Electric Cars: The Basics
For those of you new to zero-emission electric driving, we recommend a read of the following articles:
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The All-Electric MG 5 EV Estate
MG Motor UK Limited (MG Motor), is a UK headquartered British automotive manufacturer, now owned by the Chinese automotive company, SAIC Motor. SAIC is owned by the Chinese government and headquartered in Shanghai. MG was owned by MG Rover up to 2005, before the collapse of the company. The automotive company currently has the following battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) on sale:
The MG5 EV (electric vehicle) is the second pure electric car from MG, after the all-electric MG ZS EV. For those families seeking ‘value for money’ in a pure electric car, the MG5 is certainly worth considering.
For a start, there are very few pure electric estate cars available for sale globally, positioning the MG5 electric estate car as one of the best options, for those seeking an affordable and spacious electric station wagon. The EV offers a strong proposition for both families and company-car drivers, given the affordable pricing and the lower cost of electric driving.
The MG5 EV is available in only one EV battery size (61.1 kWh), which is in the middle of the range for EV battery sizes currently on offer for electric cars. The 61.1 kWh battery is certainly a practical and useful size. The automotive manufacturer claims a pure electric range up to 400 km on a full charge. Even adjusting for real-world driving conditions, the MG electric car should be able to deliver over 340 km.
The MG5 EV incorporates a single-phase (7 KW AC) onboard charger. More than adequate for EV home charging in India, given that the majority of homes have single-phase power supply. The EV can be fully charged in 9 hours and 30 minutes using a dedicated residential EV charger like easee.
We at e-zoomed recommend charging overnight when the electricity prices are lower. We also recommend charging on a regular basis. This way charging times are reduced and regular charging is good for the long-term maintenance of the onboard EV battery. MG offers a 7 years or 160,000 km warranty. The MG5 electric estate also offers DC charging capability. Using a 50 kW DC rapid charger, the EV can be charged from 10%-80% in 61 minutes.
In terms of the exterior styling, it is well suited for those keen on a more traditional look. Not everyone appeals to a futuristic design. Neither the exterior or the interior is class-leading, but it gets the job done.
MG offers a host of features and technology, to include: 10.25″ colour touchscreen, 7″ colour driver information display, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, 360o parking camera, active emergency braking with pedestrian and bicycle Detection, lane keep assist, intelligent speed limit assist , adaptive cruise control and more.
Interestingly, the MG5 also offers vehicle-to-load charging capability i.e. other electric items can be charged or powered using the onboard EV battery. The EV is practical for front and rear seat passengers. The available boot space is 479 L.
In terms of performance, the front-wheel drive MG5 EV SW achieves 0-100 km/h in 7.3 seconds. The EV delivers a maximum power up to 156 PS (torque: 260 Nm). The top speed is 185 km/h.
Bottom-line, electric driving is good for the environment and the wallet! The MG5 EV is not available in India.
PROS | CONS |
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A genuinely affordable family electric estate | DC charging limited to 100 kW |
Decent electric range | Not the most inspiring drive |
Practical and ample boot space | Interior quality can be improved |
The All-Electric MG5 EV Estate (credit: MG)
At A Glance | |
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EV Type: | Battery-Electric Vehicle (BEV) |
Vehicle Type: | Estate |
Engine: | Electric |
Available In India: | No |
Trims (1 Option) |
---|
MG5 EV (Rs N/A) |
EV Battery & Emissions | |
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EV Battery Type: | Lithium-ion |
EV Battery Capacity: | Available in one battery size: 61.1 kWh |
Charging: | 100 kW DC Rapid Charging (10%-80%: 40 mins). Onboard charger: 7 kW AC (0%-100%: 9 hrs 30 mins) |
Charge Port: | Type 2 |
EV Cable Type: | Type 2 |
Tailpipe Emissions: | 0g (CO2/km) |
Battery Warranty: | 7 years or 160,000 km |
Charging Times (Overview) | |
---|---|
Slow charging AC (3 kW – 3.6 kW): | 6 – 12 hours (dependent on size of EV battery & SOC) |
Fast charging AC (7 kW – 22 kW): | 3 – 8 hours (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC) |
Rapid charging AC (43 kW): | 0-80%: 20 mins to 60 mins (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC) |
Rapid charging DC (50 kW+): | 0-80%: 20 mins to 60 mins (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC) |
Ultra rapid charging DC (150 kW+): | 0-80% : 20 mins to 40 mins (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC) |
Tesla Supercharger (120 kW – 250 kW): | 0-80%: up to 25 mins (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC) |
- Note 1: SoC: state of charge
Dimensions | |
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Height (mm): | 1543 |
Width (mm): | 2059 |
Length (mm): | 4600 |
Wheelbase (mm): | 2659 |
Turning Circle (m): | 11.3 |
Boot Capacity (L): | 479 |
MG5 EV (61.1 kWh) | |
---|---|
EV Battery Capacity: | 61.1 kWh |
Pure Electric Range (WLTP): | 400 km |
Electric Energy Consumption (kWh/100km): | 17.5 |
Charging: | 100 kW DC Rapid Charging (10%-80%: 40 mins). Onboard charger: 7 kW AC (0%-100%: 9 hrs 30 mins) |
Top Speed: | 185 km/h |
0-100 km/h: | 7.3 seconds |
Drive: | Front-wheel drive (FWD) |
Horsepower (PS): | 156 |
Torque (Nm): | 260 |
Transmission: | Automatic |
Seats: | 5 |
Doors: | 5 |
Kerb Weight (kg): | 1,562 |
Colours: | 6 |
NCAP Safety Rating: | N/A |
Air Quality: The Basics
It does not matter where in India one lives, no one can escape the increased level of air pollution engulfing our villages, towns and cities, across the country. However, this is not unique to India.
