Indian Government officials working on a new auto policy and will include a roadmap for electric vehicles, a government official said, adding that this is likely to be made public before year-end.
Engine-maker Cummins India is investing in research on electric mobility solutions for India, while Hyundai Motor Co has begun talks with some of its suppliers for components for electric cars, company executives said.
Ashok Leyland, which launched an electric bus last year, has partnered with Indian start-up SUN Mobility to develop battery-swapping technology for cars, buses and trucks.
Cab aggregators like Uber and Ola are rushing to add electric cars to their fleet across the country.
With so much expectation over electric cars, How and when India will have an infrastructure in place for electric cars to go mainstream is a different story altogether. But when it eventually happens, these are the seven electric cars we would like to see on the Indian roads :
And, of course, the pioneer of electric cars, Tesla, also unveiled its Roadster earlier this month.
Tata nano
Tata Motors is coming out with an electric variant of its Nano, along with working extensively on electric vehicles with State-owned Energy Efficiency Services Ltd (ESSL).
Hyundai Ioniq Electric
This comes with heated front seats, leather-wrapped steering wheel, a 7-inch touch screen, automatic AC among other features. And although it runs about 124 miles on a single charge, Hyundai Ioniq certainly makes a style statement. Priced just under $30,000, it comes in three variants - traditional hybrid, electric car and a plug-in hybrid.
Kia Soul EV
This offers just 93 miles of range but looks comfortable and spacious. It can easily sit five people but isn't really a powerful car as it has just 109HP. It's unlikely that the car will ever hit Indian roads but if and when it does, it's sure to make more than a few heads turn. The Kia Soul EV sells in just a few part of the US and is priced around $34,000.
Chevy Bolt EV
The US-based car brand comes back with the Chevy Bolt EV. The Chevy Bolt EV boasts a range of up to 238 miles (380 kms roughly) and is powered by 266 pound feet of torque. Priced around $36,000, the Bolt is a prime example of good things come in small packages. It's a five-seater compact hatchback that comes fitted with a 10.2-inch infotainment system that supports Android Auto and Apple carPlay.
BMW i3
Blend an unconventional design with luxury car features and you get the BMW i3. Although it is a powerful car - powered by 170 horsepower - it offers a range of 114 miles. BMW i3 is more of a style statement and costs around $42,000. So, it's expensive and doesn't offer a great driving range electrically. Still, just for the looks and it being a head turner, the car makes the cut for us.
Tesla Model S
Model S is the electric to have as it combines brawn with beauty and style with substance. The Tesla Model S boasts more electric range than any car on the market today. A single charge can last up to maximum of 335 miles and that's not all. Model S goes form 0-60mph in mere 2.5 seconds. Priced around $70,000, this is an expensive but one of the best electric cars around.
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