World's best electric vehicles
As automakers continue
to increase our choice of all-electric cars, here are the best you can lay your
hands on
Cruising in a petrol-guzzling behe
moth and giving a damn to Mother Nature is not the most sustainable approach to
getting oneself around.
Fortunately, electric cars (and
their owners) have come a long way in recent years.Battery-powered rides now
come in a whole range of guises: practical, quirky and even cool. If they
interest you, here are the best petrolfree cars that illustrate just how much
progress we have made.
BMW i3
The i3's full electric model has a
range of up to 160 kilometres, but if you're not ready to completely let go of
petrol there's a model with an additional twin cylinder scooter engine that
will extend your range to 300 kilometres. The i3 goes from 0-100kmh in 7.2
seconds, so you won't be dragging any petrol heads at the lights. With
effortless steering, a tight turning circle and an eye-catching and compact
body, the i3 is ideal for city driving.
Price: `26,96,264 approx
Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Coupé Electric
This model is a few years old now,
but it isn't included in this list because it's the newest electric vehicle (EV)
to be unleashed on the world.It's here because this is still the stuff electric
dreams are made of. The car boasts 552 kW of power and will reach 100kmh in
just 3.9 seconds. Formula1 experts were employed in its development and we have
no doubt their contribution helped the car when it set an astounding electric
lap record of just 7 minutes and 56 seconds at Germany's Nürburgring race
track.
Price: Rs 2,64,83,000 approx
Ford Focus Electric
More functional than most of the
cars on this list, the Focus Electric won't have anyone daydreaming about its
looks, but it normalises the electric car in a way that's essential if they're
ever to become the world's dominant form of motoring. While its 122-kilometre
range means you won't want to stray far from a charging station, the Focus
Electric makes living with an electric vehicle as unremarkable as it needs to
become.
Price: `18,54,800 approx
Telsa Model S
The electric vehicle that almost all
the others look up to -the Model S perfectly embodies the EV as an option
that's desirable but practical and affordable -at least compared with the likes
of the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Coupé Electric Drive. With a giant 85kWh battery
on three out of four models that gives the Model S a range of over 500
kilometres and a top speed of up to 250 kmh, you won't need to worry about
running out of power after just a couple of hours of highway cruising.
Price: `44,45,500 approx
Nissan Leaf
In order to maximise the car's
eco-friendliness, parts of the Leaf's interior and bodywork are made out of
water bottles, plastic bags, recycled car parts and old home appliances.
The Leaf has a range of up to 170
kilometres. Its `quick charge' recharging function will have the battery back
up to 80 per cent within 30 minutes. Topping things off, the Leaf also boasts
of a solar panel on its rear spoiler that helps charge the 12v battery powering
its accessories.
Price: Rs 13,67,992 approx
Volkswagen E-Up!
If you can get past its stupid name,
the E-Up! is a terrific little EV, with a premium leathertrimmed interior,
ergonomic seats, great infotainment system and internet connectivity as
standard. Depending on how you drive it, you'll get up to 150 kilometres from a
single charge of its 230kg lithium battery pack. That doesn't sound like much,
but like the BMW i3 this is a car designed as an urban run-around rather than
long distance cruiser. Volkswagen's official figures give the E-Up! a
12.4-second sprint to 100kmh.
Price: Rs 24,79,900 approx
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