In an event in London, Indian car maker Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) has launched the company’s latest electric car – Mahindra e2o in the UK market at a starting price tag of £12,995. It is available for purchase online right now and the deliveries will start in May, 2016. The Mahindra e2o comes in two trim levels, the high-end trim level costs £15,995 while the entry-level costs £12,995. The price range makes it more expensive than the Renault Twizy, which starts at £6895 but it is cheaper than cars like the Renault Zoe and Nissan Leaf which costs £18,445 and £25,790 respectively. Apart from this, Mahindra will also offer a finance scheme for the e2o and it includes hire purchase, PCP & business leasing options. The test drives can be booked online in London, Birmingham, Bristol and Milton Keynes, with additional test drive cities to be announced in the future.
Speaking about the e2o’s arrival on British roads, Anand Mahindra, Chairman, Mahindra Group said:
“I am very proud to announce that the e2o is now available in the UK and this marks a true milestone for the Mahindra Group. I invite people to come and test drive the Mahindra e2o ‘ElectriCity Car’ and help drive a positive change to the air quality in their cities. Sustainability is at the heart of Mahindra’s business practices and with the introduction of the e2o to the UK market, we are offering a product that perfectly encapsulates our corporate philosophy.”
Pravin Shah, President & Chief Executive of Mahindra’s Automotive operations, said:
“He believes that the e2o is the right car at the right time for the UK market and according to him, there has never been a better time for people to make the change to electric, and with the e2o there has never been an easier or more affordable way to make this transition. The e2o is an innovative combination of advancements in automotive, electronics and information technology paired with minimal running costs and zero tailpipe emissions. This makes it the ideal urban runabout or second car for the two-and-a-half-million UK households that can charge the car at home in a driveway or garage.”
The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson MP is enthusiastic about the e2o being launched in London, saying:
“I want to congratulate Mahindra on the launch of their new electric car today. Supporting ultra-low emission vehicles has been a priority at City Hall as they can boost air quality, help tackle climate change and reduce fuel costs and I look forward to seeing e2os on London’s streets.”
The Mahindra e2o is specifically designed for easy urban commuting and it is the successor of Mahindra G-Wiz. According to Mahindra, it has claimed range of 79 miles. It’s a three-door hatchback with four seats. The Mahindra e20 is equipped with dual SRS airbags, Anti-Lock Braking System, Electronic Stability Control, and a regenerative braking system as standard.
The Mahindra e2o features host of connected technologies like touchscreen infotainment centre with reversing camera, telematics, leather seats, alloy wheels, Revive remote emergency recharging and a rapid charing port. The Mahindra e2o has a top speed of 63mph and achieves 0-25mph in 4.9sec while 0-50mph takes 18 sec. It has 13.9kWH lithium-ion battery which powers a 42bhp electric motor with 67lb ft instantly available torque & take nine hours to charge from empty. The Mahindra e2o TechX has a fast charge option, takes 1.5 hours.
The remote emergency charging feature gives driver up to 8 miles of range if the battery has been depleted. There are onboard sensors which send car data to Mahindra, allowing remote health monitoring and customer alerts. The touchscreen infotainment system offers satellite navigation with ‘range remaining’ maps featuring charge point locations. Bluetooth, Wi-Fi hotspot connection, USB, SD card, DAB radio, and a built-in reversing camera are also included.