The Best Tesla Alternative Electric Vehicles In 2024.

August 28, 2024August 21, 2024 by vikas.sinha21

Introduction:

In the electric vehicles car market, many other great electric vehicle options have hit the market.

Electric Vehicles, loaded with various features and impressive ranges, like the Hyundai Ioniq 6, Kia EV6, and Chevrolet Blazer are hitting the electric vehicle market with attractive deals and financial offers.

TESLA:

Tesla is the largest electric vehicle seller in the U.S. market. Still, some other best alternative manufacturers and models are also available to give tough competition to the leading EV manufacturer Tesla.

At the beginning of the EV era, Tesla was leading the other manufacturers, but now it does not have as big a lead over its competitors. Though its EVs are still among the best, competing automakers have trapped up and have even surpassed Tesla in some areas.

12 Rivals of TESLA Electric Vehicles is different Technical Aspects:

1. BMW i4 electric vehicles:

The BMW i4 is the main rival of the Tesla Model 3.

# The cost of the single model i4 e-drive 35 is $52,200.

# The sprint time of this model is the same as that of the base model 3

# The range is up to 276 miles.

The longest-range model is the dual-motor $61,600 i4 xDrive 40, with a claimed EPA range of up to 307 miles and an acceleration time of 4.9 seconds.

Specifications at a glance of BMW i4:

# BMW i4 offers:

Power: 536 hp

Sprint Time to 60 mph of 3.7 seconds.

2. Hyundai Ioniq 6 electric vehicles:

Hyundai Ioniq 6, is launched with an aerodynamic shape and looks like a pebble- a design that seems to split opinions.

The new Hyundai and Kia EVs are coming with an E-GMP platform. This platform runs on 800 volts, which makes the car quick to charge and efficient.

The cost of the Ioniq 6 starts at $ 37,500 and can give 240 miles of range from its 53-kilowatt-hour battery and just 150 horsepower from a single rear-mounted electric motor. It achieves 0 to 600 mph in around 805 seconds.

The variant SE of Ioniq 6 costs $ 42,450 and delivers a range of 361 miles & quick acceleration with 225 horsepower and a bigger battery of 77.4 kWh.

Specifications At a Glance of Hyundai Ionoq 6:

# Hyundai Ioniq 6 base Model:

Cost: $37500

Range: 240 miles

Battery: 53 kilowatt- hour

Power: 150 horsepower

# Hyundai Ioniq 6 SE Model:

Cost: $42450

Range: 361 miles

Battery: 77.4 kilowatt-hour

Power: 225 horsepower.

3. Polestar 2 Electric Vehicles:

The Polestar is one of the bigger rivals of the Tesla Model 3, which was launched in 2020.

The single-motor, 299 hp model Polestar costs $49,900. Its sprint is 60mph in 5.9 seconds and its range is 320 miles.

The dual motor all-wheel drive polestar of 421 hp power and 276 miles range costs $55,300.

Specifications At a Glance of Polestar:

# Polestar Single-motor Model:

Cost: $49,900

Range: 320 miles

Power: 299 horsepower

# Polestar Dual-motor Model:

Cost: $55,300

Range: 276 miles

Power: 421 horsepower.

4. Hyundai Ioniq 5:

The Hyundai Ioniq 5 is built on the same E-GMP platform as the Ioniq 6. The Ioniq 5 is the rival of the Tesla Model Y.

Specifications at a Glance of Hyundai Ionoq 5:

# Hyundai Ioniq 5 base Model:

Cost: $41,800

Range: 220 miles

Power: 168 horsepower.

5. Kia EV6:

The Kia EV6 is very similar to the Ioniq 5 and Ioniq 6 in terms of mechanical properties.

Its unique look is like the hi-tech rally car. It offers a more dynamic driving experience compared to its Hyundai counterparts.

Specifications at a Glance of Kia EV6:

# Kia EV6 base Model:

Cost: $43,000

Range: 232 miles

Battery: 58 kilowatt-hour

Power: 168 horsepower

# Kia EV6 Advanced Model:

Cost: $45,590

Range: 310 miles.

Power: 225 horsepower

Battery: 77.4 kilowatt-hour

# Kia EV6 Long Range AWD Model:

The long range AWD model adds a second motor on the front axle which gives 320hp in combination. Its range drops to 282 miles.

Cost: $49,850

Range: 282 miles Power: 320 horsepower.

6. Ford Mustang Mach-E:

The Ford Motor is manufacturing one of the more fun to drive electric crossovers, the Mustang Mach-E. It’s interior is very impressive and coming with a decent Range.

Specifications at a Ford Mustang Mach-E:

# Ford Mustang Mach-E base Model:

Cost: $41,990

Range: 250 miles

Battery: 58 kilowatt-hour

Power: 267 horsepower from a single rear-mounted electric motor

To upgrade for extended range of battery pack, it costs $45990 for a range up to 320 miles.

The drive unit gets more power to compensate for the heavier battery and still delivers a similar 6.1-second benchmark sprint time.

The Rally model Ford Mustang Mach-E, gives more power and allows you to have fun sliding around a dirt road at a vehicle cost of $60.900 only.

7. Chevrolet Equinox EV:

The Chevrolet Equinox EV is very much liked drive in most of the first drive experiences. It is normal in drive with breadth of capabilities.

Specifications at a Glance of Chevrolet Equinox EV:

# Chevrolet Equinox EV base front-wheel-drive Model:

Cost: $34,995

Range: 319 miles on a single charge

# Chevrolet Dual-motor 2LT Equinox EV all-wheel-drive Model:

Cost: $43,295

Range: 285 miles on a single charge

The price goes up to $46,795 for the top 3RS variant.

8. Polestar 4:

The Polestar 4 Crossover is a splash in the EV market. Its coupe-like rear end looks like the Model Y and Mach-E in terms of body style.

Specifications at a Glance of a Polestar 4 Crossover:

# Polestar 4 Crossover base Model:

Cost: $54,900

Range: 300 miles of EPA range

Power: 272 horsepower from a single rear-mounted electric motor

# Polestar 4 All-wheel-drive Model:

Cost: $62,900

Range: 270 miles.

