The All-Electric Subaru Solterra SUV: The Complete Guide For India

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Electric Cars: The Basics

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For those of you new to zero-emission electric driving, we recommend a read of the following articles:

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The Subaru Solterra Electric SUV

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Subaru is an automotive manufacturing division of the Japanese conglomerate, Subaru Corporation. Though the Subaru brand is not extensively known, the car manufacturer has developed a niche following of customers, keen on the Subaru signature engine, drivetrain and four-wheel drive capability.

The name Subaru is derived from the M45 star cluster, more commonly known as Pleiades or the Seven Sisters. In Japanese, the name for Pleiades is Subaru. In fact, the automotive manufacturers logo incorporates the Seven Sisters, with the seventh star invisible to reflect the seventh star, which according to tradition is invisible.

Even though the Solterra is the first battery-electric vehicle (BEV) from Subaru, the company has been involved with electric vehicles (EVs) since 2006, the year Subaru launched the Stella Plug-in electric vehicle. Subaru has also been testing two other electric cars to include, Subaru G4e and the Subaru R1e. Subaru is also involved with a number of other initiatives in regards to electric driving. The company also sells a number of self-charging hybrid vehicles.

If at first glance the all-electric Subaru Solterra SUV looks familiar, there is a good reason. The EV has been developed in partnership with the Japanese automotive manufacturer, Toyota, that markets the electric vehicle as the Toyota bZ4X electric SUV. Both manufacturers share the same electric architecture platform.

The Solterra is the first pure electric vehicle from Subaru. The electric SUV made its debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show in 2021. The name Solterra is derived from the Latin words for ‘Sun’ and ‘Earth’. The design for the e-SUV has been evolved from the Subaru Dynamic X Solid design concept. The EV is built using the company’s first all-electric architecture, the Subaru e-Global Platform.

The EV is available in one EV battery size: 71.4 kWh. Subaru claims a WLTP certified zero-emission electric range up to 465 km. Of course, the real-world EV range will be lower than the quoted range. For those new to electric driving, EV range is impacted by a number of factors. Some include: weather, road condition, payload, speed, tyre size, onboard services used etc. For the Solterra SUV, expect a real-world e-range closer to 400 km. A very practical range for short and long distance trips.

The e-SUV incorporates DC rapid charging capability up to 150 kW. The EV can be charged 10%-80% in 30 minutes. The EV has a 7 kW AC onboard charger. Convenient for us living in India, as most homes in India are powered by single-phase power supply. The EV can be fully charged via a dedicated single-phase residential smart EV charger, like myenergi zappi in 9 hours and 30 minutes.

Yes, the EV can be charged via a 3-PIN domestic socket. However, we at e-zoomed discourage using a domestic socket for charging an electric car. We also recommend a topping up approach to EV charging. This way charging times are shorter! Moreover, regular charging is good for the long-term maintenance of the onboard EV battery. Subaru offers a 8 years or 160,000 km EV battery warranty.

The Solterra electric SUV offers four-wheel drive as standard. The EV has a 80 kW motor in the front and also at the rear. Both deliver a combined torque up to 336 Nm (max power: 218 PS). The electric SUV can achieve 0-100 km/h in 6.9 seconds and has a maximum speed up to 160 km/h.

The EV incorporates the upgraded version of the X-MODE AWD system. Solterra electric has three drive modes: Eco, Normal and Power. The Power mode is for higher performance, while the Eco mode reduces power and improves the electric range.

In terms of equipment and technology, Subaru has been keen to emphasis its legacy in terms of safety. The EV incorporates the ‘Subaru Safety Sense’, which includes the following driver assistance and collision avoidance technology as standard: safe exit assist, reverse automatic braking, 360-degree panoramic monitors, pre-collision braking and more. The electric SUV has a 12.3″ touchscreen infotainment system.

Also worth noting that the EV incorporates a heat pump as standard. The heat pump captures heat from other parts of the vehicle to be reused, for example, for heating the cabin. This reduces the use of the onboard EV battery and increases the efficiency of the EV.

In terms of practicality, the pure electric family SUV offers ample headroom and legroom for all passengers (front and rear). Like most pure electric cars, the EV battery is placed below the floor of the vehicle, resulting in more cabin space, and of course, a lower centre of gravity for the EV. The electric car offers a decent boot size up to 452 L. The EV has a towing capacity (Braked) up to 750 kg.

Bottom-line, electric driving is good for the environment and the wallet! The electric car is not available in India.

