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After liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), Puneites
can how hop onto on more non-polluting vehicular option. The zero-polluting
REVA electric car, based on cutting-edge technology, was launched
in Pune on Wednesday as part of the company's first launch in the
state.
Besides Pune, the company now plans to focus on
sales in Mumbai, Sangli and Kolhapur. An ambitious initiative the
Bangalore-based REVA Electric Car Company, REVA has not only sold
300 units in the country. It is also ser for exports to the UK in
May. Created specifically for city driving, REVA has sturdy, dent-proof
body panels and is fully automatic.
The car has an amazingly low running cost of 40paise
per kilometer, company-managing director Chetan Maini told reporters
at the launch that. "REVA gives 80km on a single battery charge
and can be recharged anywhere anytime, at home or at work using
a 220 volt, 15-amp power source," Maini said. The Car is available
in basic, air-conditioned and Classe models and is priced between
Rs.2.69 lakh and Rs.3.47 lakh. It will be marketed through Ugra
Raj Enterprises Pvt. Ltd., Wanowrie.
Ugra's managing director Dilip Nankeolyar said
the company hopes to sell up to 300 electric cars in the first year
in Pune. "Pune is essentially a two-wheeler" city facing problems
of pollution and road safety.
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A number of parents are keen on buying this vehicle
for their children," Nankeolyar said. Maini said the company hopes
to secure sales tax exemption for the car in Maharashtra, as has
been done in Karnataka, Rajasthan, Goa and Pondicherry.
"Road tax has also been waived in Andhra Pradesh,
Karnataka, Rajasthan and Goa." Maini said, underlining the need
to promote the non-polluting vehicle. He said the ministry of non-conventional
energy sources has announced a Rs.75,000 subsidy for the purchase
of REVA by public institutions. Given the heightened environmental
consciousness in Europe, Maini said Going Green, a UK-based company,
has signed an agreement for the retailing of the vehicle in UK.
"We hope to sell between 50 to 100 cars a month
beginning May." Maini said. While the current models are meant for
a two-adult-two child family, the company is planning to introduce
bigger passenger cars and electric mini busses in the future.
In the next month it will launch a car for the
physically disabled, Maini revealed.
- Times News Network
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