| Industry | Automotive |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1994 |
| Headquarters | Bangalore, India |
| Products | Electric Vehicles |
| Parent | Mahindra & Mahindra |
| Website | www.revaindia.com |
Mahindra Reva Electric Vehicles Private Limited, formerly known as the Reva Electric Car Company, is an Indian company based in Bangalore, involved in designing and manufacturing of compact electric vehicles. It was the first company to introduce an electric vehicle worldwide. The company's flagship EV REVAi is the world's best selling electric vehicle so far.[1] Reva was acquired by Indian conglomerate Mahindra & Mahindra in May 2010.
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The Reva Electric Car Company (RECC) was founded in 1994 by Sudarshan Maini, chairman of the Maini Group of Bangalore, as a joint venture with Amerigon Electric Vehicle Technologies (AEVT Inc.) of the USA.[2] The company's sole aim was to develop and produce an affordable compact electric car. Several other automakers were also aiming to do so, but in 2001 RECC launched the REVA, its first model, and the world's first mass produced electric car.
RECC joined up with several automotive experts to develop components for REVA. Curtis Instruments Inc. of USA developed a Motor Controller specifically for the car. The car had a high-tech power pack for which Tudor India Limited supplied customized Prestolite batteries. The Charger for Reva was developed by Modular Power Systems of USA (a division of TDI). Later, RECC started manufacturing the charger themselves through a technical collaboration agreement between MPS and the Maini Group.[3]
In 2004 GoinGreen of the UK entered into an agreement with RECC to import REVA cars and market them under the G-Wiz moniker.
In 2006 Reva received an additional investment of $20 million from Draper Fisher Jurveston and Global Environment Fund (GEF).[4]
In 2008 a revamped REVA model was launched called the REVAi. The company started production of a Lithium-ion variant called the REVA L-ion in 2009.
In 2009 at the Frankfurt Motor Show, Reva presented its future models Reva NXR and Reva NXG.[5] During the event Reva and General Motors India declared a technical collaboration to develop affordable EV for the Indian market.[6] As a result of this General Motors India announced an electric version of their hatchback in the New Delhi Auto Expo 2010: named the e-Spark, Reva was to provide battery technology.[7]
On May 26, 2010, India's largest sports utility vehicles and tractor maker Mahindra & Mahindra bought a 55.2% controlling stake in Reva. Following the deal, the company was renamed Mahindra Reva Electric Vehicles Private Limited.[8] Mahindra’s president of automotive business, Pawan Goenka, became the new company’s chairman. As a result of the ownership change General Motors pulled out of the tie-up with Mahindra Reva that was to produce the e-spark.[9]
In Feb 2011 GoinGreen, the UK's exclusive importer of the G-Wiz, announced that it would only sell G-Wiz models until Autumn 2011.[10]
RECC currently produces two versions of the REVAi, an urban electric micro-car seating two adults and two children:
The REVA has been sold in India since 2001 and in the UK since 2003. It is now available in many other countries.
RECC also built in 2005 the REVA-NXG, a two-seater roadster concept car with a nominal range of 200 km (124 mi) per charge and a top speed of 120 km/h (75 mph).[12] It was planning to release a roomier four-seater model by the end of 2009.[13]
RECC also manufactures a Golf cart called FERI.
The 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show saw the unveiling of a new M1 class vehicle known as the NXR. Export production scheduled for 2012. The NXR will be available with either lead-acid or lithium-ion batteries. The NXR Exterior concept was initiated in collabration with DC Design, The Detail Design of Exterior and Interior Styling was completely done inhouse by the REVA R&D and Styling team.
This new generation NXR is considered as a benchmark for Low cost Low volume Manufacturing Process across the Globe.Their Motto is to be the "Earth's Favourite Electric car company"
Range, speed, safety and interior specifications all fall along the lines of a new generation of battery electric vehicles. In Europe, the car will fall under NCAP crash testing regulations. The IC (inter-City) model has a top speed of 104 km/h (65 mph) and a range of 160 km (99 mi). The interior is of a far higher grade when compared to the earlier REVA quadracycle and the back seats now comfortably fit 2 adults.
The NXR has some unusual features, one being its REVive battery charging system. Telematic remote access to the car's on-board Energy Management System allows REVA to analyse a near depleted battery upon request. Their support centre can individually determine the battery condition within seconds and allow access to the remaining charge. This serves as a virtual back-up battery while minimising the risk of damage to the powerpack due to depletion.
The Frankfurt Motor Show also saw the unveiling of a show car known as the NXG. Production is scheduled for 2013. The NXG will also feature REVA's patented drive-train technology and the REVive system. The two-seater sports car is expected to stand out for performance and speed.
A new 30,000 capacity assembly plant in Bangalore has reached completion. It is currently the world's largest operational example of a plant specially dedicated to the assembly of battery electric vehicles. The entire building is LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) accredited allowing the company to boast one of the lowest dirt-to-dust carbon footprints in the automotive world.
RECC is partnering with Bannon Automotive to set up a manufacturing base in upstate New York to produce the NXR model.
On the British motoring show Top Gear, presented by Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond on BBC, the G-Wiz (as REVAi is known in the UK) has been the object of much ridicule. Top Gear have, on several instances, tried to destroy the G-Wiz or make fun of it for its poor speed, bad battery life and overall design and safety.[14]
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