Mahindra is not a household name in the United States, but the Indian automaker has a long history of making rugged vehicles for its home market and beyond. Now, Mahindra is looking to enter the electric-car arena with the BE 05 concept, a stylish and practical city car that debuted at the Auto Expo in New Delhi.
The Mahindra BE 05 concept is based on the Mahindra e2o, a small electric hatchback that has been sold in India since 2013. The e2o was originally developed by Reva, an electric-car startup that Mahindra acquired in 2010. The BE 05 concept takes the basic shape of the e2o and adds some flair, with a sleeker front end, LED headlights and taillights, and a two-tone paint scheme.
The interior of the BE 05 concept is also more upscale than the e2o, with a digital instrument cluster, a large touchscreen infotainment system, and a rotary gear selector. The concept also features a panoramic sunroof, ambient lighting, and smartphone wireless charging. The cabin can seat four adults comfortably, thanks to the compact dimensions of the electric powertrain.
Speaking of which, Mahindra did not disclose any details about the battery or motor of the BE 05 concept, but it did claim that the car can travel up to 200 kilometers (124 miles) on a single charge. That’s more than enough for urban driving, and Mahindra also said that the concept can be fast-charged to 80% capacity in just 30 minutes.
Mahindra has not confirmed if the BE 05 concept will go into production, but it seems logical for the company. Mahindra already has some experience with electric vehicles in India and abroad. In addition to the e2o, Mahindra also sells the eVerito sedan and the eSupro van in India, and it owns Pininfarina. This Italian design house recently launched its own electric hypercar, the Battista.