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PROS	CONS
Good electric range	Cheaper alternatives available
All-wheel drive (AWD) as standard	3-phase AC charging not available
Practical interior space	Available in only one EV battery size

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The All-Electric Subaru Solterra SUV (credit: Subaru)

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At A Glance
EV Type:	Battery-Electric Vehicle (BEV)
Body Type:	SUV
Engine:	Electric
Available In India:	No

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Variants (1 Option)
Subaru Solterra (from ₹ N/A)

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EV Battery & Emissions
EV Battery Type:	Lithium-ion
EV Battery Capacity:	Available in one battery size: 71.4 kWh
Charging:	150 kW DC Charging (10%-80%: 30 mins). Onboard Charger: 7 kW AC (0% – 100%: 9.5 hours)
Charge Port:	Type 2
EV Cable Type:	Type 2
Tailpipe Emissions:	0g (CO2/km)
Battery Warranty:	8 years or 160,000 km

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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

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Dimensions
Height (mm):	1650
Width (mm):	1860
Length (mm):	4690
Wheelbase (mm):	2850
Turning Circle (m):	11.2
Boot Space (L):	452

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Solterra
EV Battery Capacity:	71.4 kWh
Pure Electric Range (WLTP):	465 km
Electric Energy Consumption (kW/km):	161 – 180
Charging:	150 kW DC Charging (10%-80%: 30 mins). Onboard Charger: 7 kW AC (0% – 100%: 9.5 hours)
Top Speed:	160 km/h
0-100 km/h:	6.9 seconds
Drive:	All-wheel drive (AWD)
Max Power (PS):	218
Torque (Nm):	336
Transmission:	Automatic
Seats:	5
Doors:	5
Kerb Weight (kg):	2,015 – 2,040
Colours:	7
NCAP Safety Rating:	Five-Star

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Electric Driving: Top 5 EV Jargons For India

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Many of us living in India, have now come across an electric car, like the Tata Nexon EV. Some have been fortunate enough to even drive in one, or even better, own an e-vehicle. Even though, India, is still at a nascent stage in terms of electric driving, the latest-generation of electric cars, like the all-electric Kia EV6, are already on roads in India. Of course, also on our roads are other Tata and Mahindra electric cars.

Despite the increased visibility of EVs in India, the vocabulary (jargon) used in electric driving is still new to consumers. In fact, for many, it can seem daunting and confusing. We have therefore put below some of the more commonly used terms in the EV glossary, to give you an easier introduction to electric driving in India!

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EV Glossary: Top 5
Battery-Electric Vehicle (BEV):	What is a BEV? A battery-electric vehicle (BEV) is more commonly referred to as a pure electric car. A BEV is ‘pure’, in that, the vehicle only uses electric power for propulsion i.e. a BEV does not have an internal combustion engine (ICE). It is easy to recognise these zero-tailpipe emission green cars, as these vehicles are silent (except for the artificial noise), and do not have a tailpipe! The all-electric Jaguar I-PACE is a good example of a BEV.
Electric Vehicle (EV) :	What is an EV? An EV is any vehicle that uses ‘electricity’ or an ‘electric motor’ to power the vehicle. In the world of electric road transportation, an EV is usually referred to any vehicle that is primarily powered by an electric motor. The electric motor derives its power from a rechargeable battery or batteries. In other words, EVs are less dependent on petrol or diesel as fuel, and in the case of pure electric cars (BEVs), not dependent at all. EVs do get confusing as it encompasses all types of electric vehicles to include: BEVs, Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEV), Extended-Range Electric Vehicles (E-REV) and Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEV).
Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV):	What is a PHEV? A plug-in hybrid electric car combines, both, an internal combustion engine (ICE), along with an electric motor and an onboard EV battery. Put another way, a PHEV essentially aims to ‘couple’ a conventional petrol/ diesel vehicle, with electric propulsion. A PHEV has lower tailpipe emissions compared to a conventional petrol or diesel car, and a plug-in hybrid is also a more efficient vehicle. Like a battery-electric vehicle (BEV), a PHEV battery is charged by an external power source. The Porsche Cayenne E Plug-In Hybrid is an example of a PHEV.
Regenerative Braking:	What is regenerative braking? Also known as regen braking or brake recuperation, regenerative braking is a process of capturing the wasted energy (during braking) from an electric vehicle, to be reused (recycled). In the case of electric driving, the ‘captured’ energy is reused to increase the pure electric range of the EV. Given the average driving profile in India i.e. frequent braking, regen braking is well suited for our needs!
Smart EV Charger:	What is a smart EV charger? A smart or ‘intelligent’ electric car charger, is a type of EV charger that enables smart functionality, to include, more control by the user, and communication between the EV charging station, the operator, the utility and the national grid. We encourage electric car owners in India to replace using a domestic socket for charging an electric car, with a smart EV charger. Faster and safer for EV charging.

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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.

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