MG's Comet EV a harbinger of things to come

In some ways, the MG Comet answers the question that's top of mind for every carmaker, buyer, and industry professional. When will the electric car become affordable and mainstream in India?

The Comet, which is a small electric vehicle (EV) that is priced at around ₹8 lakh, is bound to not just boost sales amongst younger buyers and EV enthusiasts but also spur the launch of competitive products by rival carmakers.

Cute as a button, it is compact and priced such that would suit most young professionals. Comet's MG badging also throws in aspirational brand value coupled with a heritage of international engineering that the company has been known for since the time it was British-owned, even though it's now part of the Chinese SAIC Motor company.

The Comet is not the first EV of its size and type to be driven on Indian roads. The Reva came much earlier and was the result of indigenous entrepreneurship and tech but never really crossed over to being seen as anything more than a golf cart or novelty on wheels that just happened to be chargeable. In that context, the Comet makes a paradigm shift as far as fit and finish, usage of materials, the sophistication of the drivetrain, and overall technological engineering come. While the company claims a full range of around 230 km per full charge of the 17.3-kilowatt lithium-ion battery which is like a suitcase under the chassis, a 200 km range is probably more likely on the road. That's not too bad for a care car that is largely going to be used for intra-city rides, drop the kids to school, run errands, visit the neighborhood doctor, visit the gym, or to pick up groceries.

Given its size, one of the most common questions will likely be around safety but MG says that the little car comes with 17 hot stamping panels for structural safety and has been tested 39 times for vehicle and battery safety. It also has dual front airbags, ABS +EBD, and a rear parking camera and sensors.

Inside the Comet it's surprisingly roomy and high quality with comfy seats, premium-grade buttons and knobs, and a floating dashboard and screens that allow for quick access and easy controllability.

The Gear Selector is a space-age-looking round knob embellished with chrome rings and the centre console touts features such as electric window operation buttons and a 12-Volt charging port. By the way, it takes around 7 hours to charge to full and around five hours to get to 80% battery capacity with a type 2 connection.

The Comet is easy to drive, easy to navigate, easy to park, and definitely easy on the eyes. It accelerates with a tap of the foot as most EVs do and comes replete with space-age-sounding whooping and whirring sounds that add to its offbeat charm. Some may find the EV a little cramped in the rear but that's forgivable given this is marketed as a four-seater and not a five seater.

One can be a little nit-picky and question the absence of glove compartments and coffee cup holders and the like but MG has thrown in cubby holes and shelves and areas for storage as best as they could, given design constraints for a small vehicle and the end result is that it's passable.

With a 4.2 meter turning radius the Comet is super easy to turn around and weave through bends and curves. Given its size and its engine power around 42 hp this is clearly not a car that is built for the highway or very long journeys and while that is something that can be debated, expect MG to throw larger all-electric vehicles than this at Indian consumers in the near future.

Last but not least the Comet features no start-stop button but instead a digital key with shareability for as many as two people. How does that work? Carry the smart door key with bluetooth tech into the car and it's ready to rumble. Of course, take it out and the car will also stop.

The Comet goes on sale in a month from now and will be made in small batches with a first production run of about 3,000 which means it won't be a large-volume product but it won't be a Halo builder either. What will be is clearly the gauntlet that MG has thrown out to the rest of the EV car brigade in terms of testing the landscape for product viability, price, and the readiness of first-time car buyers to go electric. May the charging begin.