Mahindra rolls out REVAi electric car in Hyderabad

Mahindra Reva Electric Vehicles has launched the Reva i in Hyderabad. This is the first product launch from the company after Mahindra took over the Reva Electric Car Company in May this year.

Prospective customers in Hyderabad looking for a zero emission vehicle for city use, can take a look at the Reva i at any of the five Mahindra dealers in the city.

The Reva i, is the same Reva that has been on sale in India, with a few added features. Mahindra also has plans to bring in the Reva NXR

and NXG models that were showcased at the Geneva Motor Show last year, but there is no time frame for that launch.

For the Reva i, Mahindra has tied up with Mahindra Finance with a rather unique lease-finance scheme. A person who is interested to buy Reva i must give the company an interest free refundable deposit of Rs. 1 lakh and drive home the car by paying monthly installments of Rs. 8,999 for 36 months (3 years i.e., 36 x 8999 = Rs. 3,23,964). At the end of the third year, the car user can further pay Rs. 50,000 to Mahindra Reva and own the car, or he can return the car and get a refund of the Rs 1 lakh.

This pricing model, however, puts the cost of buying a Reva squat in the middle of B-segment hatchback territory. One could get a Wagon R or Hyundai i10 at the price of a Reva. Of course, running costs of the Reva would be just a fraction of what it would cost to drive a regular petrol car.

The Reva i gets a few additional features, as compared to the older Reva. It has a “boost” mode for increased acceleration. For driving down steep slopes, it has a “hill restraint” feature. It is easy to drive due to its small size and has no gears, making it ideal for congested city commuting. The company claims the car can travel up to 80 km on a single charge, which limits the Reva’s use to the city. It takes about 7 seconds to accelerate from zero to 40 kmph.

The Reva i has an energy management system (EMS), a patented technology that ensures optimum performance and life from the battery. Its regenerative braking system also charges the battery while applying brakes or slowing down the car.

R. Chandramouli, chief of operations, Mahindra Reva said, “We are delighted to launch the Reva i in Hyderabad where there is already a great deal of interest in our vehicles.”

Mahindra Reva  is one of the few companies to introduce electric vehicles worldwide. Founded in 1994 as the Reva Electric Car Company, a joint venture between the Maini Group of Bangalore and AEV LLC of USA, the company was acquired in May 2010 by the Mahindra Group.

The Reva electric vehicle was launched in Bangalore in 2001 and in London in 2004, (the model selling in London was renamed the G-Wiz). In September 2009, at the Frankfurt Auto Show, the company unveiled two futuristic-looking cars, the four-seater Reva NXR and the two-seater Reva NXG. These cars have been seen testing in and around Bangalore, but there is no information yet about when they will be launched.