Mahindra e2o plus Review (Best looking fully electric car made in India, electric hatchback )

Source: Mahindra electric

After many trials and experiments, Mahindra has come to the latest fully electric car e2o this year with few changes from the previous model which was launched a few years ago.

Mahindra Electric Mobility Limited, a wing of Mahindra concentrating on the electric car development has been doing a lot of homework recently and have launched the latest uplift of Mahindra e2o as e2o+.

Let’s see whether the facelift is worth buying for the Indian customers.

Looks and Dynamics

On the first glimpse you may mistake it for Mahindra Reva, but no, it’s brand new e2o. The design has been good with extra 2 doors. Interiors are not up to the mark, instrument pod is much better than before with nice backlit.

Rear seats will make you feel comfortable as there enough leg room and comfort seating is assured. Headroom is good for adults. 135 litres boot space is more than enough for this segment. The P8 variant gets a 72-volt battery pack and a 30 watts motor, giving you a good torque of 91NM.

Overall the look and dynamics are just ok or will be fine for those who line electric cars or who will compromise on looks as they care about the environment. Well, have you seen the Bajaj Qute!?

Specifications

Mileage:	110 km/hr
Engine Displacement.	48 cc
Transmission:	Automatic
Fuel Type:	Electric(Battery)
Boot Space:	135 Ltrs
Power Windows:	Front and Rear
Airbags:	NA
ABS:	No
Central Locking:	Yes
Fog Lamps:	No

Source: Mahindra electric

Performance

The electric car should be silent, not much sound from the engine in it but tire sound is too loud, can be heard inside. The AC sound is annoying sometimes. Mahindra claims 140km on a full charge. The electric hatchback takes 9 hours for one full charge.

Fast charging option is available if we pay more. 95% in 2 hours is what a fast charging option can do. Interior built quality bad, outer is ok. 4 can sit comfortably. Top speed is about 90km/h, which is hmm, not bad for an electric car.

Normal mode is available in this variant but, no punch and overtaking ability; Performance mode gives just an ok feel inside the car.

Performance is bad, cornering is just ok. Regenerative energy technology is embedded in it. One more interesting feature is that you can precool the car before entering for a ride.

Ride quality not good and, it feels like riding a normal car with acceleration coming to a moderate range. Responsiveness is good enough and handling does a fine job. In upholstery section, Mahindra has done a good job if feels like a complete hatchback from inside.

Price: 5.96Lacs-7.17Lacs (ex-showroom)

Source: Mahindra electric

Final verdict:

Looks and design: 6/10

Specs & features: 6/10

Dynamics & performance 4/10

Safety & quality: 7/10

Best suited for those who want to drive in the city and, not for those who want to drive on a highway and speed is their concern.

For those who want Daily usage of 100km and want no luggage space, it is a perfect electric car for them.

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Future of electric vehicles in India

 

It's not like electric vehicles are new products in the Asian market, they are in the market from the starting era of electric vehicles. We have heard news of many brands trying to develop their own electric cars for years. Still, electric vehicles are not up to the mark to give us more range, power, and fast charging; while Tesla has shown the world how far electric vehicles can go and break boundaries metaphorically as well as literally.

A few years compared to what we are used to seeing, there are a lot of EVs on roads in India like in Delhi there are electric Rickshaws as public transportation for short distance commute. It's not fast and comfortable but, does a good work in covering a short distance quickly.

Mahindra has e2o in the market with a range of 120 km in full charge and at a top speed of 80 kph; it's not enough to substitute combustion engine which can produce lot more power, Tesla has cars with lot more power and approx 300 miles range. But Tesla has lots of fast charging stations in those countries, in India, it’s a different story.

Consumers who are going to use their vehicles just for city driving can still go for the EV as in city top speed is not what you can achieve and the range of minimum 100 km can do, as even in city like Mumbai you don’t have to cover a lot or drive fast, kudos the city traffic

But, for going long distance tour in an EV is not feasible. First, the charging time of EV is long. The fastest charging is of 1.5 hrs by Tesla but for others, it is much higher compared to the combustion engine in which you can refuel it in few mins. Second, the range of EV is less because of which you will have to take a stop more frequently. And, because of these 2 reasons, the traveling time increases by a great margin; it might double the traveling time. Third, the cost of the car compared to the size, style, dynamics, and power.

Let’s look at the present scenario of electric vehicles in our country

In 2013, India launched ‘National Electric Mobility Plan (NEMMP) 2020’, to address the need of electrifying the vehicles around the country for energy security, minimizing air pollution and encouraging domestic manufacturers to develop electric cars.

The Indian government has made plans to make a substantial change in electric vehicles by 2030 as per the Paris Agreement.

