The first EV in India can be traced back to 1996 when Scooters India Pvt Ltd. launched their electric three-wheeler-VIKRAM SAFA. But it’s safe to say that the last decade truly ushered in the EV era in India. The Government has rolled out schemes and incentives like FAME-II, PLI SCHEME, Battery Swapping Policy, Special Electric Mobility Zone, and Tax Reduction on EVs to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles.
India is catching up in the vehicular electrification race, and the 16th edition of ‘Auto Expo-The Motor Show’ proves how. The expo show is taking place at the Expo Mart, Greater Noida, from 12th-18th January 2023 and will see participation from 100+ industry stakeholders.
“There is a larger number of overall industry participants compared to the earlier edition in 2020,” an official of the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) said.
The show, touted as the biggest Auto extravaganza, is not limited to just cars but also gives a peek into the emerging technologies that will power the Automotive Industry. With E-Mobility dominating the automobile market, the show saw some high-profile unveilings in the sector by the top-shot players in the industry.
- Maruti Suzuki took the wraps off their new e-SUV concept- eVX. Based on a dedicated EV architecture, the eVX concept is powered by Suzuki’s ‘safe battery technology.’
- Hyundai’s Ioniq 5 is the first among the six BEVs Hyundai is planning to introduce in India by 2028.
- Hyundai Ioniq 6 is based on Hyundai’s E-GMP skateboard platform and is offered in dual-motor and single-motor guises.
- Kia showcased its All-Electric SUV Concept – the Kia Concept EV9 which is inspired by nature and uses upcycled materials developed from waste deposited into the fragile marine ecosystem.
- Chinese EV giant BYD unveiled the Seal electric sedan which rivals the likes of the Tesla Model 3 internationally and is set to launch in India by the 4th quarter of 2023.
- Tata Sierra EV and Tata Harrier EV concept were also showcased in a close-to-production stage.
| MODEL | BATTERY PACK | RANGE |
| Maruti Suzuki eVX | 60kWh | 550km |
| Hyundai Ioniq 5 | 72.6kWh | 631km |
| Hyundai Ioniq 6 | 53kWh | 77kWh |
| BYD Seal | 61.4kWh and 82.5kWh | 550km and 700km |
| Kia EV9 concept | 77.4kWh | not yet revealed |
| Toyota bZ4X | 71.4kWh | 450km |
| MG Mifa 9 MPV | 90kWh | 440km |
| MG 5 electric estate | 61.1kWh | 402km |
| MG 4 hatchback | 51kWh and 64kWh | 300km and 452 km |
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Maruti Suzuki also showcased the flex-fuel version of the WagonR. The flex fuel engine can support up to E85 fuel, a maximum blend of 15 percent ethanol with 85 percent of petrol. This comes at a time when the Government has announced that the roll-out of 20 percent gasoline-ethanol blended fuel will commence from April 1 this year in a phase-wise manner.
The expo also saw Greaves-owned Ampere revealing the new Primus e-scooter. The Primus’ mid-mounted motor has a peak power output of 3.8kW and is transferred to the rear wheel via a final belt drive, a first for an Ampere product.
Liger mobility unveiled two e-scooters- the X and X+. The USP of the scooters is their self-balancing feature. While both the e-scooters have a lithium-ion battery pack, the Liger X has a removable unit, unlike the Liger X+.
The Auto Expo returns after a 3-year gap and has been a hit show among automobile enthusiasts. With the EV bandwagon catching speed, the show is expected to pull in a lot more crowd in the 2023 edition. The expo is an excellent opportunity for the EV-manufacturing companies to display what they will offer to the fast-growing Indian E-Mobility segment.