Power: 544 horsepower.

9. BMW i5 :

The BMW is manufacturing both the combustion and the electric versions of its 5 series sedan.

Specifications at a Glance of a BMW:

# BMW i5 eDrive40 base Model:

Cost: $67,100

Range: 295 miles

Power: 335 horsepower from a single rear-mounted electric motor

Sprint: 0 to 60mph in 5.7 seconds

# BMW i5 xDrive40 all-wheel-drive Model:

Cost: $70,100

Range: 266 miles

Power: 389 horsepower

Sprint: 0 to 60mph in 5.2 seconds

# BMW i5 xDrive40 all-wheel-drive Model:

Cost: $70,100

Range: 266 miles

Power: 593 horsepower

Sprint: 0 to 60mph in 3.7 seconds

10. Lucid Air:

The luxury carmaker Lucid Air developed the most efficient and longest-range premium electric sedan on its proprietary platform of 900 volts. It is very comfortable, roomy inside, and even fun driving around a twisty road. This car provides balanced driving with precise steering that allows an accurate placement while operating on the road.

Specifications at a Glance of Lucid Air:

# Lucid Air Pure base Model:

Cost: $71,400

Range: 411 miles

Battery: 88 kWh

Sprint: 0 to 60mph in 4.5 seconds

# Lucid Air the Grand Touring Model:

Cost: $111,400

Range: 516 miles

Battery: 118 kWh

# Lucid Air Sapphire Model:

Cost: $250,500

The Lucid Air Sapphire is the top-performance model and is one of the quickest-accelerating cars on the planet with the combined power of three electric motors.

11. Porsche Taycan:

The Taycan was the only rival of the Tesla Model S, before the launch of Lucid Air and BMW i5.

Specifications at a Glance of Porsche Taycan:

# Porsche Taycan base Model:

Cost: $99,400

Range: 274 miles

Power: 402 hp from a single motor

Sprint: 0 to 60mph in 4.5 seconds

# Porsche Taycan Turbo Model:

Cost: $173,600

Range: 292 miles

Power: 871 hp

Sprint: 0 to 60mph in 2.5 seconds

# Porsche Taycan Turbo S Model:

Cost: $209,000

Range: 266 miles

Power: 938 hp

Sprint: 0 to 60mph in 2.3 seconds.

12.Mercedes-Benz EQS:

Mercedes launched its electric vehicles in a similar look to its combustion engine cars. To make it aerodynamic efficient and to maximize its interior space its EQS sedan looks egg-shaped. It may not be the prettiest sedan, but it’s far from being a luxury EV, with a futuristic interior and plenty of range from its big battery pack.

Specifications at a Glance of Mercedes-Benz EQS:

# Mercedes-Benz EQS 450+ base Model:

Cost: $104,400

Range: 274 miles

Battery: 118 kWh

Power: 355 hp from a single motor rear wheel drive

# Mercedes-Benz EQS AMG Model:

Cost: $147,550

Range: 274 miles

Battery: 118 kWh

Power: 649 hp from a single motor rear wheel drive

Sprint: 0 to 60mph in 3.4 seconds

CONCLUSION:

Many top manufacturers are going ahead of TESLA in making electric vehicles and many are in the process just behind. There are many various best options to the consumers for going for an electric vehicle. Market is open and the manufacturers are in the race to compete with each other to give their best.

“Biden’s New 100% Tariff On Chinese Electric Vehicles Shuts Out Cheap Imports”

July 5, 2024July 4, 2024 by vikas.sinha21

Introduction:

It is a well-known fact that China is famous for cheap goods, and by manufacturing any goods cheaply, China sells its goods all over the world and is weakening the economy of the whole world.
To maintain its reputation in the field of electric vehicles, China is selling cheap cars all over the world. Because of this, American President Joe Biden has proposed a 100% tax on Chinese cars. This step is to protect the US carmakers from cheap imports.

Electric Vehicles: 100% tariff for chionese cars

As per the sources, this is a preventive measure to stop the flood of Chinese goods in the U.S. market. A four-year review will follow this.

Range of Tariff on Electric Vehicles & Others:

On electric vehicles, the tariff will increase from 25% to 100%, a tax increase from 7.5%to 25% will be on lithium batteries, a 0 (zero) to 25% rise on critical minerals, and 25% to 50%, and 25% to 50% on Semiconductors.

U.S. President Joe Biden said that the increased tax is a proportionate response to China’s overloading capacity of the electric vehicle sector. As per the record, china produces 30m electric vehicles every year but manages a domestic sale of only 22m to 23m.

The new tariffs will kick in after 90 days– a period that will be closely watched for signs of tit-for-tat retaliation by China. White House sources said the aim was not to escalate trade tensions but to help parts of the US economy where there had been a cycle of disinvestment.

Beginning this year, all lithium-ion EV batteries from China will be subject to a 25% import duty.

According to Reuters, Chinese electric vehicle manufacturers have benefitted from $57 billion in government subsidies between 2016 and 2022, leading to an overproduction of Electric Vehicles, creating artificially low pricing that could choke out global competitors.

China’s response:

In response, China’s state spokesperson news outlet published an editorial, accusing the US of “discouraging fair trade and environmental protection”, while saying that US consumers would endure the most of the tariffs.

“Unfortunately, the United States is a country that advertises open economy and free trade, but its actions are against its words. It also promises that it does not seek to decouple from China and hinder China’s development, but its practices tell another story,”

Biden’s Reply:

Biden said he was “not looking for a fight with China” but that the US needed to stand up to China’s “unfair economic practices and industrial overcapacity”. “I’m looking for competition, but fair competition,” he said.

U.S. politicians and manufacturers already see Chinese Electric Vehicles as a serious threat.

Biden said, “My administration is combining investments in America with tariffs that are strategic and targeted. It’s a smart approach,”

The administration will also double tariffs on Chinese solar cell imports to 50%, a move meant to counter China’s dominance of solar production, which currently comprises about 70% of the global market.

