Top 10 electric cars that will be launching in 2021

With the success of Tata Nexon EV and MG ZS EV, automakers are now preparing to enter the electric vehicle space in India. Here is a list of the forthcoming new electric cars and SUVs that will be introduced in the country this year –

1. Tesla Model 3 – The long-awaited Tesla Model 3 electric sedan will be formally sold in the country by the end of the first quarter of the fiscal year 2021-22. Bookings for the new model will begin in January 2021. Initially, Tesla cars will be launched as a CBU (Completely Built-Up) unit; however, local development could start at a later stage. Model 3 is available with single and dual-engine options. The standard range and standard range plus RWD models give a range of 423km. These versions will do 0-100km/h in just 6 seconds. The Long Range AWD and the Long Range Output AWD (0-100kmph in 3 seconds) comes with a dual-engine and provides an electrical range of approximately 568km.
2. Mahindra EKUV100 – Mahindra will launch the much-awaited eKUV100 mini SUV by the end of this quarter. Unveiled at the 2020 Auto Expo, the upcoming Mini Electric SUV would cost Rs 8.25 lakh (ex-showroom). The electric mini SUV is fitted with a 40 kW electric motor that produces a torque of 53bhp and 120Nm. The mini SUV has a 15.9 kWh lithium-ion battery pack providing a range of 120 km at full charge. With a DC fast adapter, the eKUV100 can take around 1 hour to charge up to 80 percent.
3. Mahindra EXUV300 – The much-awaited XUV300 will be launched before the end of this year. It will be available in two versions – Standard and Long Range – with a range of 200km and 350-400km respectively. It will come with a 350V powertrain, electric motors from 60kW to 280kW, and batteries up to 80kW of capacity. Its exterior and interior will be subtly different from the traditional ICE (Internal Combustion Engine) model.
4. Porsche Taycan – In the first half of 2021, Porsche will officially introduce the all-electric Taycan in the country. Centered on the Mission E model, Taycan is the first-ever all-electric vehicle of the group. It uses two permanently-excited synchronous motors (PMS) that produce more than 600bhp of combined power. The electric car is claimed to give a range of 500km at a single charge. It can cross 0-100 km/h in less than 3.5 seconds and 200 km/h in less than 12 seconds. The battery can be charged at 80 percent in just 22.5 minutes. The electric car can be charged for a journey of 100 km using a high-powered charging network in just over 5 minutes.
5. Audi e-Tron – Audi has officially announced the introduction of an e-Tron electric SUV in the country in 2021. The latest e-Tron has two engines – 125kW at the front and 140kW at the back. The powertrain has a torque of 408bhp and 664Nm, and the power is transmitted to the wheels by the AWD system. The electric SUV accelerates to 100km/h from scratch in 5.5 seconds before achieving an electronically restricted maximum speed of 200km/h. The e-Tron also has a 95kWh battery pack that can be charged using regenerative braking technology.
6. TATA Altroz EV – Buoyed by an excellent response to the Nexon EV, Tata Motors will be releasing the Altroz hatchback electrical variant in the country by the end of 2021. The powertrain is expected to be shared with the Nexon EV. The Nexon EV comes with an IP67 approved 30.2 kWh battery pack with a permanent AC generator. The Altroz EV is likely to give a range between 250km and 300km. The battery can be charged up to 80 percent in 60 minutes using a DC quick charger and can be fully charged in 8 hours using a standard power socket.
7. Jaguar I-Pace – Jaguar will launch the first electric car – the I-Pace on the Indian market in 2021. Designed on the bespoke EV aluminum platform, the Jaguar I-Pace boasts a coupe-like silhouette, and the styling is influenced by the Jaguar C-X75 supercar. It comes with a 90kWh lithium-ion battery with 400PS and 696Nm of torque. It is claimed to give an area of 480 km. The battery can be charged up to 80 percent from zero in just 40 minutes using DC fast charging. It took 12.9 hours to fully charge with a 7kW AC adapter, although an 0-80 percent charge can be reached in 10 hours. The SUV will attain 0-100km/h in just 4.8 seconds before reaching a maximum speed of 200km/h.
8. Maruti WagonR EV – Maruti Suzuki will eventually introduce the long-awaited electric car-based WagonR in 2021. The electric car was scheduled to be launched in 2020; however, the launch was postponed due to inadequate charging facilities. The EV is supposed to deliver a range of 130-180km in the real world. It is estimated that the battery will take around 1 hour to charge up to 80 percent.
9. Volvo XC40 Recharge – It will be the first pure-electric vehicle of the brand in the Indian market. Based on the regular XC40, the forthcoming Volvo XC40 Recharge features an AWD drivetrain that provides a reported range of 400km at a single charge. It uses two 150 kW electric motors and gives a total output of 402 BHP and 659 Nm. The batteries are mounted beneath the board, between the axles. It can be charged up to 80% in just 40 minutes. It accelerates to 100km/h from zero in just 4.9 seconds before reaching an electronically restricted 180km/h maximum speed.
10. 2021 Hyundai Kona – Hyundai announced the 2021 electric Kona, which is scheduled to be launched on our market in the second half of 2021. The SUV comes with specification improvements such as a new closed grid, new LED DRLs, new headlamps, and new rear lamps. The latest model is 40mm longer than the original model. The new Kona Electric is now fitted with a bigger 10.25-inch optical instrument console. It also includes an optional 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment device with mobile access and Hyundai Bluelink connected car solutions. The long-range variant has a 64kWh battery with an electric motor that provides 204PS of power and 395Nm of torque.