The sticker price of an electric vehicle has long been the single biggest reason Indian buyers stick with petrol and diesel cars. But a relatively new ownership model is quietly changing that math — Battery-as-a-Service, or BaaS.
The concept is straightforward: you buy the car, but rent the battery. Since the battery pack accounts for nearly half the cost of an EV, separating the two brings the upfront price down dramatically. You then pay a per-kilometre subscription fee for as long as you use the car. It’s a model that’s already proven popular in markets like China, and in India, it’s gaining serious traction.
Here’s a comprehensive look at every electric vehicle currently on sale in India with a BaaS option.
MG Comet EV — BaaS starts at ₹4.92 lakh (+ ₹3.2/km)
The pocket-sized Comet EV is already one of India’s most affordable electric cars, but BaaS trims nearly ₹2.71 lakh off the base price, bringing it down to just ₹4.92 lakh. The catch is a subscription fee of ₹3.2 per kilometre.
| Variant | Standard Price | BaaS Price | Saving |
|---|---|---|---|
| Executive | ₹7.63 lakh | ₹4.92 lakh + ₹3.2/km | ₹2.71 lakh |
| Excite | ₹8.73 lakh | ₹6.09 lakh + ₹3.2/km | ₹2.64 lakh |
| Exclusive | ₹9.73 lakh | ₹7.09 lakh + ₹3.2/km | ₹2.64 lakh |
| Blackstorm Edition | ₹10 lakh | ₹7.63 lakh + ₹3.2/km | ₹2.37 lakh |
One thing worth noting: MG originally launched the Comet’s BaaS plan at ₹2.5/km in 2024 and has since revised it upward to ₹3.2/km. Subscription rates aren’t fixed, so factor that into your long-term cost calculations.
Tata Punch EV — BaaS starts at ₹6.49 lakh (+ ₹2.6/km)
Tata Motors entered the BaaS space with the Punch EV facelift, and it currently offers the lowest per-kilometre subscription fee in India at just ₹2.6/km. The base Smart 30 variant drops from ₹9.69 lakh to ₹6.49 lakh — a saving of ₹3.20 lakh.
| Variant | Standard Price | BaaS Price | Saving |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smart 30 | ₹9.69 lakh | ₹6.49 lakh + ₹2.6/km | ₹3.20 lakh |
| Other variants | ₹10.29 lakh onwards | Not yet announced | — |
Tata has so far only confirmed BaaS pricing for the entry-level trim. Pricing for higher variants is yet to be disclosed.
MG Windsor EV — BaaS starts at ₹9.99 lakh (+ ₹3.9/km)
The Windsor EV was actually the car that introduced BaaS to India when it launched in September 2024. It’s now available with two battery options — a 38 kWh pack and a larger 52.9 kWh pack added in 2025 — and the subscription fee varies accordingly.
| Variant | Standard Price | BaaS Price | Saving |
|---|---|---|---|
| Excite | ₹14 lakh | ₹9.99 lakh + ₹3.9/km | ₹5.01 lakh |
| Exclusive | ₹15.53 lakh | ₹11.14 lakh + ₹4/km | ₹4.39 lakh |
| Exclusive Pro | ₹16.53 lakh | ₹12.25 lakh + ₹4.5/km | ₹4.28 lakh |
| Essence | ₹17.38 lakh | ₹12.29 lakh + ₹3.9/km | ₹5.09 lakh |
| Essence Pro | ₹18.50 lakh | ₹13.39 lakh + ₹4.5/km | ₹5.11 lakh |
Buyers opting for the smaller 38 kWh battery pay ₹3.9/km, while the larger pack commands ₹4.5/km.
Maruti Suzuki e Vitara — BaaS starts at ₹10.99 lakh (+ ₹3.99/km)
Maruti’s first-ever electric car, the e Vitara, arrives with BaaS support from day one — and it offers the highest upfront saving of any EV in India, up to ₹5.50 lakh on higher trims. The subscription fee depends on which battery pack you choose.
| Variant | Standard Price | BaaS Price | Saving |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delta | ₹15.99 lakh | ₹10.99 lakh + ₹3.99/km | ₹5.00 lakh |
| Zeta | ₹17.49 lakh | ₹11.99 lakh + ₹4.39/km | ₹5.50 lakh |
| Alpha | ₹19.79 lakh | ₹14.29 lakh + ₹4.39/km | ₹5.50 lakh |
The 49 kWh battery variants carry a ₹3.99/km fee, while the larger battery pack steps up to ₹4.39/km.
MG ZS EV — BaaS starts at ₹13 lakh (+ ₹4.5/km)
MG’s longest-serving EV in India — originally launched back in 2019 — was among the first to receive the BaaS treatment alongside the Comet EV. Equipped with a 50.3 kWh battery, the ZS EV’s subscription fee sits at a flat ₹4.5/km across all variants.
| Variant | Standard Price | BaaS Price | Saving |
|---|---|---|---|
| Executive | ₹17.99 lakh | ₹13 lakh + ₹4.5/km | ₹4.99 lakh |
| Excite Pro | ₹18.75 lakh | ₹13.51 lakh + ₹4.5/km | ₹5.24 lakh |
| Exclusive Pro | ₹19.75 lakh | ₹14.51 lakh + ₹4.5/km | ₹5.24 lakh |
| Essence | ₹20.75 lakh | ₹15.51 lakh + ₹4.5/km | ₹5.24 lakh |
Is BaaS Worth It?
That depends almost entirely on how much you drive. The upfront savings are real and significant — anywhere from ₹2.37 lakh on the Comet EV to ₹5.50 lakh on the e Vitara. But those savings are gradually offset by the per-kilometre fee you pay every time you drive.
As a rough benchmark using the MG Comet EV: the ₹2.71 lakh you save upfront covers the battery subscription cost for roughly 85,000 km at ₹3.2/km. Drive more than that and you’re paying more overall than the standard ownership route. Drive less, and BaaS saves you money.
The bigger risk is rate hikes. MG’s own track record — raising the Comet’s fee from ₹2.5/km to ₹3.2/km — shows that manufacturers can and do revise these costs over time.
BaaS is best suited for buyers who are cost-conscious at the point of purchase, drive moderate distances, and plan to upgrade their vehicle within a few years rather than running it into the ground.
All prices are ex-showroom, India.
