Entry Level Electric

Frankfurt Motor Show is easily one of the most awaited events in the automobile industry, and each year carmakers from across the globe gather here to showcase the best they have to offer. This not only includes concept cars and prototype technologies, but also a host of production-ready variants that will be introduced in various markets in the coming years. In the past few years, this international platform has witnessed a lot of changes, as more and more companies prepare their massive production lines for the eventual switch to electric powertrains. While in the previous years, this intention to move towards clearer fuels was showcased through concept cars alone; this year, major carmakers have begun showcasing production-ready electric vehicles that can transform this niche market into a viable industry segment.

This year’s line-up isn’t important just because the cars are production-ready, but also because in a telling move, almost all manufacturers have released their models in the entry-level hatchback segment. This category brings in the highest volumes of sales for most companies, and therefore having multiple offerings in it showcases how serious these companies are about exploring this new opportunity. This race to outdo the competition is also contributing towards the updated standards of performance and software features that make first-generation EV’s look obsolete. To help you get an idea of what we are talking about, here are some of the top models that are destined to appear in markets around the world in the coming year or two.

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Vauxhall Corsa-E

Corsa has been one of the better selling models for Vauxhall, and so it only made sense that they would try to sell even more cars by converting it into an electric. Now, this does not mean the extinction of traditional Corsa’s, but rather the addition of an E variant, based on the e-CMP platform. In addition to the platform, the car also shares its underpinnings with the Peugeot e-208; combined with a 134BHP motor that is mated to a 50kWh battery to produce around 300kms of driving range. Like most hatchbacks, the car is front-wheel drive and still features the simple design philosophy of previous models. However, at a starting price of around `20 lakh, this will be quite an expensive Corsa to buy.

Honda E

This model easily features one of the most striking small car designs we have seen in the EV segment. While on the outside, it looks like a high-end clone of the infamous Maruti 800, on the inside it features a retro design with a barebones dashboard that still manages to stuff 4 separate screens; two for displaying the view from side-mounted cameras, a big 8.8 inch instrument cluster, as well as a big 12.3 inch horizontal touchscreen. All this makes for a good looking EV that packs a decent 35.5kWh battery. You get a max output of around 150BHP and around 220kms of driving range, although the range will depend on how fast your flick this tiny car around the city roads. At a competitive price of around `23 lakh, this is still one of the better options to look at.

Skoda Citigo e iV

As a car, the Citigo didn’t break any new ground. It was just another economical offering from a long-standing brand that was supposed to take advantage of the budget-conscious buyers, and for years did just that. However, now that it has become even more outdated than it was when it launched, the company has decided to give the model another lease at life, by launching an EV variant. In this avatar, the cars get an 82BHP motor that is combined with a 36.8-kWh battery pack to give a peak range of around 260kms. This is more than enough performance for all sorts of inner-city errands, which remains the true purpose of the car. At a starting price of around 15 lakh, this will make for a decent second car, for most households.

VW ID.3

While Volkswagen has released electric vehicles in the past, the ID.3 marks the first time that the company has created a purpose-built EV designed from the ground up. The highlight of the design is the new MEB architecture, which features a multi-purpose bespoke pure-electric platform that will be used by various brands under the VW Group umbrella. This is the first real-life test of this new powertrain, with the standard variant featuring a 148bhp motor and a 45kWh battery, for a range of around 300kms. The top-range version will have a bigger 201BHP motor with a 77kWh battery, with a range of around 500kms. The car will have a starting price of around `24 lakh, which might seem steep, but compared to other models that offer similar specs, this price may just be the right bet for the company.