REVA Classe REVA has now got an up market version - the Classe. Ravi Patil was in Bangalore to check it out. The REVA Electric Car Company is getting ambitious.

It hasn't been too long since it brought out India's first electricity powered car, but it has already got an upmarket version of it. It is called the Class and one look should tell you that it is a class above the earlier model. Though there have been no structural changes, nor any to the drive system, the looks and the contents have undergone cosmetic surgery to make it more appealing to potential owners.

The classe has, like the earlier model, the dent-proof and rust-proof ABS plastic body-with the steel space frame under it. This frame is the base on which are mounted the suspension, the flat wind-screen, the drive motor and the electronic control systems, etc. Open the bonnet and you will be a bit taken aback when you notice the engine is missing. In its place are a spare tyre, a jack, a wheel spanner and a tommy bar for the jack.

The spare tyre also acts as a kind of crash guard in the event of frontal collisions. Then there is the air conditioning unit and the heater unit. The suspension set up, which consists of Mcpherson struts at the front and coil springs and dampers at the rear, assisted by a Panhard rod, is retained from the original REVA No. changes there. The steering is, as before a non-assisted rack and pinion type.

The car still sports 145/70R13 tubeless Michelin footwear. Things haven't changed at the rear end either. The 'streak and drop' look tail lamps with adjoining conical turn indicators and the glass hatch are as attractive as ever. The external and internal changes in the REVA Classe, though, are instantly noticeable. First of all you notice that the energy absorbing bumbers, which were of a grey colour earlier, are now body coloured. Even the rear view mirrors are now body coloured.

Whilst the two-door layout remains the same the side panels of the body have been decorated with attractive graphics. You can now lock and unlock the doors with a remote control. This remote features a central locking system that triggers a security system, which has an audible and visible warning in case the parked car is tampered with. Getting inside the car is easy as pie because the doors are quite large and do open wide.

But once inside you realize that the internal space really is limited. And no matter what the claims may be that this is a car for four in reality only two adults will find some degree seal is so limited that only two very small children can be accommodated. And the boot space at the back is also extremely small. But mind you, if you see this car only in the city and that. REVA Zephyr - A wind in the hair Experience In the dictionary, the word Zephyr is defined as a Gentle wind or a soft westerly breeze.

The Zephyr convertible from the REVA Electric Car Company is no different. But, of course, this Zephyr goes north, south, east and west. Or in any other direction you want it to go. And this Zephyr is only a gentle wind, and that's all she aims for anyway. But, to add to the excitement, she is topless. A topless beauty- the automobile version, that is -usually weighs less that one with a top. This one weighs 5 Kg less. She's also much better to look at. But for us here at Auto India, weight loss translates into better performance. Made of ABS plastic like the earlier models, the Zephyr has the same forward sloping stance of class.

There are few external changes to the body of this car. The top has been removed and the windscreen is now curved unlike the flat windscreen of the earlier REVAs. An addition is the rear spoiler and it does manage to increase the visual appeal the car presents. If anything, the car appears to look a bit longer (in reality it is not) and a bit less stubby than the classe. A point worth mentioning here is that when we were driving around the tree-lined streets of Bangalore, the Zephyr, rarely seen on the roads, was an instant attraction and we got appreciative stares everywhere we went.

There were foreigners who pocked their heads out of their more conventional cars, gave us a huge thumbs-up sign and yelled "Verrrrrry nice". Although the Zephyr has two doors, the windowsill level is so low that one can very easily climb into the car without opening the doors. Sitting in the car one instantly notices that unlike in its siblings, in which the low roof tended to touch one's head, the absence of the roof means you no longer feel as cramped and shut in.

The oval shaped dash, with its dials and warning lights, looks familiar. The large speedo, calibrated to 80kph and flanked by the battery charge indicator, are the only dials. The warning lamps include a low battery indicator and a parking brake engaged indicator. Since REVA has not yet decided what kind of overhead covering is to be used, there is no air-conditioning vents also are the difference between this car and the others. Needless to say, ventilation in the car is of the natural variety, and one is therefore at the mercy of the elements. But, who would want to complain? It is always a great thrill to ride in a convertible.

