BANGALORE Indians may not have heard about it, but the British are giving it rave reviews. 'The electric car REVA, which had so far logged sales of only 500 units in India since its June 2001 launch, has bagged a SOO-unit order from UK ­based firm Going Green for 2004. The Bangalore based REVA Electric Car Company is already selling REVA in Malta and is test launching them in new markets like the US, Japan, Norway, Switzerland, Hong Kong and Romania.

In central London electric vehicles don't have to pay a £5 (Rs 400) congestion tax. Also, they are exempt from road tax, get free parking and 100 per cent deprecia­tion. Says Chelan Maini, MD of REVA: "The growing en­vironmental awareness is a big sales booster." Priced at Rs 2.5 lakh at entry level and boasting a dent-free body, the automatic car with remote-controlled AC is hoping its global success is echoed in India too.