The Biden administration says the move is an effort to protect American workers against unfair Chinese trade practices.“Bottom line, I want fair competition with China, not conflict,” Biden said. “And we’re in a stronger position to win that economic competition in the 21st century against China than anyone else because we’re investing in America again.”

Conclusions:

This is a very normal thing that any country to adopt whatever rules and regulations are possible to strengthen its economy and to grow and protect its manufacturing sector and tries to grow its economy. America is a strong country. Whatever appropriate rules it takes to counter China’s unfair trade policy and sell cheap and low-quality products in its country, it is a successful policy.

China’s Leapmotor ready to enter India with Electric Vehicles.

May 10, 2024May 10, 2024 by vikas.sinha21

The Chinese automakers MG Motor and BYD have already arrived in the Indian Electric Vehicles market and now another Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer is ready to enter the Indian Electric Vehicles market. The company which was previously been in discussion with Sajjan Jindal’s JSW, will be announcing investments and India entry plans in partnership with the Stellantis group, which recently bought a stake in its global operations.

As per the Time of India Sources, “Leapmotor and Stellantis are likely to announce their plans to enter India, and this may happen as early as the next few weeks”. If the Indian government approves, the budget electric vehicles developed by Leapmotor will be launched in the Indian auto market very soon, which will intensify the competition in the green car space.

The collaborator Stellantis is one of the top automakers worldwide and currently runs a slew of brands across continents, these include Citroen, jeep, Chrysler, Peugeot, Fiat, and Maserati. The company Stellantis is already present in India through Jeep and Citroen and is now planning to go on overdrive when it comes to expanding operations, introducing brands, widening retail, or making new investments.

The global partnership between Stellantis and Leapmotor perhaps gives confidence to the Chinese company to make a bid for the Indian market, despite strict checks on investments from companies that originate from countries that share a land border with India.

The one Chinese carmaker BYD has already struggled, due to the government’s strict regulations, to expand in India after failing to get approvals from the government on its investment plans, despite making a bid with a local partner. On the other hand, MG Motor, owned by China’s SAIC group, had to finally give space to an Indian partner as Sajjan Jindal’s JSW bought a significant stake in the company with agreements to take up to 51% over the next few years.

Stellantis had announced plans to invest $1.6 billion in Leapmotor to acquire approximately 20% in Oct last year, emerging as a significant shareholder in the Chinese budget EV Company. The deal between the two companies also outlined the formation of a new entity called Leapmotor

International, a 51:49 Stellantis –a led joint venture that holds exclusive rights for the export and sale, as well as manufacturing of leap-motor products outside Greater China. The India entry plans are expected to be led by the new export-oriented entity.

Economies of Scale: Electric Vehicles

The only way for Stellantis to stay relevant is to have economies of scale with a competitive costing structure. Leapmotor can end up being the proverbial Knight in shining armor here where its Electric Vehicles range can hopefully generate the volumes and give a fillip to the overall business. or many years.

BYD is yet another Chinese auto brand that has been present in India focusing on electric buses through a collaboration with Olectra Greentech, a subsidiary of the Hyderabad-based Megha Engineering. BYD has also entered the automobile arena with e6 and Atto 3 followed by the more recent Seal. The Chinese auto brand has emerged as the latest threat to Tesla’s dominance in the global EV space and will in all likelihood, race ahead and come out tops this year.

Strong Local collaborator:

India may be ready to allow Chinese investments into its auto domain going forward if one key criterion is having a strong local partner in place.

BYD, therefore, needs to find someone with the influence of a JSW Group, which has collaborated with MG Motor. Likewise, Leapmotor is in the Stellantis Kitty which has been around for some time, and operates from two facilities in Tamilnadu (for Citroen) and Maharastra (Jeep).

“Perhaps the future will see a Citroen-branded EV that is a Leapmotor product. MG motor was quick to realize that SAIC needed to be in the background since the Chinese association would have struck a jarring note in India.” Says an auto industry veteran. The Strategy worked and MG Motor, as the front face, tasted quick success with its Hector SUV and is now an established brand in this market.

It is still a million-dollar question if another Chinese automaker will be inclined to follow this route for India. Before tensions broke out along the border with Chinese troops attacking Indian armed forces, Great Wall Motors was all set to step into the General Motors plant at Talegaon near Pune, the needless aggression from China only saw relations with India nosedive with the result that all investments were put on hold.

Great Wall, motors waited for nearly two years but when became clear that nothing was going to change, the company wisely decided to park its investment in Brazil and Thailand. The GM plant finally went to Hyundai Motor India, which will now use it to service the western region as well as overseas markets.

The Challenges & Opportunities of Electric Vehicles In India.

April 14, 2024April 14, 2024 by vikas.sinha21

Introduction:

A electric vehicles (EV) charging station (represetataional image)

Source: Reuters https://img.etimg.com/thumb/msid

Electric Vehicles in India are growing rapidly. It is a demand to go green and save the environment with sustainable development. In this way, alternative fuel vehicles are in global demand. Electric vehicles are the most popular and adopted way to go green globally. In India, many Indian manufacturers as well as foreign investors have already launched many brands in the Indian Market.

India is growing their EVs market in all segments like two-wheelers, Three-wheelers, four-wheelers, and commercial buses & trucks.

Indian Government has supported electric vehicles with several rebates like manufacturing rebates to the producers and tax rebates to the customers.

Despite that, there are still electric vehicles are still facing many challenges.

# Challenges for Electric Vehicles:

1. Mindset of the Consumers for Electric Vehicles:

The majority of Indian Customers are unaware of the impact of emissions on the environment and the after-effects of the same on future generations, so they are not very sensible to stop the pollutants and make their environment clean and green.

