Indian’s and their penchant for stretching the fuel money is part of legend. Car manufacturers have long been known to play along the km/l numbers to go one up on the competition. Mention the term ‘Green Cars’ however and you’re bound to get a few quizzical looks for sure. Pause, breathe some & then watch realization come flooding on their faces when you tell them that you were referring to cars with low emissions. So when you wonder over what kind of green car should you buy, here are a few that are on sale today:
Mahindra e2o: Pronounced the ee-two-oh - it is India’s first automatic, all-electric car. Priced at INR 5 lakh, the Mahindra e2o is a diminutive two-door, four-seater hatchback that’s packed with some revolutionary technology, making it an eco-friendly car in the truest sense of the term.
Toyota Prius: Everyone’s favourite hybrid, the Toyota Prius is the forerunner of the hybrid cars movement. Toyota pulled a smart one back in 1997 when it launched the petrol-electric Prius, thereby getting over the range limitations of pure-electric cars. A revolutionary car to this day, it is priced at INR 37.6 lakhs.
Toyota Camry Hybrid: The Toyota Camry Hybrid is another iconic addition to the green cars list. Offering everyday convenience in an opulent sedan package, it pairs a 2.4 litre 158 bhp petrol motor with a 650 V Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor, taking the combined output to 200+ bhp. The Camry Hybrid is priced at INR 32 lakhs.
BMW i8: The i8 was first conceptualized by BMW as the Vision EfficientDynamics Concept, back in 2009, when it promptly took the world by storm. It uses a combination of a 231 bhp, three-cylinder TwinPower Turbocharged motor, a lithium-ion high-voltage battery pack and a 131 bhp, 250 Nm torque generating electric motor depending upon the situation. It is priced at 2.29 Crores.
Maruti Ciaz SHVS Hybrid: India’s leading auto manufacturer, Maruti decided to take the mild-hybrid route this year towards reducing exhaust emissions. Known for its fuel-efficient cars, the Smart Hybrid Vehicle System or SHVS technology was first introduced in its mid-size sedan, the Ciaz. The technology essentially uses a combination of brake regeneration and start-stop functionality to reduce energy losses during braking and idling. It is priced at INR 8.7 lakhs
From the exotic BMW i8 and the Mahindra e2o at either ends of the pricing spectrum, this is a well-represented selection of some of the most eco-friendly cars available to buyers in India. In the end, it all depends on your needs and of-course, the depth of your wallet. Happy motoring!