Air pollution has been documented globally as one of the key issues in increased mortality rates, in particular, for those that are most vulnerable: the children and the aged. Increased air pollution has been linked to increases in premature deaths, higher rates of cancer, heart attacks, stroke and lung diseases.
In India, air quality worsens closer to more densely populated urban centres, the 1st, 2nd and 3rd tier cities. Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Bengaluru are just some of the examples of cities with dangerous levels of toxic air pollution or poor air quality. In fact, air pollution levels have been so high in India in the recent years, that it has captured the attention of the world media.
Many factors affect the level of air pollution, but one that is significant, is the pollution released from road transportation, commonly referred to as ‘emissions’ or tailpipe emissions. For the majority of the globe, to include, India, emissions from petrol and diesel vehicles contribute more than 30% to air pollution. This is an average, and certainly, in more populated cities like Delhi and Mumbai, the level of toxic contribution from vehicle exhausts will be even higher. The other major contributor to air pollution is energy production and consumptions (fossil fuels).
So, what is air pollution?
- Air pollution is the release of pollutants in our atmosphere that have a negative impact on the health of individuals and the environment as a whole.
- The majority of pollutants are invisible. The are minutely small particles (finely divided solids) or gases that cannot be seen with the naked eye. These extremely small solid or liquid particles are also called particulates. Examples are: fumes, smoke, dust and soot. The majority of these particulates are less than 10 micrometres.
- Air pollution can affect the environment both outdoors and indoors. There are a number of different types of pollutants, but the most well known are particulate matter, carbon dioxide, methane, carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide.
- Both carbon monoxide (CO) and nitrogen oxides (NO2), contribute to smog formation, very common in the winter months. Sulphur dioxide (SO2) contributes to haze and also acid rain formation. Particulate matters also contributes to haze and acid rain. All the above negatively impact health by increasing irritation of breathing passages, aggravation of asthma and irregular heartbeat.
- Pollutants like carbon dioxide have a far reaching consequence on our lives. It is not only air pollution that it impacts, but as being a major source of greenhouse gas, CO2 has a long-term and detrimental impact on our environment and ecosystem. More commonly refereed to as ‘climate change’.
- Most of us know in India are familiar with PM 2.5 (fine particulate matter). These are tiny particles or droplets that are two and one half microns or less in width. A micron is a unit of measurement of length equal to one millionth of a metre. An increase in levels of PM 2.5 concentrations result in an increase in unhealthy air quality, haze etc. Vehicle exhausts are a major contributor to higher levels of PM 2.5 in the air.
- Though measures like reducing traffic (odd-even system in Delhi), wearing air masks etc. can help reduce the impact of pollution, the reduction is not far-reaching. Zero-emission road transportation i.e. electric cars, are a panacea for a sustained and comprehensive improvement in air quality. The sooner, we in India, migrate to electric vehicles, the sooner can we start to improve our local air quality.
While e-zoomed uses reasonable efforts to provide accurate and up-to-date information, some of the information provided is gathered from third parties and has not been independently verified by e-zoomed. While the information from the third party sources is believed to be reliable, no warranty, express or implied, is made by e-zoomed regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of any information. This disclaimer applies to both isolated and aggregate uses of this information.