What is an eSUV (electric SUV)?

eSUVs (Electric Sports Utility Vehicles) are a new age car type that is revolutionizing the automotive sector. As the world is gradually moving away from conventional fuels, electric mobility is on the rise. Electric SUVs are leading this new journey, which is a big step towards pollution-free commuting and a sustainable future.

These are fully battery-powered vehicles that let you enjoy the comfort and capability of a modern SUV, but put less burden on the environment. An eSUV offers you a unique combination of zero emissions, quiet and powerful speed, low ownership cost and modern technological features. It is a sustainable and attractive option that will increase its presence on the roads in the years to come.

In this article, we will learn about electric SUVs, which are currently the most popular electric vehicles in India. We will also cover about what are the most affordable electric SUVs in India with starting price and approx range. Let’s dive in and learn more about the eSUV in detail below.

What is an Electric SUV?

Electric SUVs (Electric Sports Utility Vehicles) are vehicles that are powered entirely by batteries. They do not have an internal combustion engine and do not require the burning of any fuel. Instead, power is derived from a powerful battery pack that drives the motor and accelerates the vehicle.

There is no definition of what an electric SUV usually looks like but it has unique features such as big size, wide tires, top-class ground clearance and good space for cargo. It is bigger in size than hatchback cars and shows bold appearance. You can feel its existence on the road and it is the best choice for those who love to drive off-road cars.

To give you an idea how an electric SUV looks like, check out the below given image of Hyundai Ioniq 5:

From this image, you can easily understand that an electric SUV is nothing but a bigger version of a hatchback car with more space, more ground clearance, wider tyres, spacious cabin, dozens of features and bold and robust looks which is suitable for off-road driving and weekend trips.

In India, the most popular eSUVs are – MG ZS EV, Kia EV9, Tata Punch EV, Nexon EV, Citroen eC3, BYD ATTO 3. These are available to buy right now and more SUVs in electric will be launched soon from popular brands like Maruti Suzuki, Renault, Honda, and Volvo.

Advantages and Benefits

1. Environmentally friendly: Electric SUVs have no direct emissions, thereby reducing air pollution. It promotes better air quality and quality of life in cities.
2. Cost savings: In the long term, owning an electric SUV comes with a lower running cost as the cost of electricity is significantly lower than petrol or diesel.
3. Quiet and comfortable driving: Electric motors reduce noise and vibration, making the driving experience quiet and comfortable throughout the journey.
4. High speed and fast acceleration: The high torque generated by the electric motor accelerates the vehicle quickly and provides good acceleration.
5. Spacious and best for family: An eSUV car is best for the family of 5 as it has more space for seating and luggage. So if you travel often on weekends, this will be a good and beneficial option for you!

eSUV Battery and range

The most important feature of an electric SUV is its battery pack. Lithium-ion batteries are usually used, which are installed under the floor, between the front and rear wheels. The size and capacity of the battery depends on the model of the electric SUV and based on the  battery pack the estimated range will vary.

Here’s a table that shows the eSUV model, battery capacity (kWh), and the range:

The battery size and capacity is different for each electric SUV model and affects its estimated range. Larger batteries offer more range, but also increase weight and cost. Manufacturers have to balance such tradeoffs. So for now in India, if you looking for best SUV having long range then BYD’s Atto 3 is on the top while if you looking for an affordable SUV then you can look for Punch EV, Citroen eC3, Nexon EV, XUV400 EV, ZS EV and Kia EV9.

Note: As compared to the hatchback electric cars, the eSUV comes packed with bigger battery pack but they offers slightly less range per kWh because they all are heavy in weight and packed with dozen of features.

Charging and infrastructure

Electric SUVs require charging for which charging points should be available at home or at public charging stations. It can take several hours to fully charge an electric SUV again when it is completely discharged. However, fast charging stations reduce this time significantly and you can take your car on long-trips without any issue.

As the SUV is a mid-range vehicle, it supports fast charging options. The above mentioned eSUV supports fast DC charging up to 50 kW, means a low-cost electric SUV having battery capacity around 30 kWh can be charged in around 1 hour with fast DC 25 kW charger while if charging stations offers 50 kW charger facility then same car will be charged in around 30-40 minutes.

In addition to that car having battery capacity around 50 kWh, they cab be charged with fast DC charging of 50 kW in less than 1 hour from 20-100%.

The charging station are available at the nearest shopping malls, restaurants, parking area, petrol pumps. You can even take help of google map to find nearest charging station!

Major electric car manufacturers and eSUV models

Globally, several big players have entered the electric SUV market. Both the Tesla Model X and Model Y are high-performance electric SUVs with long range and fast acceleration. The Ford Mustang Mach-E is a popular electric SUV with an attractive design and good range. South Korean company Hyundai’s Kona Electric is also preferred for its affordable price and better performance.

In the Indian market, Tata Motors has introduced the Nexon EV which is the country’s first electric SUV and now Mahindra has launched its XUV400 electric model. Maruti Suzuki, Honda, and Renault are also planning to introduce their electric SUV models in upcoming few months.

The most popular brands that offer the electric SUV in India are:

1. Tata motors – Punch EV, Nexon EV
2. Mahindra – XUV 400 EV
3. Citroen – eC3
4. Hyundai –  Ioniq 5
5. MG – ZS EV
6. BYD – Atto 3

Soon other companies like Maruti Suzuki, Renault, Volvo, Škoda, Volvo, Mercedes-Benz will also launch electric SUVs with new features in the Indian market and these would be Maruti’s eVX, Mercedes-Benz’s EQA, and Volvo’s Ex90.

Conclusion

Electric SUVs are an attractive and eco-friendly option for current and future travel. These vehicles offer zero emissions and significantly lower ownership costs than conventional fuel vehicles. Long-term benefits include fuel savings, lower maintenance costs, and less burden on the environment.

However, the lack of charging infrastructure and limited range are the main challenges at the moment.

But these obstacles can be overcome with the development of technology and innovative advancements. Battery technology is getting better and batteries with larger capacity will be able to carry vehicles for longer distances. Charging time is also decreasing with the help of fast chargers. Also, public and private charging infrastructure is also expanding rapidly.

These developments will make electric SUVs an even more practical and attractive option. They will eventually become an important part of future travel and help improve air quality in urban areas. Electric SUVs are the technology that will help combat climate change and move towards a greener future.

Companies are introducing new electric SUV models with more attractive designs and better features to meet ongoing innovations and consumer demand. In the future, we will see electric SUVs becoming an integral part of general transport and will contribute to environmental protection.