Now for the drive! You settle yourself in the driver's seat and, as you normally do, first reach for the seat belt. Surprise! There is no safety restraint. We don't believe that this is a deliberate omission as the car we had with us was only a prototype. REVA officials, though, had a simple explanation for the missing belt. Since there is no B pillar there is no place to locate the pre-tensioner inertia-reel systems. But they assured us that the matter was not being overlooked. But one does also notice that the sills are lower than one's shoulder level.

It is easy to think that a car capable of doing no more than 60 Kph at the most, would not really need to be equipped with seat belts, and that too for low speed city driving. In reality this piece of equipment is a standard part of an automotive package and the law requires it to be there. In normal circumstances you'd turn the key to fire up the ignition and engage first gear. But here when you turn the key, since there is no engine, there is no sound at all, leaving you wondering what's going on. Then you notice the four-position rotary switch on the top right of the instrument console. The four settings are marked R (for reverse), N (for Neutral), E (for Economy) and F (for forward). You next release the parking brake with the right foot on the brake pedal.

Why? Because if you are on a slope the unpowered car will start to roll. Next, rotate the switch to either E or F and press the accelerator pedal. The car moves off very quietly and there is the barest minimum of sound from the motor that provides the propulsion. It picks up speed very smoothly, not as rapidly as a car with an internal combustion engine but wee bit better than the class with its top and air-conditioning unit.

The difference between the two is not anything to crow about but is perceptible. But honestly, in the city, there is nothing to complain about because the Zephyr keeps up with all the traffic around it.

Eight conventional six-volt tubular lead-acid batteries supply 48 volts of current with a 200-ampere/hour rating to power the motor. There is only a subdued whine from the motor to remind you that you are electrically powered.

With the absence of a gearbox, which is not needed anyway, the progressive increase in speed is not marred by the slight loss of acceleration experience while lifting off from the throttle to effect a gear change. At times, in a conventional automobile, one also experiences jerks while shifting.

No such thing in a electric vehicle. No jerks, no loss of pick-up and no sound of a strained engine to spoil a smooth ride. Lifting off from the accelerator pedal in a normal car usually brings about a loss of speed due to the effects of engine braking. The Zephyr's motor, in a similar situation, receives no power at all and, therefore, the loss of pace is much less.

But, get this. When you lift off on this pedal the electronic control system detects it and decides that if the motor is not drawing power then the momentum of the car can be used for regenerating power from the motor to recharge the power pack. This also happens during braking when the motor is not powered. The advantage of power regeneration is that it aids in increasing the range the car can travel on a single charge.

Since it was a Saturday, which meant that there wasn't much traffic, we achieved a speed of 60kph. This was got in the E position on the drive mode switch. On moving to the F position, the speed rose to 70kph but one could feel that this was just about the limit of the Zephyr. Michael Schumacher would probably refuse to even look at the car, leave alone drive it, certainly was a decent, if not thrilling, wind-in-the-hair experience that added colour to the car's appeal.

And it is an agile mover. The ease and directness with which the rack and pinion steering operates is a delight to feel. The advantage gained here is that the small car can be steered quickly and accurately through gaps in the traffic around you. Yet another plus point of the Zephyr is that parking and reversing the car is even easier than it is on the Classe. This is because the Zephyr, unlike its sibbling's cramped interiors and covered top, allows you a grand view of everything that's around you, besides allowing envious onlookers a grad view of you enjoying your self with a grin on your face.

To sum up, the Zephyr, if priced right, will, in all probability, be a car that city people would be quite proud to own. Sufficient grunt, the ability to keep up with other cars and the low running and maintenance costs appear to spell a recipe for success. Add to that the total absence of emissions of any kind and the authorities too should welcome the Zephyr with a smile. You realize that the internal space really is limited. And no matter what the claims may be that this is a car for four, in reality only two adults will find some degree of comfort in it. The space at the rear seat is so limited that only two very small children can be accommodated. And the boot space at the back is also extremely small.

