How fast is technology is moving? Put simply, what I found in cars even three years back, have become irrelevant in today’s cars.
Take the case of the Tata Nano. Before its introduction, many assumed it would have a carburreted engine with ice-age electronics and electricals. But to everyone’s surprise, Tata has come out with a product that shows the way forward, by not moving backward ie – not using old and out-dated technology for cost benefits. The Nano uses fuel injection and tubeless tires, stuff that I see missing even on top-end motorcycles of this day in India.
So the point is, though these gadgets are capable of doing very little, they are the same breed as their bigger counterparts, which function in any of the modern day Honda or Toyota. Could this level of development happen in the world of electric cars? This is what I am wondering.
Actually, my question is already answered. Partly.
The largest electric car plant in the world with an annual capacity of 30,000 cars is to be set up in India by Reva Electric Car Company.
The Bangalore based company after investing U.S $6.1 million for the new facility starting in the first quarter of the next year, expects the idea of green energy will gain rapid popularity in India too.
The Reva can accommodate 4 and is powered by a 3 phase AC induction motor which produces quick acceleration. But that’s about it.
In India, the Reva costs around Rs 350,000 and in the UK around $12,200, which is cheaper as compared to the rivals in this category. It targets 2,000 cars this year, it did a quarter of that number the previous year.
The model loaded with a lead acid battery can travel upto 80 km in single charge and the the one with a Li-Ion battery pack can travel upto 120km and charges faster.
Reva’s direct competitor Bavina cars announced its plans of 25,000 unit annual capacity EV plant in Tamil Nadu last week.
Ignore skyrocketing gas prices, major cities like Chennai are facing acute diesel/petrol shortage time and again. Once in a while, we see cars standing in line outside the petrol stations, obstruction the road and adding to all the chaos and congestion. We all knew that the only realistic way out to this sort of a problem which plagues the country would be an electric car. And no, we didn’t mean [ Read More ]
In a first of its kind in the world, Tokyo Electric Power Co (TEPCO), Japan’s largest utility, plans to set up as many as 200 recharging stations for electric cars around the Japanese capital next year. TEPCO has developed a charging device that would allow electric cars to travel 25-miles on a 5-minute charge and 37-miles on a 10-minute charge.
