Reva Electric Car Company has launched an advanced version of its electric car, Reva-I which uses AC drive train to give better speed, range and acceleration.The technologically advanced car is also equipped with a `boost’ mode for short-term acceleration and power. Revai also has a “hill restraint” feature which allows enhanced negotiation on slopes. Revai costs Rs 3.49 lakh. As an eco-friendly and economical car, it offers ease of driving without clutch and gears. Its small size makes parking hassle-free and manoeuvrable for safe driving on city roads. Revai – the new model can drive at 80 km per hour as compared to 65 km per hour by its earlier models, with acceleration from 0-40 km in seven seconds as against 10 seconds earlier. The capacity of its torque has been increased by 40 percent for quicker acceleration, climbing and negotiating slopes. With trip odometer and automatic computer controlled indicator for power consumption and regeneration and electronic control panels, Revai will have more battery life to cover about 200 km without recharging as against 80-100 km by its earlier models.
Reva has so far sold around 2,000 units of Reva, of which 70 per cent have been exported. Over 1,000 units of Reva car have been sold in the UK market. Reva said part of the $20 million funding it received from Global Environment Fund (GEF) and Draper Fisher Jurveston (DFJ) would be utilised for increasing the capacity of the plant. Reva has a production capacity of 6,000 vehicles a year, which would be expanded to manufacture 30,000 vehicles. During 2006, Reva sold around 600 cars and with the launch of the new model RevaI, it plans to sell about 3,000 cars this year. Reva is foraying into Norway and Spain to spread our footprints in the European markets. Set up as a joint venture with the US-based AEV LLC in 1994, Reva has 10 patents to its credit in the manufacture of eco-friendly and cost-effective electric cars. Its plant on the city’s outskirts has an installed capacity of 6,000 units per annum.
source: Reva India