2. Affordability of EVs:

Even after government incentives and tax rebates, still electric vehicles are costlier compared to gasoline-engine vehicles. The running cost of these electric vehicles is less but the initial cost of purchasing the vehicle is high. The Indian government has reduced costs with FAME 2 incentives. The two-wheelers and three-wheelers can achieve cost uniformity and even reduce cost in the long term for vehicles operating in commercial activities. But we are behind in achieving this equality for four-wheeler segments.

3. Charging Anxiety with EVs:

Even though the electric vehicles market in India is growing and the consumer base is increasing day by day. Still, there is a fear in the mind of the electric vehicle driver of getting discharged their car vehicles in between trips. The charging infrastructure is not growing very rapidly in India; we have only 20,000 public charging stations to date. Many major players are in the field to develop the charging infrastructure but it will take a long time to come into existence.

4. Range of EVs:

The average range of Indian electric cars is around 350 to 400 k.ms and this is good for the city and around-the-city movement but in the end, there is always a fear of being discharged, during the trip.

5. Convenience: Charging a vehicle takes time to get it fully charged and is not as easy as re-filling the fuel in the vehicle. Even though the public charging stations are not very close around out of the city, it is also a tough job to get your vehicle fully charged. It takes a minimum of 30 minutes to 2 hours to get it at its full charge.

6. Regulatory Challenges:

The government policies and regulations are not very clear and consistent. The well-defined regulations, clear tax incentives & rebates, and setting clear targets for electric vehicle adoption can encourage investment and innovation in the sector.

#Opportunities of Electric Vehicles in India:

Apart from all the challenges with electric vehicles in India, there are many opportunities also associated with this like:

1. Government Support to Electric Vehicles:

The Indian government is committed to the development and promotion of alternative fuel vehicles and electric vehicles as part of these initiatives comes under the Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles (FAME) Scheme. The FAME is the financial scheme supported by the Indian Government to provide financial incentives for the adoption of Electric Vehicles.

2. Growing Market:

The urban population of India is growing rapidly and this population is of literate people, who are more concerned about environmental issues. As the awareness of a clean and green environment rises, more consumers are willing to switch to alternative fuel vehicles and electric vehicles are one of the best available choices to date.

3. Job Creation:

The electric vehicle development and growth create many employment opportunities in the fields of research and development, design, manufacturing, sales, service, and various sister concerns.

4. Innovations:

The Indian electric vehicle market provides opportunities for innovations in different areas like battery technology innovations, charging infrastructure development, and electric mobility solutions for the country’s special needs and challenges.

5. Rural Electrification:

The rural electrification initiative will be geared up with the adoption of electric vehicles, as this will accelerate initiatives like solar-powered charging stations. This could bring clean transportation options to remote areas.

6. Partnership and collaboration:

The Indian government, industry players, and academia can come together and in collaboration, they can drive innovations and accelerate the growth of the electric vehicle ecosystem. Partnerships with international players can provide new innovative technologies and even foreign investments.

7. Export Potential:

India has the potential to become a manufacturing hub for electric vehicles with a cost-effective and skilled workforce.

Conclusion:

This is the new era of alternative fuel vehicles and electric vehicles are one of the most popular globally. There are many of government support to promote electric vehicles in India. The government is providing many rebates and tax relaxation. FAME is employed to promote the faster manufacturing and adoption of electric vehicles throughout India. Even though, there are many challenges in the expansion of electric vehicles unawareness of Indian consumers, less and undeveloped Infrastructure like charging networks, High initial cost of the vehicles, etc.

Despite all the challenges, we should come forward to sustainable development to provide a clean and green environment for future generations.

“Wireless Charging Technology For Electric Vehicles Is Inching Closer To Reality”

April 6, 2024April 5, 2024 by vikas.sinha21

Introduction:

In recent years, there has been a significant development in research for wireless charging technology for electric vehicles. Many different startup companies and even established companies like Tesla are working to develop various wireless charging technologies to make charging electric vehicles more convenient and efficient.

We are already charging our mobile phones without plugin it with the charger i.e. doing wireless charging of phones and it was a surprise for many people. We cannot overdo the value of taking concern about running out of power or finding a place to plug in.

Now in the same way thinking about the convenience for the Electric Vehicles. This wireless charging technology for electric vehicles are already active in some part of Europe and Asia and very soon expected in USA. It is an estimate that, the global the global wireless electric vehicle charging systems market is projected to exceed $825 million by 2027.

How the Wireless Charging or Inductive Charging System Works?

Inductive charging, which uses electromagnetic fields to transfer energy between two coils as one in the charging pad on the ground and another in the vehicle, is one of the most promising wireless charging technologies for electric vehicles. In this system, you need only to park your vehicle on the charging pad and there is no need to plug in any physical cable anywhere.

Wireless Charging in a car with Mobile Phone.

An engineer holds a smartphone displaying the Hevo Inc. app to charge electric vehicles with wireless technology at the company’s power facility in Brooklyn, N.Y. (Christopher Lee/Bloomberg News)

Source:https://www.ttnews.com/sites/default/files/styles/article_full_width_image/public/2024-02/Charging-app-1200.jpg

As the research is on its way, very soon a day will come, when plug-in cars may no longer need a plug. Electric car drivers is only required to park their car into a specific and designated space of charging, whenever their car needs to power up, and after parking there, wait for a light on their dashboard to switch on, and then step out of the car leaving it for getting fully powered.

Wireless Charging of a car parked at specified platform.

(Image Source: PluglessPower.com)

This is the responsibility of distant electric vehicle charging, an inductive trade of electrons that would kill the requirement for that large number of tedious ropes. Different new organizations are attempting to make the dream a reality and investing years and looking for a world in which remote charging goes standard. Associations are joining everywhere in standardized development, automakers are leaving on remote tests, and regions are outlining use cases.

While charging without a rope sounds great on paper, the advancement faces the very peculiarity that is influencing the rollout of public fittings. More grounded buyer solicitation could push vehicle associations to take up remote charging, yet improvement in Electric Vehicle demand is perplexed slightly by concern about open charging.