The Indian app-based taxi network Ola cabs are working on shifting regular cars to electric cars in coming years. Mahindra Electric Mobility Limited, formerly known as Reva Electric Car Company has already sold 4000 different units of compact electric cars worldwide. Their compact electric cars are now available in 26 countries most commonly known as REVAi electric car.

Some of the popular fully electric cars in India are:

Mahindra e2o plus

Tata Tigor electric

Mahindra e-KUV 100

Toyota Prius, Honda Accord, Maruti Ciaz are examples of good hybrid cars.

Many brands are already working on fully electric two-wheelers, and, are ready to launch it nationally. Heroelectric, a unit of Hero Motocorp is one among them.

From 2014, electric buses have been seen in India’s IT Hub Bangaluru; the latest being Goldstone Infrastructures' 25 electric buses delivered to Himachal Pradesh Transportation Corporation in Sept 2017 and Tata’s 25 Starbus electric hybrid buses to Maharastra.

The Role Played by Indian Government

The government has already started the plans to motivate electric and hybrid car productions and released tenders to help increase charging fractures in the country. Last year Karnataka government approved Electric Vehicle and Energy Storage Policy 217.

The Central Government started the scheme called Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric Vehicles (FAME), which provides incentives for purchasing electric and hybrid cars. For scooters/motorcycles, the incentives will be ranging from Rs. 1800 to Rs. 29000 and, Rs. 1.38 Lacs for cars.

Around the World

When we look around the world, the biggest producers of electric cars are China, followed by European countries combined, North America and Japan. Sadly, India comes under the others category which is less than 10%.

China is kicking off many plans and incentives for electric car producers to reduce the current air pollution problem as well as to achieve its self-sustaining status goal by lessening the oil imports. While the U.S.A and European countries are mostly worried about pollution and the environment’s health. Most countries started this as a part of Paris Agreement and will be increasing their production slowly.

The basic problems that India is facing now are;

1. The lack of proper infrastructure as currently, the charging stations are not available at a minimum distance.
2. Plus fast charging is required for the citizens to become encouraged to buy electric cars. If 2030 is the target we should go to rural areas and highways too for developing charging points.
3. The final blockade is the price of an electric vehicle. Though there are incentives by government to both the buyer and manufacturer, the prices remains to be high and unaffordable to everyone.

Conclusion

 Currently, India is not ready for EV as minimum requirements are not fulfilled, except for the city and for just city driving. It might work out for whole India by 2030 but for that, the government needs to work really hard to get all the minimum infrastructure ready with proper functionality and at all locations, both rural and urban. Indian citizens are still not much aware of EV and don't trust EV so there need to be some initiatives to let the people know the benefits of EV and government should give some incentives for those who are buying electric vehicles, much more than what’s been given now, or to decrease the taxes on the production of EVs.

 At the current pace, it’s difficult to see an all EV on Indian roads, but if everyone gets along and supports the government and vice versa, it can be done.

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HONDA GOLD WING

Source: Honda India

When I hear the name Gold Wing, the white Kawasaki T-1000  motorcycle from the film ‘Terminator 2’ flashes in front of my eyes. Yup, the regular police bike which introduced me to the segment of heavy touring bikes. These kind of bikes are for heavy-duty purposes and for long as well as city rides.

There are many brands producing bikes but, today we are focusing on The Honda Gold Wing.

Yes, the legendary Gold Wing. Gold Wing is the segment of touring bikes by Honda. The production started in the 1980s and, from that time it has got a lot of fan base and recognition in society as well.

It was a very famous motorbike in U.S.A, Canada, Japan, Scandinavian countries and Japan. From then on Gold Wing has been a craze for the bike enthusiasts.

Specifications:

ENGINE

Type	Liquid-cooled 4-stroke 24 valve SOHC flat-6
Displacement	1,833cc
Valves Per Cylinder	4
Bore x Stroke	73mm x 73mm
Compression Ratio	10.5:1
Max. Power Output	93kW/5500rpm
Max. Torque	170Nm/4500rpm

Source: Honda India

Looks and Design

In looks, it’s one of the best touring bikes you can find in the market. This 6th generation has a brand new, now slimmer and focussed; like a missile which is comfortable to ride.

Yes, this bike is really a big and heavy one but, you can never consider it an ugly one. It's not just a big and powerful bike;  loaded with many features as always it has been now, is ready to give a tough time to its rivals.

But now u don’t have to go through 50 keys to do what u want. Now it has a 7-inch infotainment system which is easy to access and go through; with the premium audio system showing the state-of-the-art electronic technology.

it’s not just listening to music, with an available Bluetooth headset, even answering calls without taking off your helmet. Also, a dedicated port lets you plug in a USB flash drive too. It has even got electric wind deflectors adjustment.

