Hyundai Creta Electric

Battery degradation in an EV is a gradual process, and the battery capacity will not drop significantly for the first few years. However, battery performance by the 15th year could be as low as 50%. 

Replacing an EV battery after the 15th year is an option. But it will not make financial sense, given that the cost of a new battery could be more than the resale value of the entire car. 

This potential high cost of battery replacement is part of the reason why EVs don't hold their value well as compared to a petrol or diesel vehicle. Further, rapid advancements in EV and battery tech make existing solutions outdated more quickly, driving prices down faster. 

As things stand, it is advisable not to buy an EV with such a long-term usage horizon.  

Since you are looking for an EV for city use, the Hyundai Creta Electric is a good choice. While it isn't as powerful as the Mahindra BE 6 or Tata Harrier EV, performance is brisk and more than adequate for city conditions. 

The same holds true for its battery as well, which is the smallest (LR versions get a 51.4kWh battery pack) but delivers a comfortable 400km of real-world range in city driving. 

What makes the Creta Electric likeable and ideal for city use is its size. A Harrier EV is a full-size vehicle, while the BE6 is significantly wider. It means both can feel a bit cumbersome in congested confines. What also goes in favour of the Creta is that the tech onboard works as it's supposed to - free of glitches and errors. 

Given your monthly running, yes you could opt for an EV as you would save on running costs. However there are three important things to consider. 

Personal charging: You should have the option to charge at home or at your place of work. This is the most basic requirement as living fully on public charging is very challenging, given the paucity of free and operational chargers as well as the time required to charge. 

The length of your journey; since you said most of you running in on highways, this is very important. Highway chargers are present but often can be occupied or even not operational, thus if your journeys are upwards of 300 kms, you will need to stop for charge with most EVs. 

The route elevation; besides distance the elevation of the route is important as you can lose a lot of range with steep and long ghats.  

Thus if your highway running is below 300 kms per trip with very few to nil ghat sections, you can safety opt for an EV, else you would be better off with a strong hybrid or even a diesel.   

Yes, the Volkswagen Taigun is a lot of fun to drive, however if you are open to going electric, you could sell one and get an EV. That way, you will still have an internal combustion car for any occasional highway trips. 

Since both you and your wife's daily drive is within the city, either of you could use the EV, and range would not be an issue. Also, besides the lower running costs, you could also benefit from things like toll and parking fee waivers for EVs in certain cities. 

Consider the Hyundai Creta EV, which is a no-nonsense and practical car. However, if you do want a fun-to-drive electric, check out the Mahindra XEV 9S, or even the Mahindra BE6, which is very exciting to drive but has quite a few ergonomic issues.    

The Hyundai Creta EV would be a good choice; the ride comfort is excellent, the space inside is good, and it is very well loaded. Ingress and egress are natural and easy, and the car is very reliable with all of the powertrain as well as the body electronics well sorted. As for resale value, it's hard to predict that for any EV currently, as benchmarks have not yet been set.   

Opting for an electric SUV could be save you from a lot of uncertainties in the future around fuel mix, registration validity, etc., which might concern ICE vehicle owners. 

With a budget of Rs 20 lakh, the most sensible and trouble-free EV option is an entry-level Hyundai Creta Electric. If you want space, features and a fully-loaded car, the MG Windsor EV is also a good option to consider. 

The entry-level Mahindra BE 6 is a stand-out EV that also falls within your Rs 20 lakh budget.