Electric vehicles are approaching in a big way as we leap into the year 2017. 2018 Nissan Leaf, 2017 Hyundai Ioniq, the BMWi3, and of course the especially pre-ordered Tesla Model 3, all aim to un-bury the electric car. And to clear consumer minds of the fixed false ideas about them.
An electric vehicle has a straightforward working rule; an electric motor, placed at the axle is powered by a battery and drives the front or rear wheels (even both), straightforward and very efficient. Contrasting Petrol and Diesel Engines, an electric motor does not have to Rev up to a certain RPM to deliver max torque, (for example a Corolla gives max torque at 4400 RPM) as an alternative they can deliver all of their torque at 1 RPM, giving them unbelievable acceleration and remarkable throttle reply. Also, they are totally silent as electric motors do not create noise, may not be good if replacing the roar of a V8 with it, but coarse sounds of Inline-3s and 4s are more than welcome to be moved out. One question we hear you asking is RANGE. Electric Vehicles are often overwhelmed with range anxiety (the fear of running out of charge). On the other hand modern electric cars have almost solved the issue, with ranges as big as 400km, more on that later. Though, they do undergo tediously long charge times, which are still a huge multiple of refueling with petrol.
EVs and urban living are in our view, a match made in heaven. These cars give the best range (and therefore fuel economy) at low speeds. In stop and go traffic they feel fast and responsive (immediate electric torque), and as batteries are frequently placed down below, and they have no engines, the center of gravity is low, so they handle great too! In addition, they have no driveline belts, transmissions, filters, oils, fluids and valve trains, so they require almost no maintenance at all. Modern battery mediums like Lithium-ion and Lithium-Polymer means the batteries are very long-lasting, and there have been (unlike hybrids) little to no cases of battery degradation over time.
So if you’re concerned in a new car, you owe it to yourself to take a look at an electric car; fortunately they fall under the category of 1cc hybrid vehicles, so they are, at the moment free of import duties. Consequently, most can be had for cheap. Here are some of the best obtainable EVs you can at present import from Japan; ranked by their range, cost to buy, Rupees per kilometer and estimated yearly fuel savings over a 2017 Toyota Corolla Gli (12-15 km/l; 1 liter of Petrol @70 Rs; Driving 20000Km Yearly; 1 Unit at 12 Rs).
2015-2016 Nissan Leaf
- Price: 12-16 Lacs
- Power: 107 HP
- Torque: 255Nm
- Range ~ 200km
- Fuel Economy: 1.44 Rupees/Km or 48.6 Km/l-equivalent
- Estimated Yearly Savings: Rs. 79 000
Nissan Leaf has for all time been the forerunner of the reasonably priced electric car and for a good reason. Leaf is a 5-door hatchback with an 80KW motor that puts out 107 HP but more prominently, 255 Nm of torque at 1 RPM, more than twice that of a Corolla and considerably more than a 1.5 Turbo Civic, making it feel quite energetic to drive. 2016 Leaf ‘G’ has Touchscreen infotainment system, Cruise Control, BOSE Premium Audio, 360-Degree Parking Camera, 17-inch Alloys (Pictured Above), takes 4-6 hours to charge on 220V and delivers a range of around 200km as reported by NEDC (New European Driving Cycle).
An auction grade 5 Nissan Leaf ‘G’ at around 10000 Km driven, can be had under 16 lacs, lower trims are cheaper still, making it the best value on this list. Fuel Savings of around Rs. 75000 can be likely yearly over a Gli, which can be even more if you take benefit of off-peak rates. The suspension is agile, and the ride is advanced and very comfortable.
On the other hand, the leaf has kind of frog-like exterior styling to make it aerodynamic, which is its only disadvantage, aside from the steering being frozen.
