The charismatic REVA will soon be available as a convertible. We drive the first example. I guess there is more to life than mere speed and internal combustion engines.

There may be those who disagree on the concepts of an electric car, but fundamentally the concept is sound and over the next century when fossil fuels bow out of our system, electric propulsion may be one of the chief sources of power behind vehicles. Keeping such a future in mind, the REVA was launched - a personal transportation option to the mass-produced internal combustion engine motor vehicle of today.

The REVA's trump cards are that it is fun and easy to drive, uses up very little space and is economical to run at the current rates of electricity; also there is absolutely no pollution. All very good for personal economy as well as the environment. To add excitement to the current REVA, the REVA Electric Car Company (RECC) is now introducing the REVA convertible christened the Zephyr, in addition to the air-conditioned version. The Zephyr is a decently designed and executed vehicle. It is not a mere chop off and redesign job, but a serious concerted effort, which has gone into introducing a genuine convertible version of the hatchback car.

A lot of research and development has gone into the redesign, with considerable body strengthening initiative, especially of the B-pillar, the floor cross members, and along the peripheries of the hipline. Surprisingly body weight has not gone up, and instead, come down slightly. The result is that the body hardly flexes. A soft-top is standard, with a built-in window demister. Air-conditioning also might be an option, now that it is available with the standard car. There is also a rear spoiler, which may or may not make it into final production, but at least imparts a feeling of sportiness to the vehicle. The turn signal lights in the front and the reversing lights at the rear are borrowed from the Wagon R, whereas the design of the rear lights is unique to the car. The REVA's body is made of ABS plastic, which now has a good finish. RECC has made massive strides in paint and finish quality, and the new body coloured bumpers lend a smart, chic look to the car. The bumpers of the car are also designed to be very pedestrian friendly, in keeping with international norms. Smart new alloy wheels, sourced from Synergies Dooray in Vishakapatnam form part of the package, as are stylish decals. As far as the interiors are concerned, leather adorns the seat and the side panels, while a Kenwood music system with four speakers are standard (need we mention that the front dashboard speakers are colour coded with the upholstery!). There is also a four-speed blower with two vents and a utility-vehicle type parking brake as standard. Getting in and out of the car is particularly easy, thanks to the wide opening doors. Windows for the car are yet to be designed, but then what we drove exclusively was a prototype, with a lot of work yet to go into it. RECC also claims regenerative braking for its cars - when you push the brake pedal, upto 15 per cent of electrical energy is transmitted back to the battery for replenishment. Designed by the Amerigon company in the United States, the REVA uses a power controller from Curtis which is all of 400amps and is microprocessor controlled. Interestingly enough, the primary function of the engine management system (EMS) is to control the battery.

The REVA thus boasts of two computers on board. Power comes courtesy of 48volts, 200amp-hr tubular lead acid batteries, with deep discharge capabilities, which form the basis for power of this vehicle. Ground clearance at 150mm is also quite impressive. Amongst other equipment is a central-locking system, which in the air-conditioned version can also start the air-con with a remote. Incidentally, the REVA is offered with a choice of over two thousand colours. The REVA is also a very economical car to repair.

The plastic body panels mean that it is not possible to dent a REVA in the conventional manner and in the conventional manner and in the case of a small accident, the body panels will take most of the impact.

These also have the advantage of being able to get back into shape quite easily, so being easier to repair. Prangs in the local parking lot can be set right very easily, without costly body repairs. Side-impact beams are also standard, which provide additional safety margins. The REVA is also a very easy car to drive, thanks to the absence of a conventional clutch. It is like driving an automatic car - just press the accelerator and you are ready to move.The travel of the accelerator pedal is akin to a Mercedes - nothing much happens in the first few centimeters of travel, with all action coming in later.

Upto 70Nm of torque means that the REVA moves off quite fast from traffic lights, though acceleration does trail off after 40kph. RECC claims to have carried out extensive testing of the power pack and are offering an unlimited three warranty on the car. Kerb weight is a full 30 kgs less than the conventional REVA. Running cost is around 40 paise per kilometer, with the current electricity charges in Delhi in mind. The good part is that an 80 per cent charge can be reached in just over two and a half hours, while full charge can be achieved in six hours.

One good thing about the REVA is a top speed of 65kph is that in most cities in India, the cops will not be able to catch you for over speeding. The other factor is that you can easily see a cop from a long distance away, thanks to the almost vertical front windscreen and a wiper that keeps it clean. The quality of rubber used has undergone a major improvement since we saw it last and there have been a lot of efforts by the company to improve overall quality. The battery pack in the REVA is expected to last for 50,000 kilometers provided you look after it. But if you drive around in the REVA, at least you can be assured of a place in the five star hotel porch, a distinction usually reserved for Rolls-Royces and Bentleys - this comes from a personal experience that we have had. The REVA can also make you extremely popular with kids and women, because they just simply seem to adore it. Corporate types will rejoice in the fact that upto 80 per cent depreciation is allowed in the first year of purchase. The REVA Zephyr makes a great idea for a company car, as a lifestyle incentive to employees. The Zephyr also make sense for spaced out college campuses and government facilities.

Somebody (a spoilsport) once told me that the Zephyr is not worth its price, intended around Rs.3.75 lakh, ex-showroom Delhi by the time the car is launched around the middle of next year. I disagree. I think that it is just a matter of living the life you believe in. If you are genuinely concerned for the environment and your daily running around is within the city, it makes great sense to keep a REVA. A point to note here is that the Ministry of Non-conventional Energy Sources (MNES) has extended a discount of Rs.75,000 for all government and public sector units, including educational institutions and hospitals. This discount may soon be passed onto everybody, if talks with MNES go as planned. You will not spend much money refueling it and at the same time will do a favour to both the environment you live in and helping preserve petrol for those who love to hang out at pubs, discos and all the other cool joints.

problem comes when you want to recharge it- because electricity in many of our cities including Delhi is a problem during summers but other than that, open top motoring in an environment -friendly manner is just what the doctor ordered; and then there is the high sticker price of the car, which can turn off the most potent nature lovers. Happily enough, some sops from the government should be available soon. The Zephyr could also find its way into Europe - exports of its sister versions are expected to start soon.

In Europe, it qualifies as a quadra cycle which means it requires no testing as per car norms and also anyone above the age of 16 can drive it with a special permit. Competitive pricing in India can kick-start a whole new movement in environmentally responsible motoring.

- Ranojoy Mukerji