5 most affordable electric cars on sale in India

Electric cars are now quite mainstream in India. They are no longer bought solely as a second vehicle, and even first-time car buyers aren’t afraid of taking the plunge into the world of electric mobility. After all, there’s nothing that comes close to electric vehicles in terms of running costs. While public charging infrastructure still has a long way to go, EVs are arguably the best choice if you are living in an urban environment and have access to home/office charging. Here, we’ve listed the five cheapest electric cars on sale under Rs 15 lakh in India that are well-suited for the urban grind.

1. Tata Tiago EV

Price: Rs 6.99 lakh-9.99 lakh

Currently, the most affordable electric car on sale in India, the Tata Tiago EV has a practical four-door body style. It offers a smooth and refined powertrain, comfortable ride quality and compact dimensions that make it easy to drive in the city. The interior is feature-packed, and buyers can choose from two battery pack options depending on their budget and range requirements. Overall, the Tiago EV makes for a sensible entry point into EVs; just don’t expect typical EV-like performance, as it is more sedate in nature.

2. MG Comet EV

Price: Rs 7.63 lakh-10 lakh

Up next on the list of most affordable electric cars in India is the MG Comet. As a strict city commuter, the Comet is superb, thanks to its compact dimensions, which make it extremely manoeuvrable. It is also reasonably spacious for four adults despite a 2-door body style, and it comes well-equipped, too. The Comet EV’s downsides are its small battery, which limits range, and the tiny 12-inch wheels that compromise ride quality on our imperfect roads.

3. Tata Punch EV

Price: Rs 9.69 lakh-12.59 lakh

The Tata Punch EV comes with two LFP battery packs, with the larger one featuring higher-density prismatic cells and a claimed range of up to 468km. The 30kWh and 40kWh battery packs make it among the largest in this list, while its claimed range figures are the highest here. It remains the most affordable electric SUV in Tata's EV portfolio while also offering budget-conscious buyers a wide range of convenience and safety features, a supple ride and usable everyday performance.

4. Citroen eC3

Price: Rs 11.99 lakh-13.26 lakh

Next on this list is the eC3, an electric derivative of the C3 hatchback with a crossover look that lends it a spacious interior. And like most Citroens, it rides very comfortably. The 'X' update to the eC3 adds more equipment than before, but it lacks convenience features such as rear AC vents and a front centre armrest. The performance is also rather dull, and it lacks the typical wow factor that buyers associate with an EV. The eC3 compensates for it by offering decent real-world range and is often listed with very attractive discounts. So, if you get a good deal on this, it makes for a fairly reasonable choice.

5. Tata Tigor EV

Price: Rs 12.49 lakh-13.75 lakh

The Tigor EV is the only sedan on this list of the most affordable EV cars. It adds a proper boot over the Tiago EV, solving one of the hatchback’s biggest gripes and gets a slightly larger battery with more range, but that’s hard to justify the premium over the Tiago EV. In fact, its price overlaps with the Punch EV, which offers larger battery packs and higher claimed range figures. Otherwise, the Tigor EV carries over the strengths of good ride quality, a well-specced cabin and a refined powertrain from its hatchback sibling.