Seeing the growing demand for electric vehicles e Vitara in the Indian market, the country’s largest carmaker Maruti Suzuki is now going to enter the fully electric SUV segment. This new electric SUV has been named Maruti e Vitara and is considered to be the company’s most ambitious electric offering so far. The special thing is that the motor based e-Axle technology being used in it is manufactured in India itself. This means that this vehicle will not only be technologically modern, but will also become a great example of the ‘Make in India’ campaign.
Front e-Axle made in India
The front e-Axle system used in Maruti e Vitara is a compact electric drive unit developed by a global joint venture called BluE Nexus. This consortium includes giants like Toyota, Aisin and DENSO. In this e-Axle unit, the motor, inverter and transaxle have been integrated into a compact module. This is the same technology that is seen in the EV platforms of brands like Tesla, BMW and Hyundai.
FWD version
Initially, Maruti e Vitara will be launched with a Front-Wheel Drive (FWD) setup. This means that all the power of the vehicle will be focused only on the front wheels. Later its All-Wheel Drive (AWD) version will be launched, but it will not be available in India in the initial stage. It is being told that first the AWD system will be made available in Toyota’s version, only after that Maruti will include it in its variants.
Motor power capacity
The front e-Axle installed in Maruti e Vitara generates power ranging from 106kW to 128kW, which means that this motor provides power ranging from about 144hp to 174hp. At the same time, when it comes to the rear e-Axle, its maximum power capacity is up to 80kW (108hp). But as mentioned earlier, this rear motor and AWD system will not be available in India at the time of launch.
Design and improvement
While designing this electric SUV, Maruti Suzuki has paid special attention that all the components like motor, inverter and transaxle should be extremely compact and lightweight. For this, double-side cooling inverter has been used which improves heating control. Apart from this, high-efficiency magnets have been used in the e-Motor so that the motor can be even lighter and smaller.
The inverter has been installed inside the main housing of the motor, which does not require separate covers and also reduces the overall weight. Using short shafts not only reduces weight, but it also makes the entire system more efficient and compact.
61kWh battery
Maruti e Vitara will be launched initially with a battery of 61kWh capacity. This battery will provide an ARAI-certified driving range of about 500 kilometers. This range is considered to be quite impressive according to Indian conditions and long distance needs. With such a long range, this SUV can get ahead in the competition between EV manufacturers like Ola, Tata, and Mahindra.
Intelligent technology
The rear e-Axle unit used in the e Vitara comes with a special low-height design, so that the rear seats and boot space can be used as much as possible. In this way, Maruti has also managed the interior space of the car very well. Its goal is to create an EV that is suitable for family use as well as for long distance travel.
Launch timeline
Maruti Suzuki has not yet officially announced the launch date of the e Vitara, but according to sources, this electric SUV can be launched in the Indian market by the end of 2025 or early 2026. It is built on the global EV platform of Suzuki and Toyota, and will be manufactured in India at a local plant.
Partnership with Toyota
Toyota and Maruti have had a technical partnership for the past few years, the benefits of which are now being seen in the electric segment. Toyota is already working on the Urban Cruiser EV and Maruti e Vitara is also being built on the same basis. This means that electric platform and technology are being shared between the two brands, which will reduce costs and keep the technology advanced.
Conclusion
Maruti Suzuki’s e Vitara can bring a big change in the Indian electric SUV segment. It will not only come with strong power, long range and smart design, but it will also clearly reflect ‘Make in India’. This move of Maruti can prove to be a milestone not only for the company but also for the Indian electric vehicle industry.