5 global Electric Vehicles that have a strong Indian connection

You’d be surprised to know how many electric vehicles that have come out in the past few months for global markets have a strong link to the Indian automotive industry. Of course, it doesn’t necessarily mean that these EVs will make its way across to our shores, but when you see these cars in your travels abroad, remember that they are connected to Bharat!

1 & 2. Renault K-ZE & Dacia Spring (development of the CMF-A was done at the RNTBCI)

Dacia Spring Electric unveiling
The Dacia Spring is a modified Renault K-ZE, which in turn is a variant of India’s Renault Kwid.

The Dacia Spring is a locally adapted version of China’s Renault K-ZE (Renault Kwid electric) in Europe. Save for a few design and styling changes and a region-specific equipment package, it’s more or less the same electric car.

The Dacia Spring has a 26.8 kWh Lithium-ion battery pack and a motor that generates 33 kW or 44 PS of power and 125 Nm of torque. It gives users a range of 225 km (WLTP Combined)/295 km (WLTP City). The battery pack can be charged to a 100% level in less than 5/8.5/14 hours using a 7.4 kW/3.7 kW/2.3 kW AC charger. Fast-charging is also possible – 80% SoC in possible in less than one hour using a 30 kW DC charger.

The Dacia Spring will roll out of the same plant as the Renault K-ZE in China. Located in Shiyan, China, this plant is under the ownership of eGT, a JV company of Dongfeng (50%), Renault (25%) and Nissan (25%). The base Dacia Spring price could be as low as around EUR 15,000 (INR 13.23 lakh).

Although our market has the conventional petrol-powered Renault Kwid that sells in droves, the Chinese, interestingly, are stuck with the sole option of electric power for the Renault Kwid, or the Renault K-ZE.

Of course, at 61,800 yuan (6.97 Lakhs), the Chinese wouldn’t complain for they’re getting a fairly spacious, mini SUV-esque EV that feels at home in the urban jungle. Not to mention the 33 kW and 125 Nm electric motor that’s juiced by a 26.8 kWh rechargeable battery with support for fast charging and is capable driving 271 km on a single charge (note that this figure is obtained from the NEDC cycle).

What the two cars have in common is the CMF-A platform that has its roots in the Indian market. Much of its development was undertaken by the Renault-Nissan Alliance’s Indian engineers at the RNTBCI (Renault Nissan Technology & Business Centre) near Chennai under the leadership of the late Gerard Detourbet, given that it’s one of the biggest markets for low-cost compact vehicles, and the high expectations from the average Indian buyer pushed the development team to create a modular, shareable platform that conforms to local standard but for a lower cost. Before his demise, Detourbet was working on the electrification of the Kwid for China which gave the country the K-ZE.

3. Peugeot e-Ludix (manufactured in India by Mahindra)

There’s a global electric vehicle that’s manufactured in India (specifically Pithampur, Madhya Pradesh). It was designed in Pune, Maharashtra. It even gets Peugeot branding!

However, it’s not one of the Peugeot passenger cars but the French company’s motorcycle division which is fully owned by Mahindra and Mahindra. The Peugeot e-Ludix is an electric moped sold exclusively in European markets. It uses a 3 kW electric motor and is capable of reaching a top speed of 45 km/h. With a range of 50 km per charge, the e-Ludix makes its case as a low cost, quick and tiny city runabout for students and delivery agents. In European markets, the e-Ludix is priced at 3,490 Euros (Rs 3.07 lakh).

Given its connection to Mahindra, the e-Ludix may be subjected to the Ssangyong treatment i.e rebadged as a Mahindra with focus on a lower retail cost, as the Indian automobile manufacturer is trying to engineer a cost-down version of the e-Ludix. If it does see the light of day, the e-Ludix will go up against products from Hero Electric and Okinawa.

4. Pininfarina Battista (Pininfarina is wholly owned by Mahindra Group)

If the e-Ludix represents one end of the Mahindra Group’s EV spectrum, the Pininfarina Batista would be placed at the complete opposite end. With power equivalent to nearly 467 Peugeot e-Ludix units, the 1400 kW Batista is the Italian design house’s first-ever production car that made its world debut at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show. Pininfarina had always aspired to design, develop and produce their own car, and its acquisition by Mahindra helped turn that it into reality.

The Batista will be one of the most powerful vehicles to be sold, surpassing power figures from big names like Bugatti, Koenigsegg and Hennessey. It is capable of sprinting from 0–100 km/h in about 2 seconds, 0–299 km/h in 12 seconds and hitting a claimed top speed in excess of 349 km/h.

Pininfarina Battista front three quarter view in motion

If not driven hard, the Batista can do 450 km on a single charge thanks to a large 120 kWh T-shaped battery pack sourced from Rimac. The Batista will be built in very limited numbers (around 100 units), given that each unit will be individually hand-crafted and available with a wide variety of customization options typically expected from multimillion-dollar hypercars. Pininfarina Batista deliveries will begin in early 2021.

5. Nio ES8 – Research and Development support from Tata Technologies

Nio may be famous globally for its hyper-fast and track-capable Nio EP9 electric 2-seater, but the Chinese startup also happens to have products that are more conventional like the full-size ES8 electric SUV. Sold exclusively in China, the ES8 starts from 468,000 yuan (INR 52.79 lakh). The Nio NS8 held the world record for an electric car achieving to the highest altitude until the Hyundai Kona came along this year.

For the development of their electric portfolio, Nio sought the help of Tata Technologies since the former’s establishment in 2015. They are proud to talk about the Indian technology company’s involvement in the development and production of the all-aluminium Nio ES8, especially in areas like body structures, exterior panels, manufacturing and off-car connectivity.

Nio ES8 front three quarter view

The ES8 can do 0-100 km/h in 4.9 seconds and is claimed to offer a maximum range of 580 km (NEDC cycle), courtesy of a 70 kW/hr battery pack that powers four electric motors producing a total of 448 kW. It comes with three rows of seating as standard, with options between 6-seat (2 captain seats in the middle row) or 7-seats, and active air suspension as standard. The ES8 rivals the Tesla Model X, locals like the Xpeng G3 and BYD Tang, and other 5-seater SUVs like the Mercedes-Benz EQC, Audi e-tron and the upcoming BMW iX3.