You would be thrilled to know that the cheapest electric car in India costs just Rs 1.8 lakh. The name of this EV is Yakuza Karishma. Now, we know that the electric mobility wave is gripping all major automobile markets globally. This has been the case for the past few years. While we are witnessing a slowdown in the two largest EV markets in the world – the U.S. and China, the emerging economies are barely starting out. India is one such nation which is experiencing a boom in the mass adoption of EVs. However, this trend is, undoubtedly, in its nascent stage still. That is why we are witnessing something new almost on a daily basis in the EV space. For now, let us take a look at the details of one such case.
India’s Cheapest Electric Car
This video comes from Lk Motorworld on YouTube. He has the Yakuza Karishma with him. He showcases the key fob of this car which contains buttons for central locking and boot operation. Apart from that, the front section of this compact EV contains a single wiper, LED headlamp cluster, LED DRLs on the bumper, a large fake grille which is integrated into the surface and more. On the sides, the Karishma gets alloy wheels, an extremely short wheelbase, body-coloured ORVMs, a sunroof, etc. At the rear, the EV gets connected LED taillamps, a reverse parking camera, and reflector lamps on the bumper.
Moving to the inside, the Yakuza Karishma gets power windows, chrome door handles, wide-opening doors, a boot holder, a 3-seat layout, grab handles for the rear passengers, rear opening window, push start button, a charging socket, headlamp and wiper controls, music system, information on the driver’s instrument cluster, and more. For the price, the vehicle gets tons of modern equipment. However, we shall also look at some reasons why you should avoid going for this EV.
5 Reasons Not To Buy
Looks Weird and Impractical
Owning a car is a life-long dream for many people in our country. When they save enough for a new car, they would want it to, at least, look like a proper car. Unfortunately, that is not what the Yakuza Karishma is. Its almost miniature dimensions and three-seat layout render it close to being called a sophistical auto-rickshaw rather than a proper car. In fact, the space in the rear is barely enough to fit two passengers, as the company claims. Hence, the cabin is not all that practical.
Not Crash Tested
Since this is a brand new car and carmaker, there have not been any crash tests of the EV. Looking at the posture of this electric car, I am not sure if there is a possibility of crash-testing this car, to begin with. If it doesn’t qualify as a proper car, then it can’t be sent for testing. The flimsy build quality is definitely a safety concern even if you are upgrading from a two-wheeler. Therefore, this aspect must also be considered before making a decision.
Poor Performance
Since it comes with a small battery, the performance is not ideal. You would struggle to gain speeds if you ever take it out on highways or even proper city roads. On top of that, the claimed range of the Yakuza Karishma is a mere 50-60 km on a single charge. If this number gets even lower in real life, then there is hardly any application of it. Furthermore, charging this electric car takes around 6-7 hours. Hence, if you get stuck somewhere, it will take ages to charge the battery enough to carry on moving.
No Features
Another reason why it won’t be the best idea to purchase the cheapest electric car in India is the features. While the company is calling this a car, there are no corresponding features to back that. At best, one could call it a fancy quad-cycle. But that is about as close it could come to being called a car as possible. Hence, if you classify it as a quad cycle, it is certainly well-kitted. But for a car, there are not enough amenities to get anyone excited.
Dicey Aftersales
Even if after all the aforementioned points, you do decide to buy it, I would like to highlight the potential issues regarding aftersales services. A car company establishes its footprint in major cities of the country to set up some sort of connection to people living in all parts of India. However, since Yakuza is only a startup, it doesn’t have all that many customer touchpoints at the moment. In fact, even for sales, there are limited options to visit the showroom. Therefore, if something were to go wrong in the future, it would be difficult to think of a scenario where you would be able to service it anywhere in our vast land. All things considered, I don’t feel that buying the cheapest electric car in India makes a whole lot of sense at present.
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