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JUNE 4, 2001. It was 'a new beginning' for Indian
car industry at a car showroom, REVAlation Point in Bangalore. For,
this is where bookings for the first commercial prototype under
the 'Revolutionary Electric Vehicle Alternative' project are being
accepted. REVA is India's first electric car. This two-seater car
was named called REVA from Sanskrit meaning, 'a new beginning, but
it also happens to be the name of REVA Car Company chairman Sudarshan
Maini's wife. The REVA does not come cheap. It has a hefty price
tag, at rs2.49 lakh, which is almost at par with Martuti's 800 deluxe
model.
The one advantage REVA has over Maruti, however,
is that the running cost per kilometer of this battery-fuelled,
zero-pollution car is a mere 40 paise whereas most of other petrol/diesel-fuelled
cars cost rs.2.50. It also frees the owner from the onus of changing
engine-oils regularly, tunning the engine, cleaning the spark plug
or mufflers. But the disadvantages are heavy. The REVA cannot been
driven faster than 65 kmph. Also, the car can accommodate only than
two adults and two children, at best, having a total length (including
the engine) of only 2,638 mm. The mechanics of running the car are
simple.
All you need is to plug in the car's on-board
charger to a 220 volt, 15 ampere socket (that can be used anywhere,
at home or at work). Once the battery is fully charged, the car
runs on the turn of a rotary switch. "On turning the rotary switch,
listen for a 'click' sound," says a REVA spokesperson, adding that
you will not hear the revving up sound of a petrol or diesel engine.
A full charge of the batteries takes nine kilowatt hours (nine units
of electricity) on which the car can run up to 80 kilometers.
If you calculate the electricity cost at the present
rate of Rs 3 per unit, the cost for a full charge works out to be
Rs27. In fact, REVA's per kilometer running cost is also lower than
that of many-wheelers in the market today. The electric vehicle
(EV) uses special batteries that run up to 40,000 km, implying an
average life span of three to four years. These lead-acid batteries
for REVA cars are being provided by Exide Technologies, the global
leader in stored electrical batteries. Exide will provide REVA with
these high-performance 3ET200 lead-acid batteries under the brand
name, Chloride Motive Power. According to an Exide communique, "Each
vehicle will be equipped with eight, 6-volt batteries." For supplying
the batteries, Exide has already signed a three year exclusive contract,
Exide Technologies will supply up to 100,000 lead-acid motive-power
batteries for the project.
These batteries will be manufactured at the company's
facility in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, using the tubular technology for
extended deep-cycle life and superior shock and vibration resistance.
"Batteries with tubular plates contain more stored energy than flat
plate batteries of equal size, resulting in the delivery of a larger
amount of consistent, reliable power," the corporate communique
states. It also adds, "the service life of the 3ET200 battery delivers
approximately 70 percent more cyclic life capability than a traditional,
motive-power battery". Since electric vehicles require deep discharge
and recharge of batteries in quick repetitions, the motive-power
batteries for these vehicles require a different plate format in
cells.
"We chose Exide Technologies as the sole battery
supplier for the REVA project because of the company's experience
in advanced battery technology development," says Chetan Maini,
managing director of the REVA Electric Car Company.
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However, the company does not think their EV product
is in competition with other cars and two-wheelers available in
the market. "REVA projects itself as a "stand-alone product" because
there is no other electric car in India," says Mr. Maini.
The growing pollution in cities, increased traffic
congestion and consequent low driving speeds and growing air and
noise pollution are the problem areas REVA Electric Car Company
likes to draw its potential customers' attention to. And added to
these problems is the spiralling rise in petrol and diesel prices.
Mr. Maini believes that corporates would find REVA an attractive
option for use in their large complexes or as sales vehicles.
The company is simultaneously targeting at the
first-time buyers, too. "Because the car is environment-friendly
and low on purchase and maintenance costs, we are also targeting
at first time buyers who wish to move up in life from owning two-wheelers,
or housewives and working women who could do with personal transport.
Professionals and retired citizens are other possible buyers." Studies
conducted by Amerigon Electric Vehicle Technologies, US - the overseas
technology partner in the REVA project which holds 36 percent stake
in REVA Electric Car Company - indicate that the market potential
for EVs is highest in India and Nepal, followed by China, Brazil
and Mexico. This light, yet rugged, two-door hatchback offers the
safety and convenience of a four wheeler at the operating cost of
a two wheeler. The plug-in car, available in five different colours,
with no gears, no clutch, no engine, carburettor, gearbox, radiator
or exhaust, is "an ideal for 'stop and go' city driving".
According to Mr. Maini, "REVA has cleared the mandatory
tests and ensures total safety. Its special frame and beams protect
the passengers in the event of impact, and its body panels ensure
minimum damage is done to the car." The EV uses tyres from Michelin
that are said to give good road grip. Because REVA has fewer components
than the regular car and has a high degree of locally made parts
(95 percent), it will make spares available freely and at a reasonable
rate. Mr. Maini hopes to sell 1,500 cars in the first year and 3,000
vehicles in the next. According to him, the sales will initially
be restricted to Bangalore area to allow easy monitoring of customers'
cars.
And bookings are being accepted only at its company
showroom. REVAlation Point. Though India remains the primary market,
the company has a keen eye on the export market. "We have receiving
enquiries from neighbouring countries and hope to commence exports
soon," says Mr. Maini. Though the company made its commercial debut
this month, the $25 million project started in 1995 and the prototype
has already been tested 25 times world wide. The company is also
conducted a feasibility study for an electric three-wheeler.
- Srikumar Bondyopadhyay & Bella Jaisinghani
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