Remote, wireless or inductive, electric vehicle charging works by using attractive resonation and a charging pad to make a power-conveying field. Right when a twist in a recipient under the vehicle lines up with a circle in the charging pad, the beneficiary gets that energy and feeds it to the vehicle’s battery. The development looks like remote phone charging, which moreover requires a collector and changed circles, but Electric Vehicles structures can work with up to 10 comedowns of division.

However, in any case, speed is a concern. Most distant chargers are similar to a Level 2 charger (the smart one you would use at home) and not the prompt current (DC) speedy chargers open at various public stations.

Advantages of wireless charging for Electric Vehicles include:

1. Convenience:

In wireless charging technology, users do not need to plug in their vehicles physically. This is the more convenient and user-friendly charging process.

2. Safety:

The wireless or remote charging technologies are equipped with safety features to prevent hazards such as short circuits and electric shocks.

3. Efficiency:

The wireless charging systems are automated systems with optimum efficiency and having faster charging times with better energy transfer.

4. Reduced Wear and Tear:

As there are no physical connectors, there is less wear and tear on both the charging infrastructure and the vehicle’s charging port.

Conclusions:

However, the wireless charging systems for electric vehicles are in the very early stages, many automakers and related companies are aggressively working on organizing wireless charging systems. Even though, many challenges like standardization, cost, efficiency, and infrastructure development are required to be addressed before bringing the wireless charging system into the mainstream for electric vehicles.

As the technology matures and standards are established, wireless charging for Electric Vehicles could become a more common feature in the automotive industry, offering Electric Vehicles owners a convenient and hassle-free way to charge their vehicles.

If you have any counter-opinions, or any reactions, clarification or questions, just put them in the comments box below. Thanks for reading…

Hybrid Cars Are Gaining More Popularity Than Electric Cars.

April 2, 2024 by vikas.sinha21

Introduction:

In India, Hybrid Cars are going ahead of Electric cars. Indian Consumers prefer hybrid vehicles to pure battery electric vehicles. Hybrid vehicles are a blend of internal combustion engines and electric motors, while the only battery-powered electric cars only depend on electric motors powered by batteries.

Source: https://www.dummies.com/article/home-auto-hobbies/automotive/car-repair-maintenance/general-car-repair-maintenance/what-are-hybrid-vehicles-196425

Why Hybrid Cars are overtaking pure electric Cars?

#Hybrid Cars are Reliable & Affordable with low Maintenance Cost:

Hybrid vehicles are becoming more popular as these vehicles are reliable and affordable and the maintenance cost of hybrids is low. On the other hand, very limited range, lack of charging facilities and expensive insurance are the major concerns that the Electric Vehicles ecosystem needs to address effectively to make it easy for Indian customers.

# Hybrid Cars are Cheaper:

Hybrid cars are cheaper as compared to all-electric cars i.e. battery electric cars. The market researcher Jato Dynamics reports that the average retail price of a hybrid is 16.98 lakh while that of an electric vehicle is Rs 17.71 lakh. The total hybrid vehicles sales from January to December 2023 was 12.6 % of the total passenger vehicles sold whereas the share of electric vehicles was only 2.3%.

The president of Jato Dynamics, Mr. Ravi Bhatia says that the hybrids may continue to play a major role in an intermediate technology like Stepping Stone towards adopting a full adoption of electric vehicles and will help to educate and familiarize consumers with alternative fuel technologies to transit completely to electric mobility.

One of my known, who is an IT engineer, was initially planning to buy an electric version of Tata Nexon ev of having an Ex-showroom price of Rs18.69 lakh is changed his mind and opted for a hybrid Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara Zeta of price Rs. 18.33 lakh. He says the challenges of charging infrastructure and lower outstanding value made him go for a hybrid.

Hybrid Cars vs. Electric Cars:

#Range Anxiety:

The lack of enough charging stations creates range anxiety among potential electric vehicle buyers. Hybrids with their dual power source, offer the comfort of long-distance travel without relying solely on electricity.

# Affordability:

Compared with electric vehicles, hybrid technology is more mature and more affordable.

# Tech Familiarity:

The familiar combustion engine in hybrids brings down the apprehensions about new tech.

# Govt. Incentives:

While the Indian Government offers incentives for both electric vehicles and hybrids, policies often favor the hybrids.

# Urban Driving Conditions:

Stop-and-go traffic in cities favors hybrids as it switches seamlessly between electric and ICE power.

# Consumer Preference:

Many consumers are still hesitant about electric vehicles. Hybrids with a longer presence in the market, benefit from brand recognition and customer trust.

Conclusions:

Many car manufacturers swear that electric vehicle is the technology of the future, as they will help in meeting COP26 goals, and in going carbon neutral in the long term. However, not everyone in the automotive industry is convinced that electric vehicle is the solution.

“Electricity generation in India is largely through thermal means and hence electric vehicles don’t help in furthering COP26 objectives. Also, there are functional transportation needs in a growing economy. Electric vehicles with the high cost of acquisition and lack of charging infrastructure have limits in addressing this requirement”.

“We need to support all sustainable fuel technologies (hybrids/ethanol blended, hydrogen, and CNG) proportionately so that we can displace petrol and diesel.” Regulatory pushes, such as CAFE or corporate average fuel efficiency that requires companies to lower greenhouse gas emissions and increase fuel efficiency–– are pushing manufacturers to launch more models in different segments.

RC Bhargava, chairperson of the country’s largest carmaker, Maruti Suzuki, says hybrids are much more acceptable to the customer as it is cleaner than EVs. He says, “We need to have multiple technologies at different price points catering to a diverse set of customers to cut down the carbon footprint.”

Shashank Srivastava, senior executive director of Maruti Suzuki, says the company will follow customer preferences “even as we meet regulatory requirements”.

The future, it seems, will be powered by many powertrains.

Bajaj Auto is planning to launch India’s first CNG Motorcycle…

March 26, 2024 by vikas.sinha21

Introduction:

A well-known and established name in the Indian two-wheeler industry, Bajaj Auto is gearing up to surprise the market with its upcoming launch of a CNG motorcycle. This is a revolutionary development, which offers a potentially more cost-effective and eco-friendly alternative fuel to replace the traditional gasoline or petrol engine bikes. This CNG motorcycle is to hit the Indian road in June 2024.

