MG Motors recently introduced the Windsor EV electric car in India at a much more affordable price in comparison to its rival Nexon EV. This launch marked the introduction of India’s first and the most ” Google Searched feature” – a Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS) rental program.
While many think it is a feature that offers low-cost driving and lower cost of the car, many feel this is just another marketing gig and unachievable in India. Let’s break it down and see what makes this program so special, its benefits and downsides, and how it compares to other EV options:
What’s the BaaS Program?
BaaS is an innovative program that lets buyers buy an EV without a battery, instead rent it or pay for the battery as they drive. To understand it better, think about buying an electric car without the high cost of the battery.
Sounds good, right? Because of this innovative feature, the upfront cost of an EV battery is slashed, reducing the overall price of the EV significantly, even by the competitive pricing of MG Windsor EV at Rs. 9.99 Lakh, which is much more affordable compared to its rival Tata Nexon EV.
How Does the BaaS Work?
Here’s the simplified version of the BaaS Program for a better understanding:
- Lower Upfront Cost: The BaaS program significantly reduces the upfront cost of an EV due to massive savings on the battery cost, as it is not included and instead rented. The MG Windsor EV starts at ₹9.99 lakh because you don’t pay for the battery initially.
- Battery Rental: Instead of waiting at the charging station to recharge EVs, this innovative program offers the option of quickly swapping or fast charging the battery at BaaS network stations with a monthly subscription. In the case of the Windsor EV, buyers are to pay ₹3.5 per kilometer. So, if the average range driven per month is 1,000 kilometers in a month, the battery rental will be ₹3,500.
- Subscription Packs: For the BaaS program, users have to get a monthly subscription for some hundred kilometers, depending on the subscription pack chosen. The basic pack for MG Windsor EV costs ₹5,250 and covers 1,500 kilometers. The cool part? It doesn’t expire until you’ve driven those kilometers!
Now that we know what and how the program works, let’s get some understanding of its pros and cons:
Pros of the BaaS Program
- More Affordable: By cutting down on the battery cost under the MG Battery Rental Scheme, the Windsor EV is offered with low upfront costs, making it more budget-friendly.
- Free Fast Charging: For the first year, buyers get free fast charging at MG’s charging stations.
- Lifetime Battery Warranty: The original owner gets a lifetime warranty on the battery if you buy a Windsor EV. In case you sell the car, the warranty becomes 8 years or up to 160,000 kilometers.
Cons of the BaaS Program
- Subscription Costs: You’ll have to pay regularly for the battery rental service as subscriptions like we pay for Netflix or Amazon, which can add up over time.
- Limited Charging Network: The free charging is only at MG stations, so you’ll need to rely on their network. This can be really frustrating and would make no point while traveling outstations with no MG Charging Network.
Other Cars with Similar Programs
MG’s BaaS program is innovative, but not completely new. Here are a couple of other cars with similar battery rental options:
- NIO (Cina): NIO is a popular electric car model in China and has a similar kind of battery rental service which lets customers swap batteries at special stations.
- Renault Zoe (Europe): Renault offers a battery leasing option for the Zoe, letting customers lease the battery separately from the car. It is only available in Europe so far.
MG Windsor EV: Powertrain
Here are some detailed powertrain specifications of the MG Windsor EV with the BaaS Program:
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Battery | 37.9 kWh |
| Claimed Range | 460 km |
| Power | 143 hp |
| Torque | 200 Nm |
| Motor Type | Single Electric Motor |
The MG Windsor EV supports multiple charging options. A standard 3.3 kW charger takes about 13.8 hours for a full charge, while a 7.4 kW AC charger reduces this to 6.5 hours. With DC fast charging, the battery reaches 80% in a mere 55 minutes. The car also offers four driving modes: Eco+, Eco, Normal, and Sport. The car also has some cool features like a 15.6-inch touchscreen, reclining rear seats, and a panoramic glass roof.
The MG Windsor EV’s Battery-as-a-Service program is a fresh take on making electric cars more affordable and flexible. By cutting the upfront cost and offering rental options for the battery, MG is making EVs easier to own.
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What do you think? Would you go for an EV with a battery rental program? Let us know in the comment section.