Reva Electric Car, India’s leading E-car manufacturer, brought an all-new concept in the country and is now gearing up to launch the NXR model of existing Reva. Electric vehicles target those individuals who are conscious about their surroundings and want to commute through an eco-friendly mode of transportation. Reva has managed to change the way people travel and the perspective of the buyers regarding electric cars.
Reva, a completely owned subsidiary of Mahindra Group, exhibited the Reva NXR concept model at the 2012 Auto Expo held in New Delhi. The all-new Mahindra Reva NXR, which is slated to be launched towards the end of 2012, happens to be a 2-door electric hatchback, which will run on a lithium-ion or lead-acid battery pack. If the car maker installs the former source on the new car, the NXR variant will be able to clock 104 kmph and will cover a distance of 160 km on a full battery charge.
Anticipated to be offered in two variants, the Reva NXR will compete with the upcoming Nissan Leaf in India. However, Reva NXR happens to be the next electric car of the Indian auto industry, which will offer a unique driving experience comprising an air conditioned, climate controlled cabin without harming the environment at all.
At the Auto Expo, the company hinted at a possible launch date in next few months, however, a lot of time has passed since and the model is nowhere in sight except for test mules being spotted in Bengaluru. The production ready prototypes means that the car is ready to be launched, however, the launch seem to have been delayed. This is because earlier the Indian government formulated a subsidy for electric car being assembled locally. This policy, which enabled Reva to slash Rs. 90,000 of its price tag, was shelved in early 2012 to make way for a new National Mission for Electric Mobility 2020 policy to be enforce in July, 2012. The government has still not implemented the new policy till date, which may be why the car maker is putting the launch of the new Reva NXR on hold.
However, possibilities are that the NXR may join the bandwagon of the cars that will be launched during the festive season of 2012. This means, that if the new policy does not come into effect before the launch, the car will be priced at a premium of Rs. 1 lac above what its would have cost originally. That being said, the car is worth every penny that it demands with a range of improvements over the earlier model and a more conventional design. The new model will be able to seat four adults comfortably unlike the previous model, which was a two seater. Owing to its improved performance, top speed and range, the new car is an economical electric commuter hatchback and may find many new homes in the country.
