Under Rs 15 lakh is where electric cars stop being a rich person’s experiment and start competing with the petrol car you were going to buy anyway. The good news is that in September 2026 this segment has real choice. The honest news is that not every EV here can be your only car. Here is the field, with claimed ranges, realistic expectations and the catch nobody prints on the brochure.
The lineup under Rs 15 lakh
| EV | Ex-showroom price | Claimed range |
|---|---|---|
| Tata Tiago EV | From Rs 6.99 lakh | Up to 285 km |
| MG Comet EV | City-car pricing | Around 230 km |
| Tata Punch EV | From Rs 9.79 lakh | Up to 365 km (40kWh) |
| MG Windsor EV | From Rs 9.99 lakh (BaaS) | Around 330 km plus |
| Tata Nexon EV | Entry variants in budget | Up to 489 km (top spec) |
Prices move with festive offers and BaaS schemes, so treat these as the September 2026 snapshot rather than gospel.
Tata Tiago EV: the entry ticket
At Rs 6.99 lakh, the Tiago EV is the cheapest proper electric car in the country. Claimed range runs up to 285 km, which translates to roughly 200 to 230 km in real driving. As a city car and a second car, it is excellent. As your only car for a family that does highway trips, it will test your planning skills.
Tata Punch EV: the sensible middle
The Punch EV got its facelift in February 2026 and starts around Rs 9.79 lakh. It also scored 5 stars in the Bharat NCAP crash test, which matters more than any touchscreen size. With the bigger 40kWh battery, real-world range sits comfortably in the 280 to 300 km zone. On Tata’s battery rental scheme it starts at Rs 6.49 lakh plus Rs 2.60 per km, a structure that suits low-mileage buyers. This is the car we would point most first-time EV buyers toward.
MG Windsor EV: space for the money
The Windsor’s BaaS pricing from Rs 9.99 lakh with a per-km battery rental made it a genuine hit. Inside, it feels a class bigger than its price. Do the rental math against your monthly running before you sign. Above roughly 1,500 km a month, the per-km charges add up faster than people expect.
The honest catch with every EV here
- Real range is 20 to 30 percent below the claimed figure. AC, traffic and highway speeds all take their cut.
- Home charging is the whole game. If your building will not allow a charger, an EV becomes a weekly errand.
- Resale for EVs is still finding its feet compared to petrol cars.
- Tata raised EV prices too in its September 1 hike, so quotes from August are stale. Details in our price hike story.
Confused between the two cheapest Tatas? We have settled it in Punch EV vs Tiago EV. And before any showroom visit, read our piece on what an EV really costs per km. The savings story is strong, but only when the math fits your life.
FAQ: budget EVs in India
Which is the cheapest electric car in India?
The Tata Tiago EV at Rs 6.99 lakh ex-showroom, with the MG Comet close by as the cheapest city runabout.
Which EV under Rs 15 lakh has the best range?
The Nexon EV in higher specs claims up to 489 km, though those variants push past Rs 15 lakh. Within budget, the Punch EV 40kWh offers the best balance of range, safety and price.
Is BaaS worth it?
Battery rental cuts the entry price sharply, then charges you per km. It works for low monthly running. Heavy users are usually better off buying the battery outright.
Can these EVs do highway trips?
The Punch EV, Windsor and Nexon EV can, with a charging stop planned every 200 km or so. The Tiago EV and Comet are happiest inside city limits.