Ahmedabad start-up Eneg Mobility readies Rs 4.5 lakh electric car for taxi operators

Eneg Mobility, an automotive start-up based in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, is preparing to launch a new electric car for commercial taxi drivers. Demand for electric vehicles (EVs) in the Indian automobile market is rising rapidly, and the company's announcement has set off discussion in the EV market. The company has said the car will come at a low price with strong features.

Most electric passenger cars in the Indian market currently cost more than Rs 10 lakh, which made it hard for ordinary taxi drivers to buy an EV. Eneg Mobility has set the ex-showroom price of this EV taxi at Rs 4.5 lakh, which will make it easier for taxi drivers to buy than petrol and CNG cars.

Running costs also differ. A CNG or diesel taxi spends about Rs 2 to 3 per km on fuel. The new electric car is expected to cost only 50 to 70 paise per km. The picture being presented is of large savings in drivers' daily expenses and a substantial rise in their net income.

On range and charging, the taxi can run 320 km on a full charge. With modern fast-charging technology, the car charges up to 80 per cent in 40 to 50 minutes. For home charging, it can easily be charged overnight using an ordinary 15A socket.

The battery is fitted under the floorboard of the car, so legroom and boot space in the cabin are not affected.

The car is designed to seat 4 to 5 people comfortably. Rear-seat passengers get rear AC vents and mobile charging ports. The boot has room for 3 to 4 large suitcases of the kind taken to airports or railway stations.

For safety, the car has features such as ABS, rear parking sensors, a digital speedometer and a GPS vehicle tracking system.

With the Rs 4.5 lakh budget, drivers who work for Ola, Uber and local taxi services could now move quickly from petrol and CNG to EVs. Eneg Mobility's new electric taxi appears set to be a "game-changer" for India's commercial taxi segment.