On June 5, World Environment Day, the Bangalore-based REVA Electric Company (RECC), launched India's first battery operated car, the REVA. The company is targeting the vehicle which has no clutch or gears at city driving. The car can give a mileage of 80 km on a single charge. Its power pack has a life of 40,000 km, that can last for about three to four years. The batteries can be fully recharged through any 15 amps, 220 volts wall plug electrical socket, consuming only nine units for a full charge.

Though the RECC was able to get 50 bookings in the first three days, sales of the car could depend crucially on tax sops from the government. The cost of the car inclusive of excise duties and customs duty on imported components is about Rs 3 lakh. In order to woo buyers, the company is making an introductory offer at Rs.2.49 Lakh. Says Sudarshan Maini, chairman of the Maini group, of which RECC is a part, "Electric cars can create strides in the market if the government supports this low-running, non-polluting car."

First deliveries
RECC hopes to make the first deliveries of the REVA by the end of June. At present, the company is taking to finance companies to devise attractive finance schemes. The company's initial plans are to sell the car in Bangalore. A national launch could take place by 2002 by which time it hopes to get waiver of road tax as has already been provided by the Karnataka state government. RECC hopes to roll out 1,500 cars this year from its manufacturing facility at Bommasandra near Bangalore which has an annual capacity of 3000 cars. Maini's plea for tax concessions has the support of the Electric Vehicles Association of India (EVAI) which is trying to lobby with a slew of union ministries including non-conventional energy, environment and forests, science and technology, heavy industries and finance.

The EVAI wants the government to lower the current excise duty on electric cars of 16 percent to least to eight percent. Customs duties for imported parts such as motors, motors management control systems and some electronic components is between 40 and 60 percent. Import costs account for about 15 percent of the vehicle's cost. Maini says these should be brought in line with concessions offered for CNG conversion kits. These have been maintained at five percent, he says, but unlike CNG powered engines which have emissions, electric vehicles are emission-free. Maini says that if both excise and customs duties are waived aside, production costs for an individual vehicle could fall by close to Rs.40,000.

Maini cities the examples of the US and Japan where buyers of such vehicles have been tax credits.

Better than hybrids
Electric cars also score over hybrid cars, he says. The use of hybrid technology is not only expensive but does not eliminate engine emissions totally. He feels that the only technology that could support the city commuting community with zero emission was electric vehicle. The EVAI had also approached auto component makers for supply of components at concessional rates even though volumes would be lower than conventional car requirements.

With technological advancements, he hopes it will be easier to incorporate lithium ion batteries in these cars which would increase the running distance to about 200 km.

Solar energy
This, he says, could happen in four years. Future developments like the use of fuel cells after 2005 and solar cells which could be installed in 10 years augur well for the electric car.

Says Maini, "By the year 2020 I expect 80 percent of the cars will be using solar energy in India is we plan correctly." RECC plans to sell the REVA directly to customers. The rationale behind this decision is not only dealer this decision is not only dealer scepticism but also the fact that the electric car represents a new concept for Indian buyers.

Maini says he does not expect initial volumes to be high. In addition, the company plans to implement the Complete Customer Care (CCC) that would enable the customers to get quick service. The car has two microprocessors - motor controller and vehicle management systems that records the performance parameters of the car.

This will help service personnel attend to faults immediately. Also, since the car is a city vehicle, locating a vehicle that has broken down will not be difficult. Maini hopes that technological advancement especially blue tooth technology would improve electric-car servicing. "As and when the sales and service facilities pick up, dealers would be appointed", he said.

Development of the battery operated car began in July 1994 and the prototype was developed by AEVT, a subsidiary of Amerigon Inc. in 1996 as per a design provided by RECC. It was tested and certified for road-worthiness by the Automotive Research Association of India in the same year. Then following in-house research as well as feedback from major metros like Chennai and Delhi , several improvements were incorporated into the vehicle.

The RECC was set up as a joint venture with US-based AEVT, technology providers for the electric vehicle. AEVT, has a 33 percent equity stake in the company which has an equity base of Rs 5.85 crore. RECC has no immediate plans to come out with variants. However, the company is currently project to incorporate upgrades in its features and internal fittings.

The company plans to achieve complete indigenisation in about two years and has begun talks with Kirloskar and Crompton for motors. It is also planning to make motor controllers and is in talks with The Indian Institute of Science and Curtis India.

- T. Murali