace is no way behind when it comes to having an innovative outbreak. Acceleration bursting to push the machine from 0-100 km/h in 4.8 seconds is something that makes Jaguar I- Pace a work of brilliance. I-PACE’s fully-electric architecture allows the vehicle to combine luxury craftsmanship with generous amounts of space and storage within the car’s interior. Either you can use a domestic charging cable to charge your I-PACE at home or a public charging cable will keep I-PACE charged on the go. I‑PACE is a true driver’s car. Its electric motors and near perfect weight distribution delivers a 696 Nm of instant torque for sports car agility. Its infotainment system, Pivi Pro1, delivers all the key infotainment at a glance. It is inspired by, and as intuitive as your smartphone, which comes handy while trying to navigate around the idea of technology and connectivity. The I-Pace can deliver a range upto 470 km (WLTP cycle). I-Pace is available in three trims to choose from- SE, HSE and Black Edition.
BMW iX
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Launched in December 2021, the iX is the flagship all electric SUV of BMW in India. The 76.6 kWh battery provides a range of 372 – 425 km and a peak power of 326 hp. Both interiors and exteriors of the iX exude the sheer luxury BMW is know for. The vehicle gets a BMW Curved Display with 12.3 inches information display and 14.9 inches control display. The battery can be recharged up to 95 km range in just 10 minutes or the entire range in less than 40 mins at public high power charging stations. At a price of around ₹1.16 Cr ex-showroom, BMW iX definitely is an interesting option for the people who love to mix fun with performance and at the same time are environmental conscious.
BMW i4
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BMW i4, the latest EV from BMW, is so far the least expensive luxury EV in India. Priced at ₹69.9 Lacs ex-showroom it is certainly going to receive a lot of interest from the luxury car customers. What makes it even more desirable is the range of up to 590 km (WLTP), which addresses the biggest fear a customer has i.e., range anxiety. At a high-power charging station one can add a range of up to 164 Km in 10 min recharge. The 83.9 kWh lithium-ion battery pack enables the i4 to zoom from 0 to 100 km/h in just 5.7 second. As iX, the i4 is equipped with the BMW Curved Display with 12.3 inches information display and 14.9 inches control display. The fact that it falls in the price segment of 5 series and offers similar practicality in terms of usage and driving experience, it is bound to garner a lot of attention in coming days. It would be no wonder if we see it being sold out for a year or so in coming days.
With all these new introductions into the world of luxury cars, EV has been fast catching up in the last couple of years; and as the number of vehicles in the EV segment has been on an uphill climb, it shouldn’t be hard to understand that EV is the future of the four-wheel vehicles. Along with all the latest technology, EVs also have the potential to have a great positive impact on the environment in order to have a better future in the times to come. All the fuel emission regulations could be subdued as there would be a major drop down in the harmful gases. So, how about giving the whole new luxury EV experience a shot!