Mahindra to ride high on electric hatchback

Six years after foraying into the electric segment, automotive major Mahindra is hoping to ride high on a four-door battery-driven hatchback with a host of innovative features. "Our new city smart car 'e2o plus' is powered by electric drive train technology to ride through city traffic at 85 kmph top speed up to 140km, with its battery fully charged 90 minutes for 14 units of power," said Mahindra Electric Chief Executive Arvind Mathew.

Though electric cars failed to take off in India despite giving a most economical mileage of 70 paise per km, Mahindra is betting on setting a trend with its new model in the mass market segment. "We are confident that the new electric hatchback will become a popular transport mode in cities and towns, as it has smart features like other compact cars in the same segment," asserted Mathew.

Priced between Rs 6.73 lakh and Rs 9.51 lakh, the e20 plus has remote diagnostics through telematics, connectivity through smart phone app, advanced infotainment system, regenerative braking, reserve charge and automated messages. The regenerative braking charges the car battery when brakes are applied, helping the vehicle recover the energy it dispenses.

"In the absence of a heavy engine or moving parts lagging the power output, the hatchback provides an instant torque to zoom when its engines are cranked." The model also benefits from the government's FAME (Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric vehicles) scheme, which offers Rs 1.38 lakh incentive to its buyers as part of the national electric mobility plan, in addition to lower or zero taxes and subsidies from many states.