Despite all the noise about polluted cities, ban on diesel engines above 2000 cc and Delhi’s infamous odd-even policy, fact is the automotive landscape in India is still heavily dependent on fossil fuel. A combination of non-existent infrastructure, lack of clarity from policy-makers and complacency from car-makers have meant there are just a handful of hybrids and a sole full electric car on sale in our country. Yes, after all these years, Mahindra e2o is the only electric car we Indians could buy.
That scenario has changed now with Mahindra launching the eVerito, the first full electric zero-emissions sedan in the country. First shown to the public at the 2012 Auto Expo in New Delhi, it has taken quite some time for Mahindra to bring Verito’s electric sibling to the market.
Available in three trim levels - D2, D4 & D6, the eVerito would be available in select cities in India including New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chandigarh, Pune, Jaipur and Nagpur. Mahindra is in the process of setting up charging stations in each of these cities which should come as a big relief to prospective customers. Post state subsidies and FAME incentives in New Delhi, the eVerito retails for INR 9.50, 9.75 and 10.00 Lakhs respectively for the three trim levels. Without the subsidies given by the state governments, expect the prices in other cities to be comparatively higher.
The eVerito is powered by a 72V 3-phase AC induction motor that generates 41 horsepower and 91 Nm of torque. Transferring the power to the front wheels is a direct drive single speed transmission. The battery pack comprises maintenance-free lithium ion batteries with 200Ah capacity. The eVerito gets a claimed top speed of 86 km/h and a driving range of 110 km on a full charge. While regular charging on a 15A power socket would take 8 hours and 45 minutes, the fast charging system-equipped D6 variant can go from 0 to 80% in just 1 hour and 45 minutes. There is no doubt the eVerito is a car strictly for intracity usage.
Mahindra has equipped the eVerito with ‘Regenerative Braking’ system that generates power and charges the batteries every time the brakes are applied. An interesting piece of tech called ‘Revive’ enables the eVerito to travel an additional 8 kilometers that helps owners get to the nearest charging station if they run out of charge. It can be activated from the instrument cluster but can be used just 5 times over the life of the battery pack. The eVerito also features ‘Telematics’ for remote diagnostics and monitoring the vehicle’s performance and a 'Boost Mode' for sudden spurts of power.
With the global car-makers hardly taking steps to launch hybrids and full electric cars in India, we are glad Mahindra has taken this bold step forward. The fact that they have started setting up charging stations in key cities across the country shows their commitment towards popularizing electric cars. Instead of the Verito, the same drivetrain in one of the newer, more popular Mahindras like the KUV 1OO or TUV 3OO would have made a bigger impact in the market.
With its solid underpinnings inherited from Logan, spacious interiors that can accommodate five passengers and their luggage and running costs as low as INR 1.15 per km, the eVerito is a practical zero-emissions city car for a typical Indian family and a step in the right direction. But, it’s also old and lacks safety features like ABS and airbags. Add to that the limited range and the time it takes for a full charge, you know Mahindra has made eVerito's life tougher.
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