After having changed the way we look at computers, portable music devices, phones and tablets, Apple now seems to have cars in the cross-hairs. The company has been on an aggressive hiring spree with big names from the automotive industry now working for the Cupertino-based tech giant.
These automotive experts and engineers are being hired to work on an apparently secretive project named ‘Titan’. Reports suggest this is going to be an Electric Car. While details are sketchy at best, the iCar (?) is likely to have, like all other Apple products, a futuristic space-age design. It will most likely have a mono-volume small car design for better space utilisation and aero efficiency. The interiors too will likely have the same clean minimalist design that gets buyers flocking the Apple stores to buy the iPhones. Also likely is a version of CarPlay navigation-entertainment system.
Another report by Jefferies and Co. states that the Apple car will cost an average of $55,000 or Rs 35 lakh at current exchange rates when it goes on sale in 2019. And though this is more expensive than a BMW i3 electric car, the report also estimates that Apple will manage to sell 200,000 units of the car.
If, on the other hand, you don’t want to wait for Apple, here are some of the other electric cars that are on sale for you to consider.
1. Mahindra E2O
This tiny little two-door four-seater has a range of 120 km on a single charge and boasts a top speed of 81 kmph. There’s a feature called Revive which lets you extend the range by 10 km. It comes with a phone app that lets you lock it remotely and even switch on the AC from the comfort of your office.
2. BMW i3
This car is unique in the EV world thanks to its carbon fibre construction, usually seen in sports cars and prototype racers. The car has a range of 130 km on purely electric drive, while the range extender version with a petrol generator gives it a range of 240 km. With the i5 already being sold in India, can the i3 be far behind?
3. Nissan Leaf
Nissan had brought the Leaf to India when it was testing waters, and may even bring it here in the coming years. The car has a claimed range of 135 km and a top speed of 144 kmph.
4. Tesla Model S
Probably Apple’s biggest competition, Tesla has been in the business for 10 years and has the lovely looking Model S on sale. The sedan has seating for four and a range of 330 km to 500 km depending on the powertrain configuration. Here’s what Tesla boss Elon Musk had to say about Apple’s foray into the automotive segment