[TusharK]

MG has started testing electric vehicles (EV) in India. Rajeev Chaba, President and Managing Director, MG Motor India has told the media that the carmaker is currently testing two electric models in India. In addition to the Roewe ERX5 all-electric SUV, which was recently spotted in Halol, Gujarat, MG is also testing the SAIC E100 micro-mini to see how these cars perform in the unique driving and climatic conditions of the subcontinent.



MG Motor and Roewe are a part of the Chinese SAIC Motor Corp. The ERX5 is a mid-size SUV, which measures 4,554 mm in length, 1,855 mm in width, 1,719 mm in height and has a wheelbase of 2,700 mm. It is powered by an electric motor with 114 BHP and 255 Nm of torque and a 48.3 kWh lithium battery offering a maximum range of 425 km. It has a claimed top speed of 135 km/h. The battery can be recharged to 80% of its total capacity in 40 minutes. The SUV is also offered as a plug-in hybrid (eRX5) in the Chinese market.

The SAIC E100 is two-door micro-mini with a wheelbase of 1,600 mm. It is a city car that can accommodate 2 adults. A lithium-ion battery and an electric motor, which generates 39 BHP and 110 Nm of peak torque, power the E100. It has a claimed top speed of 100 km/h and maximum range is 155 km on a single charge. Re-charging the battery takes 7.5 hours.

Last month, it was reported that MG Motor was planning to invest Rs. 5,000 crore in India by 2025. A part of the investment would be used to develop new products including EVs. In the meantime, the carmaker is gearing up to launch its first product in India in Q2 2019.

Source: Livemint

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[Aditya]

MG might have been a great name in the past, but I am am almost certain that this now Chinese brand does not have the strength to take on the might of the Japanese giants and and Hyundai.

With electricity seen as the "fuel of the future", it's sensible on a manufacturer's part to start preparing for the years to come. For a new entrant like MG, getting a head start will be very important.

On paper, both vehicles look attractive with their speeds and range. What we can hope for is that the quality of the vehicles from MG Motor is at least at par with the the vehicles already available in India and the pricing is "Chinese-low". If not, we know how unforgiving the Indian market can be. Even established players can be brought to their knees. And we must keep in mind that Maruti - the market leader will be entering the electric car segment soon. So MG better hurry up!

[phamilyman]

The charging will be impossible with the current infrastructure.

48.3 kWh lithium battery offering a maximum range of 425 km. It has a claimed top speed of 135 km/h. The battery can be recharged to 80% of its total capacity in 40 minutes.

That's 58 KW in one hour. That's the consumption of 10 upper middle class flats together, forget one car of some household being charged.

[V.Narayan]

China is now the worlds largest producer of electric or Plug-in electric vehicles from rickshaws to cars to small vans. They are also the worlds number producer of wind turbines and solar panels. I would watch them with care & optimism. They have the financial heft that the Europeans don't and a determination to be world's number 1 in automotives which the Americans don't have now. While we have good reason to be concerned about quality I think the Chinese will surprise us.

[for_cars1]

The early digital cameras were wierd unconventional looking contraptions with low vga quality performance and humongously overpriced. Their specs improved consistently, they started looking like more and more like conventional cameras and prices dropped with economies of scale and people never looked back at anything else.

The EVs will start looking more and more conventional unlike the current wierd looking Mahindra/Reva contraptions(proud that it is Indian made, just want these EVs to look and feel better/more conventional and gain an upper hand in the EV landscape), power and range will only go upward and the prices downward.
The moment a single charge range of EVs cross the 500-600 KM threshold at reasonable/competitive prices relative to fossil fueled cars, the demand for EVs will spiral explosively high leading to a quick phasing out of fossil fueled vehicles.

The MG SUV is looking very conventional, 400+ KM range sounds quite attractive, being a chinese make, there is a high chance that it will be priced attractively/competitively. They seem to have a winner. The EV range might further increase by the time they launch it.

[tj123]

Originally Posted by for_cars1

The early digital cameras were wierd unconventional looking contraptions with low vga quality performance and humongously overpriced. Their specs improved consistently, they started looking like more and more like conventional cameras and prices dropped with economies of scale and people never looked back at anything else.

Comparing battery technology with normal electronics is not fair. The progress or the advancement of battery technology is much slower than in other fields.

Actually the world is waiting on a battery breakthrough. Nearly every sector of the electronics industry, everything that runs on a battery, is limited by the power output and energy life of the batteries that run it. Imagine the scale of problem that satellites are replaced for want of new batteries.

The future is optimistic there are many startups trying to crack this problem, the one who does it will be the next big thing !!