Sponsored Feature: Mahindra e2oPlus: India Needs More Electric Cars Like It

Mahindra’s newest salvo in India’s electric car market is the e2oPlus – a 4-seater hatchback with enough space to transport its occupants and some essential cargo while keeping its emission count at nil. Not only this, the e2oPlus can go 140km on a single charge. It comes with a smartphone app that gives you access to the car's remote diagnostics and its A/C. 

If you are worried about running out of charge, they have you covered with the patented REVive feature. This is easily accessed from the smartphone app or the infotainment system inside the car to ensure that you are not stranded. In addition, the e2oPlus' batteries can reach 95 per cent of its full capacity in just 90 minutes with the car’s fast charging option.  In India, Mahindra is currently the only manufacturer to have taken the bold step to make pure electric cars. Here we attempt to throw light on how EVs can be made accessible to a larger demographic.

There are multiple reasons why we need EVs -  pollution control, and reducing the impact on finite resources like petroleum being a few. EVs run silently and on battery power, which enables them to reduce air and noise pollution both. Seeing the benefits EVs offer, many countries have incentivised their purchase.

In the US, EV buyers get $7,500 (approx. Rs 5 lakh) income tax credit across all states. According to the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT), in France, EV buyers receive a one-time bonus of 7,000 euros (again Rs 5 lakh approx.) which cannot exceed 30 per cent of the vehicle's purchase price, including VAT and battery cost. In the UK, buyers get a bonus that equals 25 per cent of the car's value (to a maximum of 5,000 pounds or Rs 4.2 lakh approx.). In Japan, the bonus for EV buyers is capped at 8,50,000 yen (Rs 5 lakh approx). In China, which faces one of the worst urban pollution scenarios in recent memory, the bonus ranges from 35,000-60,000 yuan (Rs 3.42 – 5.87 lakh approx.) for EVs with more than 50km range on a single full charge. And it’s not just financial rebates. EVs have access to high occupancy lanes in California, US; and in the UK electric cars are entitled to free parking and are exempt from congestion charges. Netherlands and Finland offer free charging facilities for EVs. And most of Europe offers electric cars access to bus lanes. In essence, the steps taken by various governments worldwide are quite encouraging.

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Coming to India, under the FAME (Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric vehicles in India) scheme, the government currently offers a maximum incentive of Rs 1.24 lakh on the Mahindra e2oPlus. The amount is significantly higher than previous schemes and has contributed to a rise in demand of hybrid and electric vehicles in India. In addition, different states currently offer additional added incentives to electric vehicles in India. In Delhi, for example, electric vehicles are exempt from road tax and registration fees. While this might not be at par with the western world, it is certainly a good start in the right direction of the Indian government’s aim to have 70 lakh electric cars on Indian roads by 2020. A major contributor to the rise in demand of EVs would be indirect incentives like free parking and in some places even free charging or charging at discounted rates or subsidies to electric car owners on their home electricity bills. Not only will this help adoption rates rise but also keep the emissions in control and preserve our planet for future generations.