Source: https://www.indiacarnews.com/news/bajaj-bikes-in-india

Why CNG Motorcycle:

Fossil fuel prices are rising continuously and are becoming a major concern for Indian customers. Bajaj CNG motorcycle will be a good cost-effective alternative proposal for Indian two-wheeler consumers. Compressed natural gas is comparatively cheaper than petrol, and even saves running costs. CNG is more environmentally friendly than petrol and emits fewer pollutants like hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide.

Features and specifications of CNG Motorcycle:

As per the Industry reports and the speculations, the expected features and specifications may be:

Engine:

The most tested and tried 110cc engine, currently used for the Bajaj Platina bike might be used for the new CNG bike in a modified version. This engine in its petrol version delivers 806 BHP of power and 9.5 Nm of torque. Though the performance figure for the CNG version might differ because of changes in fuel.

Mileage:

One of the key attractions of CNG vehicles is their superior fuel efficiency. Experts anticipate the Bajaj CNG motorcycle to offer significantly higher mileage compared to its petrol counterpart, potentially translating to substantial savings on fuel costs.

Pricing Strategy:

Bajaj is known for its focus on affordability, and the CNG motorcycle is expected to follow suit. Industry estimates suggest a starting ex-showroom price of around Rs 80,000, making it an attractive option for budget-conscious buyers.

Possible expected benefits of CNG MOtorcycle for the Customers :

Reduced Running Costs:

Lower CNG prices compared to petrol can significantly reduce fuel expenses, leading to substantial savings in the long run.

Eco-friendliness:

Cleaner burning CNG can contribute to improved air quality, especially in congested urban areas.

Wider Range:

The CNG option provides riders with a broader selection of fuel choices, catering to individual preferences and fuel availability.

Challenges and Considerations of CNG Motorcycle:

CNG Availability:

The availability of CNG filling stations across India, particularly in rural areas, might be a limiting factor initially.

Range:

CNG vehicles typically have a shorter range compared to their petrol counterparts. This might necessitate more frequent refuelling, especially for long journeys.

Performance:

The power output of the CNG engine might be slightly lower compared to the petrol version, potentially impacting acceleration and overall performance.

Table: Key Considerations for Bajaj’s CNG

Motorcycle:

Feature	Expectation
Engine	Modified 110cc engine (based on Platina)
Power	Potentially slightly lower than petrol variant
Mileage	Expected to be significantly higher than petrol
Price	Starting ex-showroom price of around Rs 80,000
Benefits	Lower running costs, eco-friendly
Challenges	CNG availability, range, performance

Conclusions:

Alternative fuel vehicles like electric vehicles, Hybrid vehicles and CNG vehicles specially three wheelers and four wheelers are popular and making a remarkable presence in all over the world as well as in the Indian Market. The effort and initiatives made by the Bajaj auto is definitely a appreciable job towards a sustainable and eco-friendly environment. This will be a cost effective for the Indian consumers and it will definitely a revolution in the two wheelers industry in India.

The new policy for electric vehicles by the government of India now opens the door for global EV manufacturers.

March 19, 2024March 19, 2024 by vikas.sinha21

The Union Government of India has approved a scheme to promote India as a manufacturing hub for electric vehicles. The policy is designed to attract foreign investments with the latest technology for electric vehicles manufacturing by the reputed global electric vehicle manufacturers, such as Tesla, Vin-Fast, BYD, Kia, Škoda, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz.

Electric Vehicle at Charging Port

This policy will provide Indian consumers with access to the latest technology. This will also boost the Make in India initiative, and strengthen the electric vehicle ecosystem by promoting healthy competition among electric vehicle manufacturers. This will generate a high volume of production with lower production costs and lower the sale price. It helps to reduce the import of crude oil, lower trade deficit, reduce air pollution, especially in cities, and have a positive impact on health and the environment.

This new policy mandates the manufacturers to invest a minimum of Rs 4,150 crore ($500 million)in the country and will give three years to set up local manufacturing for Electric vehicles with at least 25% of the parts and components to be procured from the local market of India only.

Companies that meet these requirements will be allowed to import 8,000 EVs a year at a lower import duty of 15% on cars costing $35,000 and above. India levies a tax of 70% or 100% on imported cars depending on their value.

The move is expected to provide access to the latest technology enhance the EV ecosystem and support the Make in India initiative, the statement issued by the government said. The duty waiver on Electric Vehicles, which can be imported is capped at the annual PLI incentive (Rs 6,484 crore) or the investment made by the entity, whichever will be lower.

Electric Vehicles New Policy opens Door for TESLA

Photo: Bloomberg

A quick summary of what the new policy necessitates: –

Minimum investment required:

The minimum investment required is Rs 4,150 crore ($500 million) with no limit on maximum Investment.

Timeline for manufacturing:

The timeline for manufacturing is 3 years for setting up manufacturing facilities in India to start commercial production of electric-vehicles and reach 50% domestic value addition (DVA) within 5 years at the maximum.

Domestic value addition (DVA) during manufacturing:

A localization level of 25% by the 3rd year and 50% by the 5th year will have to be achieved.

Custom Duty:

The customs duty of 15% (as applicable to CKD units) would be applicable on vehicle of minimum CIF value of USD 35,000 and above for a total period of 5 years subject to the manufacturer setting up manufacturing facilities in India within a 3-year period.

The duty foregone on the total number of EV allowed for import would be limited to the investment made or Rs 6,484 crore (equal to incentive under PLI scheme) whichever is lower. A maximum of 40,000 EVs at the rate of not more than 8,000 per year would be permissible if the investment is of $800 million or more. The carryover of unutilised annual import limits would be permitted.

The investment commitment made by the company will have to be backed up by a bank guarantee in lieu of the custom duty forgone.

The Bank guarantee will be invoked in case of non-achievement of DVA and minimum investment criteria defined under the scheme guidelines.

