Auto Expo 2020 Will Be A New Year's EV Party!

The new year will see carmakers shift their focus towards the future, and more importantly Auto Expo 2020. Aside from BS6 norms, the other theme for the upcoming expo will be the EV revolutions that was kickstarted in India with the launch of the Hyundai Kona Electric.Here’s a lst of EVs that are expected to be showcased by Maruti Suzuki, Tata, Renault, and others:

Maruti Suzuki Futuro-E Concept

Maruti Suzuki is expected to feature a variety of updated models ranging from facelifted models to CNG models. However, the limelight will be on the Futuro-E concept SUV at the expo.  Details of the Futuro-E are scarce, but its electric powertrain could be based on the electric Wagon R that has been seen testing on our shores. However, the Wagon R EV isn’t going to debut before 2021. Expect the production-spec Futuro-E to rival the Tata Nexon EV in India.

Tata Nexon EV

 

Tata Motors is set to showcase plenty of vehicles like the Gravitas, Altroz as well as the Nexon facelift at the expo. On the EV front, we can expect Tata to launch the recently revealed Nexon EV, which is one of the most anticipated EVs for 2020. It boasts 129PS of power and a range of more than 300km. Prices are likely to range between Rs 15 lakh and Rs 17 lakh once launched.

Tata Altroz EV

While the Altroz is being launched on January 22, we are expecting it to be showcased at the Auto Expo. Aside from that, Tata could also debut the all-electric iteration of the Altroz. It will be powered by the same Ziptron powertrain that propels the Nexon EV. It could boast similar technical specifications at 129PS and more than 300km of range. The Altroz EV has been spotted testing in India and could be launched by December 2020.

MG ZS EV

MG’s challenger to the Hyundai Kona Electric, the ZS EV was revealed earlier this month and is slated to launch in January 2020. It is powered by an electric motor that puts out 143PS and 353Nm, juiced up by a 44.5kWh battery pack. MG claims that the electric SUV delivers a range of 340km on a single charge. Bookings are already being accepted for a token amount of Rs 50,000. Expect the ZS EV to fetch a price tag starting from Rs 25 lakh (ex-showroom India).

Mahindra XUV300 Electric

Mahindra could debut the all-electric iteration of the Mahindra XUV300 that has been spied testing in India back in March this year. While details are scarce, the XUV300 Electric is expected to be powered by a 132PS electric motor with a 40kWh battery and a range of more than 300km. Expect the car to launch later in the year and rival the likes of the Nexon EV.

Renault City K-ZE

The highlight for the French carmaker at Auto Expo 2020 is likely to be the HBC mini-SUV as well as the Maruti Suzuki Dzire-rivalling compact sedan. However, we could also get to see the City K-ZE at the expo. It is essentially an all-electric Kwid as it is built on the same platform, albeit wth some modifications for adoption of batteries and electric motor. It makes use of a 26.8kWh battery pack which is good enough for 44PS and 125Nm with a top speed rated at 105kmph. It also gets fast charging capabilities with a DC fast charger giving it a charge from 30-80 per cent in 30 minutes. However, it will be a long wait before we get to see the City K-ZE on our roads as Renault is delaying the launch to 2022 to wait for better EV charging infrastructure.

Mercedes EQC

 

And finally, another SUV that is expected to hit Indian roads soon in 2020 is the Mercedes-Benz EQC. Expect the electric SUV to be showcased at Auto Expo 2020 alongside the futuristic EQS concept car. Major highlights in the EQC include power outputs of 408PS and 765Nm, a claimed range of 465km as well as a fully-loaded cabin with twin digital screens and leather-draped dashboard.