Driving an electric car in India – A reality check

We used a car that is expected to soon come to India – the BMW i3. The i3 is the perfect showcase for a modern-day electric car. It was designed with a clean slate and a new approach towards cars. It has also been one of the best selling EVs worldwide and is a compact hatchback of sorts.

The i3 is small but since there is no need for an engine, there isn’t a big bonnet up front. The proportions are distinctly different from ‘normal’ cars. The massive 20-inch wheels, the design of the rear doors, the headlamps and the overall look is unique — so much so that it stopped traffic everywhere, causing heads to turn. The future need not be boring to look at, eh!

It may be compact to look at but is big on the inside. The i3 has a carbon fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP) passenger cell i.e. it’s light and does not need a B-pillar. There are suicide doors and the rear doors, which are smaller, open only when you open the front doors. Inside, it is unlike any conventional car. The design is sci-fi with a simplistic, but well thought out cabin. You sit high and get a brilliant, wide view.

All the controls are on the steering and that leaves plenty of room elsewhere. Electric cars do not need conventional gearbox selector or take up any space. Further, we were impressed with the theme inside the cabin. The materials used include recycled plastics, renewable raw materials, natural fibres and open-pored, unbleached eucalyptus wood. Over 80 percent of the surfaces visible are made from recycled materials or renewable resources. That aside, it is as well equipped as any other luxury car with all the amenities.

However, how does the i3 drive? There is an electric motor which makes 185 bhp and peak torque is 250 Nm plus, which is available instantly. The gearbox is a a single-speed automatic transmission while located low in the vehicle floor plus there is a lithium-ion high-voltage battery.

Start it by pressing a button and a robotic whirr begins. Then on, the only noise is the climate control system working overtime to cool the cabin on a hot day. Else, there is no sound as the i3s races ahead. It is quick as electric cars always are. Torque is available instantly and it just goes from 0-100 km/h in under 7 seconds. The i3, as we discovered, is not a boring car to drive. In traffic, it’s better than a conventional car. It responds instantly and there is better visibility; plus, it’s compact so squeezing past traffic is no issue. The i3 drives like any fast hatchback – only better.

So far so good. What about range? This is the biggest obstacle for electric cars. The i3 has a range of about 200km on a full charge, though recently it has been improved to have a longer range. Full charging takes some 12 hours or more, with same cost as that of running an air-conditioner.

The only issue here is range anxiety.

We drove the i3 on the full stretch of the Gurgaon highway and we drove it hard, with the aircon switched on – under these driving conditions the range fell to nearly half. Just about enough for a commute between Delhi- Gurgaon. However there is no escaping that you are grappling with anxiety as you know you can’t fuel up your car as easily as you a petrol or diesel vehicle.

So, although, BMW is ready to bring the i3 to India, the country may not yet be ready for cars like this. At best, it only makes sense to buy it if your commute is less.  An electric car is logical option given our traffic, and is cheaper to run, but the tech and the supporting infrastructure are inadequate. Not only would the car be expensive, there are barely any charging stations in our cities.

However the i3 shows what the future holds and having used it, it works, save for the lack of support. The new scheme to promote EVs is inadequate and stronger measures need to be taken. That said, we think there would be buyers for these cars, thanks to their unique appeal. Overall the i3 leaves a good impression on behalf of the electric car fraternity, but the infrastructure to support an EV ecosystem needs to be build. We do not see that happening any time soon here in India.

Source: in.news.yahoo