“Battery Performance of Electric Vehicles In Cold Is A Big Trouble”

January 26, 2024 by vikas.sinha21

Introduction:

Cold weather causes challenges for electric vehicle owners. Electric Vehicles are getting frozen in cold weather. It is experienced by many electric vehicle drivers and even experts say that cold weather is causing a 30% loss in battery range and an increased charge time (approx. Triple) for electric vehicles.

Electric vehicles are facing problems like fall in performance, less battery life, bigger charge times, etc.

In a city like Pennsylvania in the United States, cold weather is causing serious problems for electric vehicle owners. In winter weather at extreme cold, the batteries of electric vehicles are going discharge faster and take much extra time to recharge it again.

An electric car owner at a Tesla charging station near Chicago shared that “I was at 50% when I got here and usually it takes 10 to 15 minutes to charge from 50 to 80, 90% but now in the cold it is taking an hour and 20 minutes for the same.

Source: https://evocharge.com/resources/how-does-ev-charging-work

Reason for Battery-Troubles of Electric Vehicles in Cold:

Source: Tricky_Shark/Shutterstock.com

The experts of electric battery and fuel cells states the cold weather is causing organic chemical reactions within the chemical substances of the electric battery and that slows down its performance exponentially. The experts say battery range for electric vehicles can be reduced by up to 30% in the cold and at zero degrees can lose 10 times the amount of power. The re-charging of the batteries can take double and even triple times in the cold.

As told by the battery & fuel cells specialist and Chair Professor at Penn State’s Department of Material Science and Engineering, Mr. Chao- Yang Wang, told, “The chemistry in the battery will slow down almost exponentially with the decreasing temperature”.

As of now, the current electric vehicle charging infrastructure is less in number and at are far in distance which is also a trouble for the electric vehicle owner to go for a long in the cold.

The characteristics of lithium-ion batteries are very sensitive to excess temperature in cold weather. The battery-making companies are working continuously to develop better technology to nullify the existing defects and improve the performance of electric vehicles for all climates.

Electric vehicle (EV) batteries can experience challenges in cold weather due to several factors:

1. Temperature Sensitivity of Lithium-ion batteries of Electric Vehicles:

Lithium ion Battery For Electric Vehicles

Source:https://possibility.teledyneimaging.com/wp-content

Most electric vehicles use lithium-ion batteries, which are sensitive in case of excess temperatures. The efficiency of the lithium-ion batteries decreases in cold weather and the capacity to provide and accept the charge weakens. The chemical reactions within the battery become slower in colder temperatures and decrease the overall performance.

2. Reduced Energy Storage Capacity:

The energy storage capacity of lithium-ion batteries is minimal in cold weather. And when the temperature drops, the internal resistance of the battery rises, and it creates difficulty for electrons to move within the cells and the overall energy output of the battery decreases.

3. Increased Internal Resistance:

The internal resistances of the batteries are high in cold temperatures, which causes higher losses during the charging and discharging processes. This internal resistance can cause the battery to heat up during the process and this may further reduce the overall efficiency of the battery.

4. Charging Limitations:

In cold weather during charging the battery, gets overheated, and due to this reason, it takes longer time to charge the battery of the electric vehicles.

5. Range Reduction:

In cold, the battery energy of electric vehicles is used for heating the systems, which affects significantly the driving, range of the electric vehicles.

Solution of Electric Vehicles Battery Low Charge in Cold Weather:

Battery pre-conditioning:

To overcome the impact of cold weather on electric vehicle batteries, many electric vehicles are now coming with the facility of battery pre-conditioning systems. These systems are used to heat and the battery before starting the vehicle, which improves the performance of the battery.

Experts suggest using the pre-condition setting offered in some electric vehicles to optimize the battery performance in cold weather. Drivers should also ensure a full charge and keep their electric vehicles in warmer condition when not in use as possible.

Whenever electric vehicle drivers notice that their vehicles are performing less in the cold, They should know to practice some necessary tips to maximize the battery life and better performance.

Conclusions:

The electric vehicle market is growing globally and many different players like Tesla, BYD, Toyota, Hyundai, Mercedes, and many more are involved in manufacturing and R&D.

Despite, the current battery technology has trouble in combating the issue; however, innovations are going on by different institutions. The scientific solution to this problem is available but it will take time for the automobile industries to implement it practically. It is expected that within four to five years this problem will go away completely.

By the time, a basic preparatory work is required to do before you make a trip, like checking you’re a battery at its full charge capacity, and pre-heating of the vehicle.

10 Reasons : why to Chose an Electric Car

September 25, 2023 by vikas.sinha21

Introduction: Electric Car

The number of Electric Car consumers are increasing, and various convincing opinions are there in favor of this revolutionary trend. However, some people hold a negative perception of the electric vehicles and claim that these vehicles are not fit for daily use.

As more Electric car charging stations are being established throughout cities and highways across the world, people’s perceptions are changing and they are looking forward to electric vehicles.

Electric cars : Happy Family with Electric Car

Source: Image by Senivpetro on Freepik.

The electric cars have numerous benefits over a gasoline powered vehicles.

The following 10 economical and environmental reasons why we should go for an electric vehicle:

1. Safety features of Electric Car:

Electric cars are equipped with many advanced safety features, which ensures that EV owners keep themselves, their belongings, and others on the road to be safe.

As per the report from the Institute for Highway Safety, the electric vehicle injury claims are substantially less than the gas vehicles.

Electric Cars are generally come with the following safety features:

Adaptive Cruise Control in Electric Car:

The adaptive cruise control system monitors the objects in front of the vehicle using the sensors or cameras. If your vehicle is just about to rear end of someone, the adaptive cruise control technology will instantly engage your brakes to prevent a collision.

Automatic High Beam Deactivation in Electric Car:

This is a camera based system that deactivates the high beams when detects a close distance between two vehicles.

Forward Collision Warning(FCW)System in Electric Car:

The forward collision warning system uses sensors to identify a potential accident when your vehicle approaches a vehicle or other things ahead. The FCW system informs you when you are going too fast and recommend you to slow down to avoid an accident.

