A "zero-emission" electric car will be commercially produced by the year 2000
It is smaller, quieter and cleaner than a Maruti. Two prototypes of a 650 kg, 2.63 m, "zero-emission" electric car, Reva, was flagged off in Delhi on March 20 by the Lt Governor of Delhi, Tejinder Khanna and the US ambassador to India, Richard F Celeste. Reva will now test run for a year under "world's toughest conditions" -- Celeste's euphemism for Delhi's busy traffic.
A collaborative effort of Amerigon Inc of California, USA, and the Maini Group of Industries, Bangalore, Reva, will be priced at about Rs 1.75 lakh when commercially produced by the turn of the century.
The two-door car that can accommodate two adults and two children can run at an average 65 kmph in city roads, 80 km at a stretch. At the heart of the car is a US-made motor that can attain a peak power of 13 KW and a computerised energy management system.
The project was supported by the US Agency for International Development (USAID). The agency recently provided a US $100,000 grant to Amerigon through Renewable Energy Support Office (REPSO) of Winrock International to promote electric vehicles in India.
Khanna suggests that the local civic bodies and transport corporation would run this "clean car" in localities such as Chandni Chowk -- where soot-spewing vehicles jostle for space.
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