Some of these futuristic beauties were on display at the Auto Expo 2018, in Noida.
As soon as we discovered electricity could run vehicles, we were happy and disappointed. Happy, because well, it was good for the planet, disappointed because they were quiet. Where was the rush of the sound of an engine, running on petrol? Again, early electric vehicles focused on total commuter practicality, with most manufacturers sticking to safe designs, and specifications. As a result, electric vehicles found themselves boxed into a particular form and type.
That mould now seems to be breaking. There are performance electric vehicles that look great and go fast. Some of these were showcased as concepts at the recently concluded Auto Expo 2018 in Noida. Here is our list of 8 machines:
Bikes:-
Electric motorcycles are still not widespread. However, there are two firms, amongst others, that are venturing into that territory, and both happen to be in Bengaluru!
Emflux Model 1:-
The Emflux Model 1 has a liquid-cooled AC Induction motor, which produces around 50kw of power, and 84Nm of torque, at 8,400 RPM. It uses 67 bhp of power, through Samsung lithium-ion batteries. The electric superbike has a state-of-the-art touch TFT display, GPS navigation and vehicle diagnostics, among other features. The Bengaluru-based company claims that the bike hits 100 km in 3 seconds, and has a long range of 200 km.
Ultraviolette Automotive:-
This Bengaluru-based firm is also working on motorcycle design, to make sustainable transportation more accessible. They want to build an electric vehicle ecosystem for the urban environment. Ultraviolette has been building and testing prototypes, and recently, TVS invested around $700,000 in the company! The prototype designs look stunning.
Cars:-
Electric cars are quite widespread, and manufacturers have rolled out a few models too. If you look at the higher end of the spectrum, some cars are still hybrids. It is as if we are afraid to cut dependency on fossil fuels. Well, these are some stunning cars that rely solely on electricity, which were showcased as concepts at the recently concluded Auto Expo held in Noida.
Hyundai Kona:-
This SUV with its sleek LED DRL lights, sharp lines and beautiful wheel arches is stunning. The insides are plush as well, with a floating infotainment screen, and a head-up display. This vehicle is capable of doing 0-100 kmph, in around 9.7 sec, and has a top speed of 155 kph, reports Autocar. Hyundai is not going the hybrid route and has decided to be exclusively electric, if the car displayed at the Noida Auto Expo is anything to go by.
Suzuki E-Survivor concept:-
This will probably resonate with fans of the good old Gypsy. It is a serious off-roader, and has great ground clearance, and comes with four in-wheel electric motors. It was unveiled, in Noida , as a 2-seater car without a roof and is a small convertible SUV, based on a ladder-frame chassis. Maruti claims that the e-Survivor is built with lightweight materials to aid in off-roading, reports Autocar.
Uniti:-
This Swedish automobile manufacturer, and Bird, the popular helmet-maker, unveiled this futuristic concept car and demonstrated a 5-seat EV for Indian markets, at the Noida Auto Expo 2018. Running 200 kms on a single charge, it is expected to hit Indian roads by 2020, according to NDTV. The car indeed looks stunning, with its unique exterior, and is solely electric!
Renault Trezor Concept:-
This car made its debut at the 2016 Paris Motor Show and is an aggressive 2-seater Grand Tourer (GT). The car looks straight out of a sci-fi movie and has a sleek, carbon-fibre body with red glazing. It delivers a staggering 348 bhp and develops around 380 Nm of torque. Renault engineers have fitted two air-cooled batteries in the front and the back for optimum weight distribution. This car will hopefully make its debut soon!
Tata RaceMo Concept:-
This is the all-electric version of this concept called ‘Racemo’ and has a 200 bhp motor, which derives its power from a lithium-ion battery pack. The company claims the car has a 350 km range. The 2-seater sports car, sits under 4 metres in length, with a rear-mounted mid-engine. The stunning design and the numbers speak for themselves. It was on display at the Noida Auto Expo, where it grabbed eyeballs.
Mahindra E-KUV 100:-
The highly popular compact SUV will get an all-electric version, and according to Mahindra’s Managing Director, the company will launch electric variants for all future SUVs and crossovers. Developing powertrains with outputs ranging from 41 to 204 HP, the company is also exploring the use of higher-capacity batteries. As for the e-SUV, it looks stunning, and its all-electric avatar will be the first SUV in India to solely depend on electric power.
You may also like:- How Karnataka is Becoming The Centrepiece of India’s Electric Vehicle Revolution
If we collectively and consciously decided to stop depending on hybrids, and switch to pure EV vehicles, we will succeed in leaving a smaller carbon footprint on our environment.
(Edited by Shruti Singhal)
Featured Image Credit: RSMegane.
Like this story? Or have something to share? Write to us: contact@thebetterindia.com, or connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.
NEW: Click here to get positive news on WhatsApp!