Lane Departing Warning(LDW)System:

This system is a camera-based technology that senses and detects whether the driver is about to drift out of their lane using onboard camera.

Lane Keeping Assistance:

The lane keeping assistance pushes the vehicle back into its lane when a driver fails to respond the lane-departure warning.

Blind Spot Monitoring:

This monitors traffic in the adjoining lanes and indicates if a vehicle approaches from either side.

Surround View Camera:

The facility supports in parking by providing the driver with 360- degree picture of the vehicle and its surroundings

2. Instant Torque and Acceleration of Electric Car:

The twisting force, torque is the important features, which makes electric vehicles different from the fuel-powered vehicles or gasoline vehicles. The electric motor’s allows instantly moving away when you press the pedal in a hybrid or electric vehicles.

The major difference between electric and gas powered vehicle is that the electric vehicles does not need any transmission system. In electric vehicles, by pressing the acceleration pedal, the car’s motor immediately sends power to the wheels and develops an instant torque and the acceleration.

In gasoline-powered vehicles, the engine power can be delivered to the wheels after an operation of multi-gear downshift. And in case of electric vehicles, only a simple connection to the battery is required to power the wheels.

Source: Image by Fanjianhua on Freepik.

3. Silent and comfortable Features in Electric Car:

In electric vehicles, as there is no engine and very few moving parts, the noise is negligible. Thus, the silence and the comfort is the two basic things that people look for in their car, and gets in an electric vehicles.

The electric vehicles are equipped with all the modern features like air-conditioning, heating and other amenities, which provides all comforts to the passengers.

4. Less Maintenance:

As there is no engine and transmission system and very few moving parts in electric vehicles, there is no friction and hence no wear & tear. No need to do periodic maintenance of changing mobile oil, coolant, brake oil, gear oil etc. Only battery charging is required and a periodic rotation of tires is necessary.

5. Cheaper in fuel:

The initial purchase cost of an electric vehicle is little higher than the gasoline powered vehicles. However, the after purchase maintenance and fuel cost is lesser than the conventional gasoline powered vehicles. There is no need to fuel electric vehicles as it runs on battery-powered electric motors.

The battery can be charged free of cost or with minimal charge on public charging stations.Even you can charge your car at your home itself.

Electric Cars : Cheaper in Fuel, only battery charging is required.

Source: Image by Freepik

6. Buyers’ Incentives:

There are government incentives and tax rebate available on the purchase of the electric vehicles. To promote the electric vehicles, make a clean and green environment the consumers are motivated with many incentives to go for the pollution free transport facilities.

There are number of financial measures designed to incentivize consumers for purchasing the electric vehicles by the European Union.

7. Tax Cuts:

To encourage the electric vehicles sales, government has implemented a plan to increase the tax burden on conventional gasoline powered vehicles with greater emission and give relaxation in tax to those vehicles like electric and hybrid vehicles with lower emissions.

Norway is the best example of the highest attention of electric vehicle sales in the world. Here the new car buyers save 25% on an electric vehicle purchase since from starting as because of exemption in VAT.

In Germany, also the electric vehicles are free from vehicle tax for up to 10years.

The United States also give tax relaxation for purchasing electric vehicles. Even, the national federal taxes based on fuel usage, including the gas tax and car registration costs are exempted.

Source: Image by rawpixel.com on Freepik

8. Less Depreciation Value:

It is important to think about the depreciation value and the rate of depreciation while purchasing your vehicle. However, it depends on many variables including kind, model, age and condition of the vehicles.

As per the scientific studies, the value of electric vehicle is more stable than that of the conventional gasoline vehicles. An analysis by Autolist shows that the Tesla model S has more retention value than its gas powered competitors like Audi A8. Mercedes S-class and BMW 7 Series.

9. Zero Emission:

Electric vehicles are better for planet. The electric vehicles have no emission, as there is no tail pipe.

In EVs, there is no combustion as in internal combustion engine vehicles. A gasoline-powered vehicle emits various harmful pollutants like carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxide, ozone and particulate matters. These pollutants affects badly to human health and the climate.

However, the electricity used to power the electric vehicles comes from the coal power stations, it is still the electric vehicles emit less global warming pollution than the conventional gasoline vehicles.

Again, for no impact on world’s carbon footprint, the solar powered electric vehicles are good for zero emission. Because there is no pollution or waste involved in the process of powering your vehicle, this is the most environmentally responsible way to drive a car.

10. Unlimited Access to City Centers:

Many polluting vehicles are restricted in city centers of major European cities. However, the electric cars have unlimited access to city centers and low emission zones.

Many cities like Paris, Barcelona, Madrid and London have their own vehicle entry regulations. And these cities have low-emission zones to reduce the air pollution by barring certain types of vehicles from entering specific areas at all times or on specific days of the week.

In Paris, for example, you can only drive your car into the city center if it is electric or has been adapted for disabled people.

In London, there are different rules depending on how old your car is; newer cars can enter the center without issue, but older vehicles may be required to pay a fee.

Source: Image by Freepik

11. Conclusion:

Now it is very important than ever to take an action to protect the environment. There are various ways to protect and make your environment clean and green and pollution free. It is our responsibility to give a better atmosphere and safe life for our coming generation.

One of the various ways is to switch for alternative fuel vehicles and the electric cars are the best option. The electric cars does not demand to sacrifices your comfort or safety. Nowadays the electric vehicles are widely demanded and opted by the drivers who are looking for the new technologies and even don’t think to pay little extra for getting high technology cars with all comforts and environmental friendly.

The whole world is changing rapidly and opting the new generation technology in every fields and we too need to change with the upcoming generation and the technologies. There are enormous benefits of opting the new generation electric cars. It is not only beneficial for a person or for his/ her family but for the whole planet.

Ultimately, the choice is yours, if you think to do something for the climate change and want to make a bright and clean future for our next generation; you should go for the alternative fuels and the electric cars.