One of the key attractions at the upcoming Bharat Mobility Expo 2025 will be India’s first solar electric car—the Vayve Mobility EVA. The expo will commence from January 17 to 22, 2025, and the core details of the vehicle are already out. The car made its debut at the Auto Expo 2023, gathering eyeballs then. This time, an improved, closer-to-production version is to be expected.
Vayve EVA Solar Car: What To Expect?
The EVA is a quirky electric micro-car intended to be a sustainable mobility solution for urban dwellers. Its design, proportions and powertrain are loud about this. The EVA has a narrow body design- a narrow axle at the rear and wider one at the front. This narrow, two-seater design makes it feel almost like someone made a car out of a two-wheeler. The turning radius is short and a perfect fit for urbanscapes.
The idea of a micro-commuter might not be new as we speak. We have over the years, seen the REVA i, Bajaj Qute and more recently, the MG Comet. But none of these were as narrow as this. The difference in dynamics would be a new experience. It would be a breeze to navigate through the tight city traffic in one of these.
The EVA is a 3-seater. It would come with a single front seat and two at the back. The rear gets a single bench. Since there is no co-driver seat, getting into and out of the rear row is easy and convenient.
Vayve EVA Powertrain
This EV will likely get a small liquid-cooled 14 kWh battery ( at least the previous prototype had it). It is capable of both DC fast charging and wall-socket charging. AC charging at home requires at least 4 hours while 20-80% via a DC charger would take just 45 minutes. The claimed range of this setup is 250 km per charge. The electric motor is capable of producing 6kW. EVA will be based on a monocoque chassis.
Unlike any other electric car on sale today, the EVA can charge using solar energy. It gets 150W solar panels integrated into its roof. These charge the battery when the car is out in the sun. The company claims that the setup can deliver an additional 10-12 km in range every day. This means around 3000 free miles a year. All these are on top of the regular all-electric range of the EV powertrain. 0-40 kph acceleration would need around 5 seconds. The top speed could be around 70 km/h.
The biggest takeaway is the running costs. As per company claims, the EVA will have a running cost of approximately ₹0.5 per kilometer. It could thus be the best bet for people with a daily travel of under 35 km.
Vayve EVA Cabin And Expected Features
EVA is expected to get smartly organized cabin packed with features. Expected features are a reversing camera, a touchscreen infotainment system, a digital instrument cluster, two-spoke steering, smart connectivity features, airbags, vehicle diagnostics, remote monitoring, over-the-air updates and automatic emergency braking.
Vayve EVA’s Sales Potential
The EV scene in India is dominated by deep-pocket brands like Tata Motors and Mahindra. Vayve Mobility has no intentions to compete with these or to eat into their shares. This Indian company is essentially trying to grab a tiny market share in the EV sector. If given a proper price, placement and pitched to the right set of buyers, this electric car can do well in sales.