A first for the motorcycle industry! Apple CarPlay seamlessly integrates your iPhone with your new Gold Wing. You can use your iPhone to access Apple Maps, Apple Music, and other services. You will have access to weather, playlists and telephone numbers while abroad.

Bluetooth-enabled wireless headsets let you communicate easily. With more apps available every day, Apple CarPlay keeps your bike’s technology on the cutting edge it's the best u can have for gadgets.

There are 2 models available one is a plain gold wing it has just side language space but looks sportier with a black finish and is lighter, whereas the gold wing tour has back support for the rear seat passenger with 3^rd language space behind the rear seat passenger.

The overall body is slimmer than before.

Source: Honda India

Source: Honda India

Performance

Let’s talk about dynamics and behaviour, the gold wing has always been known for its comfortable ride but they have taken it to other levels by introducing DOUBLE-WISHBONE FRONT SUSPENSION. The familiar telescopic fork has been replaced with a stronger twin-leg structure, a pair of “A” arms and a single shock and spring.

The experimental Honda-engineered model breaks the conventional way the wheel follows through the suspension’s process; making it do a vertical movement making it able to move both the engine and the rider/passenger.

The seating positions of both the riders are now bit toward the front than before. The seating position is comfortable, and the design of the body is sucking that the wind flow will no longer bother you.

It still uses a horizontally opposed six-cylinder engine, which is the only similarity. It features a new bore and stroke, and a displacement of 1833 cc. It’s the first Gold Wings to use four valves per cylinder, a design based on our high-performance Unicam head design. It also features cylinder sleeves and a shorter, stiffer crank.

It ’s is more compact front-to-back, and lets you and your passenger move forward in the cockpit for more comfort, better handling, and a more connected feel with the bike’s steering.

Source: Honda India

Other innovations include merging the starter and alternator into one component. The overall effect is ground-breaking: a Gold Wing that’s still a long-distance champion, but one that offers a degree of more engaging and the sporting performance that all motorcyclists live for.

It comes with both manual and DCT(Dual-Clutch Transmission) option, but DCT is the one you should go for. DCT stands for Dual-Clutch Transmission. Inside, the transmission is like a standard manual having a solid, productive, constant-mesh steel gears.

But a shift lever and a clutch lever can’t be seen in it—all the shifting is managed by buttons on the handlebar.

Another option that you have is, you can let the DCT function fully automatic, and the bike will upshift and downshift in a very smooth way. The twin-clutch packs, one for odd gears, one for even, making shifting fast and flawless.

The DCT has been a big hit in many Honda motorcycles, and our Africa Twin has proven that it’s tough enough for fully loaded off-road travel. But the latest 2018 Gold Wings motorcycle has the best DCT we’ve ever seen and the first with the seven speeds. Furthermore, the DCT models offer a remarkable low-speed “Walking” mode in addition to reverse. It’s a huge help when manoeuvring into or out of a parking lot with a passenger.

Even in DCT u can take the manual control and ride it.

Even on the curvy road for a big heavy touring bike, it does that with ease and with so much power at its disposal it can launch like a rocket. It's also because the 2018 gold wing is much lighter than before which has affected its storage capacity but was worth it.

The fuel capacity has been reduced by 4 litres to 21 litres. Also, some sources have also claimed that it is now about 19 litres only, which can be a con compared to its rivals and present trend.

Price: 33,37,865-35,37,482 (INR on road mumbai)

Source: Honda India

Final verdict:

Looks and design: 9/10

Specs & features: 9/10

Dynamics & performance: 8/10

Safety & quality: 9.5/10

If you can afford it and you’re looking for a stylish bike with comforts like a super luxury car on 2 wheels with lots of storage and power then go for the touring model else you can go for the one with less capacity one.

To be honest, this bike is worth single penny, power the way it handles and the way it absorbs the bumps.

It’s a super luxury bike. I give you that.

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Hyundai Santro 2018

Source: Hyundai India

Hyundai Santro, it was one of the most desired cars in India till it was in the market. A small hatchback with enough space and comfort, and now it is back in 2018 with a bang. New looks engine and even in the interior.

Specification:

• Mileage :                                             21 km/l (Est)
• 0-100 km/hr :                                     13.8 Seconds (Est)
• Engine CC, Cylinders: Kappa 998cc, 3-Cylinders
• Maximum Power Output             68 HP @ 6200 RPM
• Maximum Torque Output            94 Nm @ 3500 RPM
• Transmission                                      5-Speed MT / 5-Speed AMT
• Top Speed (km/hr)                         150 km/hr (Est)

Looks & Performance

There is nothing that has been borrowed from previous gen, and it will be tough for it to give the Santro name the shine which it used to have, as it has lot more competition in the market. In terms of looks, it's fresh and looks good and appealing, even for a tall body design it doesn’t look that tall as compared to the body proportions just like the previous. New sharp looking hand lamps even from the back it looks good.

