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Eco-Friendly Pocket Friendly : Revai

India’s only electric car maker has relaunched its “Reva” model, Revai model in New Delhi. The new Revai buyers will get incentives including a 15 percent subsidy on the base price of the vehicle, a 12.5 percent exemption on value added tax (VAT), and refund of road tax and registration charges from the Delhi government, which will make its on-road price to about 2,99,000 INR. The price reduction was the first (but necessary) move by any government department of India.

Delhi’s environment, forests and wildlife secretary J.K. Dadoo says,

Our government is the first to extend such a subsidy to vehicle owners, We have collected nearly Rs.100 million from the cess imposed on diesel at the rate of 25 paise a litre in the past three months. That money will be used to give incentives to those using environment-friendly products such as Revai. One of the four customers in Delhi to be handed over the keys Wednesday, Sanjay Gupta, a pilot by profession, said he already owns a car but bought Reva because it is environment friendly. “Survival comes before everything else”.

- Thanks to its high mileage and low maintenance, Reva users will ultimately save Rs.250,000-Rs.300,000 in the next two-three years

Reva was first launched in Bangalore seven years ago and Delhi becomes the second Indian city to get the vehicle. The car was launched in London in 2004 as G-Wiz, where over 1,000 units have been sold so far making it the largest maker (Hope Jeremy Clarkson reads this).

The Reva
The Reva is a small 3-door hatchback measuring 2.6 metres long, 1.3 m wide and 1.5 m high. It weighs 745 kilograms. The car can accommodate two adults in the front and two children in the rear. The back seats can also fold down to increase cargo space. The maximum passenger and cargo weight is 270 kg.
Power comes from eight 6 V lead acid batteries wired in series to create 48 V. The batteries are located under the front seats. Power flows through a 400 amp motor controller to a DC motor rated at 4.8 kW (6.4 hp). The motor can handle a maximum of 13.1 kW (17.6 hp).

Specification

Price : 2.9 lakhs onwards
Length: 2.6 m
Width: 1.3 m
Height: 1.5 m
Drive wheels :Rear
Motor location: Rear
Traction Motor: 13 kW DC
Charger: Onboard
Charging connector: Cable to standard domestic 230V 13 amp outlet
Charge time : 6 hours
Pack voltage: 48 V
Battery type: 8 lead-acid batteries
Battery capacity: 200 A·h (9.6 kWh)
Battery location: Under front seats
Range: 80 km
Maximum speed: 70 km/h
Seating: 4, Two adults and two children