Green Running

Mahindra’s Verito range includes an eco-friendly and frugal avatar. Sergius Barretto examines if this is the future of mobility.

- Sergius Barretto

It’s the end of the day, you head home and it’s time to plug in your phone, your tablet, smart watch and your car. Yes, the days of the electric car are here. You are far from spoilt for choice, but when it comes to electric propulsion, you can choose between a hatch and sedan, or even a van if you happen to be in the transport business. Mahindra, currently the sole EV maker, has on sale the e2o Plus; the eSupro, an electric version of its Supro van; and the car we are driving today, the eVerito, an electrified Verito sedan.

If you’re the type who thinks EVs should look futuristic, then the eVerito will let you down. It is basically the same Verito sedan, or the erstwhile Renault Logan. Apart from the badges and the big ‘Electric’ stickering on the sides, the only difference is a big fuel-flap-like hatch on the front left fender that houses the fast charging port. The normal port is housed at the rear, behind what was the fuel flap. The interiors too are nearly identical in terms of seats and the dashboard, even the badging above the glove box reads ‘Verito’ instead of ‘eVerito’. The instrument panel is different, naturally. At the centre is a large circular digital display with readouts for speed, odometer and the amount of charge left. This is also displayed separately by graphical bars on the right of the panel. To the left of the panel, a similar bar display gives you instantaneous driving efficiency. A small square window displays a letter indicating the mode you’re in, like F for Forward, B for Boost, etc.