Overall the design team has really done good work the outer looks of the Santro. When we come to the interior, as always Hyundai has done really good work and the 17.64 cm Touch Screen Audio Video System. It is also equipped with smartphone connectivity like Android auto, Apple Carplay, and Mirror Link along with supporting a feature like Voice Recognition Function & Rear Parking Camera display on the screen.

The All-New SANTRO is equipped with Hyundai’s Patent ‘Eco Coating Technology’ which prevents unpleasant odour which is developed in the AC Evaporator by degrading the micro-organisms. The new Santro is even silent inside; Hyundai has done really good work in keeping the outside noise out of the cabin like engine noise isolation, wind noise isolation, minimized NVH from the engine, road noise isolation. Overall this car feels premium and ready for the competition. It also has comfortable space for all adults to fit inside the car.

Source: Hyundai India

Safety

Let’s come to safety, the new Santro has got 63% ultra-high strength steel and high strength steel in the body structure. Which make the body rigid, and strength should enough to get the passenger’s out of danger up to 40 KPH with ease still are no crash test result available yet to prove it. Hyundai is providing airbags for drivers as standard and dual airbags at the top range. All other standard features are provided to keep the passenger’s safe and confident while driving.

Performance

Performance, it’s not something you will look for in this range. Still, it has got 68bhp and for a car lighter than 1 ton it should be enough to cruise around. Still, below 2500 RPM there is not much power and it’s not worth going above 6000RPM as it will just noise that will increase. Steering is well weighted, and it’s light and nimble enough for this type of car. The suspension is really good in absorbing the bumps.

Price: ₹ 3,50,000 – 5,50,000/- (Est)

Source: Hyundai India

Final verdict:

Looks and design: 7/10

Specs & features: 8/10

Dynamics & performance:7/10

Safety & quality: 8/10

Great comeback for Santro, for the price range on the best car there is. Great for city driving and really comfortable. Power could have been made more linear.

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Hero Xtreme 200R

Source: Hero Motorcorp

Well, when we talk about two-wheelers, how can we forget the Hero Motorcorp. India’s personal pride, the Hero bikes, and scooters which is the largest two-wheeler manufacturer in the world as well as in India with a whopping 46% market share.

Now, let’s look at the latest addition to the big Hero family, the Hero Xtreme 200R. Is it a hit, or is it a miss in the two-wheeler market. Has Hero done it right in the 2oocc segment where the most fearsome battle is going on?

Source: Hero Motorcorp

Looks and Design

In terms of looks, it approximately looks the same as the 150 except form the side view.  Muscular feel on the tank and bit new instrument cluster. But you can see that most of them or all the parts are borrowed from different bikes and maximum from Xtreme 150. In overall Xtreme doesn’t look sporty enough to get an R batch. Yup, that’s it for the looks.

Source: Hero Motorcorp

Specification:

Engine Type	Air cooled, 4 Stroke 2 Valve Single cylinder OHC
Bore x Stroke	66.5 x 57.5 mm
Displacement	199.6 cc
Compression Ratio	10:01
Max Power	13.5kw/18.4ps @ 8000 rpm
Max Torque	17.1 Nm @ 6500 rpm
Fuel System	CV Carburetor (Venturi dia.32)
Starting	Self & Kick
Ignition	Digital DC CDI Ignition System
Air Filter	Viscous Type

Source: Hero Motorcorp

Performance and Ergonomics

Let’s talk about performance; as compared to its competitors it is the least powerful. Even the suspension is straight from Xtreme 150, which is soft and really good for city driving it can absorb bumps really well. The engine is well refined and there is vibration but once it touches 7500 rpm.

Seats are really good and comfortable, and the seating position is really good for daily driving its up straight. Acceleration is decent and power delivery is good. Going around corners are good enough but not that enjoyable as others.

But overall it’s a bike between a 200cc sports bike and 200cc commuters bike. With great mileage and comfort, and good enough power for daily driving. With some muscular touch in some places.  And, the bike is most suited for the city; if you have watched the ad then, yeah, the Virat Kohli one, you know what they are talking about.

Price: 1,10,859(INR on road price)

Source: Hero Motorcorp

Final verdict:

Looks and design: 7/10

Specs & features: 6/10

Dynamics & performance:7/10

Safety & quality: 7/10

This bike is for those who want a 200cc racing bike just for the show. There is no performance that comes with the R batch, not even the dynamics. But has the best mileage compared to its competitors and ride quality is really good.

So it's just for those who want a 200cc bike with good mileage and comfort.

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