But, mind you, if you use this car only in the city, and that too for very short trips to the shopping mall or your office, it will serve its purpose adequately. Don't forget that the REVA is air-conditioned. And the air-conditioned works pretty well too, given the limited space needed to be cooled. But, want to know what's so special about the Classes unit? It can be remotely controlled. Normally if one has left a car outside on a hot day, the interior usually gets kiln-hot by the time you return. And until the time the air-conditioning starts to make its presence felt you are already sweating by the bucketful.

With the Classe you needn't face that kind of ordeal. A short while before you return to your Classe operate the remote switch that controls the unit. When you get into the car the air-conditioner will already have made conditions favorable for your return. Nice touch., eh? Plus, the car is also equipped with a heater for those winter days when a touch of warmth is desired. The inner trim of the Classe has got a facelift. Instead of fabric covered seater this version features comfortable two-tone leather upholstery. Even the door trim is in two - tone leather . and , the floor is covered with a carpet, to boot.

.The dashboard has been colour coded and the colour matches that of the upholstery. Raise your eyes and you find that the simple interior rear view mirror is an anti-glare prismatic type. Lower your eyes to the vents on the dash and just below it is the audio system to keep you 'rockin' on the move.' The instrumentation consists of the speedo, battery charge gauge and assorted warning lights. Turn the drive switch to F (for forward) and release the handbrake to start your journey. You don't start moving till you press the accelerator pedal. When you do the eight six-volt batteries (connected in series to produce 48 volts direct current) start supplying power to the motor that propels it.

As you've already noticed the absence of a clutch pedal and a gearbox shifter you feel a bid mystified, but relieved at the same time. Your don't have to do any juggling with your left hand and can keep both of them on the wheel. The Classe moves off with amazing grace and alacrity. 0.7 kgm, give the care seamless acceleration. Since most of us are used to the propulsion of an IC (internal combustion) engine its easy to be disappointed by the rate at which the Classe picks up speed. But then this car was not designed to provide gut-wrenching performance but a smooth, controlled takeoff.

When you look at the speed you see that you are doing a reasonable 40 kmp and that is achieved in 11 seconds. Press on to get a 60 kph and you watch will tell you that it has taken you just over 26 seconds to get there. This surely isn't earth-shattering performance, but, you suddenly realize that the rest of the traffic is moving at the same pace as you. Its then that you understand that those darn IC engines are as good as over-powered for city driving and are polluting the environment with fumes and noise as well. There is a certain feeling of smugness that suddenly comes over you as you feel on up on the others. And that too at a far cheaper price because electricity costs less that either petrol or diesel.

All that was in the F mode. The car ran for a distance of just over 70km on a full charge before it needed to be recharged. Bank to base and all you do is just plug into a 220 volt mains electrical outlet for six hours for the battery to be fully recharged. In a hurry to get rolling again? Just a two-and-a-half hour recharge guarantee you as much as an 80 percent recharge. Besides, the cost for all this will hardly lighten your wallet. For a full charge only nine units of electricity, which cost just about 27 rupees, (at three rupees a unit.) and you're good for another 70 kms on F. in the E (economy) mode things look even brighter.

With a full charge the Classe will now go as far as 100 km, albeit at a reduced pace and acceleration. Also she becomes a bit lethargic. Getting to a mere 40kmp takes over 17 seconds, and 27 odds seconds into the drive you are doing 50 kmph. The care will not cross the 65kmph barrier in the E mode. The ride quality of the REVA Classe is, like its earlier avatar, a bit on the stiff side. Road irregularities filter their way through and make you aware of the terrain you are traveling over. Also, if you try tight high-speed turns the car's tail is happy to wag and this calls for a bit of restraint on the driver's part. But try a slow speed turn and you will see that the smallest of turning radii make it very easy to make a quick U-turn.

Another plus point for the REVA Classe is the fact that two Classe can be accommodated in the space occupied by the large limousine. What do we make of all this? Do we dump all the other cares into the sea? Do we start forgetting the use of fossil fuels for automobile propulsion?

Or do we let other car co-exist peacefully with the noiseless newcomer? The answer lies in the truth that REVA will survive on its own and not really pose a life or death question to the others she shares the good earth with.

-Ravi Patil