Renault Fluence, Nissan Leaf and Chevrolet Volt have already made their mark on the western markets. Now with the rising fuel prices and inflation, the Indian auto market might also go the electric way. The petrol price has shot up by over 53% in the last couple of years and the diesel prices have also been increasing by 25% not wanting to be left behind. In fact even the future trend indicates that there seems to be just no stopping. Now that India is facing the heat, the induction for electric cars in the market has become a necessity, especially due to the fuel prices that seems to be pinching even the richest of pockets.
Currently the electric version of the Renault Fluence ZE is available at a price of 13 lakhs including the subsidy provided by the government which amounts close to 1 lakh rupees. The electric versions of Nissan Leaf and Hyundai i30 also come at a price range that is somewhat similar to the Renault Fluence ZE.The government has also put the icing on the cake with the removal of import duties. This means the actual cost of the Fluence ZE or Nissan Leaf would be available with a price tag of around Rs. 17 lakhs. This means that for every kilometer you travel in the car it will cost around Rs. 0.5 per km, almost cheaper than the local calls you make from your mobile phone.
Majority of the electric cars are powered by lithium ion batteries, which gives a road run of 180 km on a full charge. This will surely augur well for the city drives. The cars will also be a huge plus with absolute silence and being offered only on automatic transmission. The drive becomes hassle-free and the linear power distribution is more than satisfactory.
One of the main hindrances in purchasing an electric car is the monthly charge that one has to pay for the battery. The cost ranges between Rs. 4500 and Rs. 6500 depending on the usage of the car. The battery may be replaced by the company at the end of 3 years and can even be swapped for another set for no additional cost.
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