The Cute little Reva, India’s first electric car was launched in the National Capital, by Delhi chief Minister Sheila dikshit on Wednesday. The car has gone under 13 long years of Research and Development.  

In order to make the battery operated car popular, the Delhi Government has announced a 15 per cent subsidy on the car’s base price, a 12.5 per cent exemption on value-added tax and a refund of road tax and registration charges, totaling to a 29.5 per cent incentive on all types of electric vehicles.

This would bring the price of the car to Rs 2.99 lakh for the base model and Rs 3.78 lakh for the high model. The car would prove to be really economical for the customers as it will utilize 40 paise per kilometer.

The cute looking Reva is enjoying the full support of Delhi government. Sheila Dikshit feels that Reva would prove to be useful in improving the city’s environment. She further said that she herself had been using Reva from past few years now for short distances and finds it really comfortable.  

"I appeal to all those who have several cars to at least buy one Reva," Dikshit added.
 
In the scene where petroleum prices are hiking day by day, battery operated cars seem to be a cheaper and economical alternative. The company would ramp the car’s capacity by three folds this year.  

The company currently manufactures 6,000 cars a year and is expanding its production capacity to 30,000 units by the end of this year at an investment of up to $20 million.

“We have completed our test marketing period and are expanding our sales to Delhi. To meet the growing demand for Reva, we will be expanding our production capacities five-fold by the end of this year,” said Chetan Maini, chairman and chief technical officer of Reva Electric Car Company.

So overall, Reva is expected to become popular among the delhities as there are too many features that this tiny car can offer them. Following are the features of Reva;
 
     * Manufacturer: Bangalore-based Reva Electric Car Company
    * Name of car: REVAi
    * Time taken: 7 years of research and development (1994-2001)
    * Sold in 13 countries
    * About 2,500 vehicles sold till date
    * Investment: $20 million dollars on research
    * Price in Delhi: Starting from Rs 299,000, ex-showroom
    * Incentives in Delhi: Exemption of 12.5 percent value added tax
    * Other fiscal sops: 15 percent subsidy on base price
    * Speed: Up to 80 km/hr as compared to 65 km/hr in earlier models
    * Fuel efficiency: 80 km per charge with a/c and 129 km without a/c
    * Economy: 40 paise (about 1 Cent) per km
    * Servicing: Provision for servicing at customer's home
    * Power Mode: Improved torque
    * Acceleration: 0-40 km in 7 seconds
    * Braking: Disc brakes and increased regenerative braking
    * Other features: Trip odometer, climate control seats, battery regenerator
    * Battery life: 120 km per charge
    * Air conditioning: Remote AC plus electronic temperature control
    * Hill Restraint: Automatic hill restraint feature