07/01/2009 The Hindu Business Line
Electric car maker Reva is set to launch lithium ion battery-powered cars during the middle of this year. Reva Electric Car Company’s President for Sales & Marketing, Mr R. Chandramouli, told Business Line that these cars could cost between Rs 7 lakh and Rs 8 lakh, more than double the price of electric cars.
“Any new technology costs more initially. But we expect the prices to come down in another three years,” Mr Chandramouli said. These cars, which will be powered by about 5,000 lithium ion batteries, will also have solar power panels that will increase the range to about 150-200 km per charge. Reva electric cars can run for about 80 km on a single charge.
Mr Chandramouli said the car maker would also launch a rent-a-car concept to push the sales of electric cars. He said customers can rent an electric car for Rs 2,000 a week starting middle of this month. “What it will ensure is that more and more people will start using this car because it will be more affordable now,” he said. He was confident that once more customers start renting the cars, it will lead to more people buying these cars.
‘Touch and feel’ push
“I expect at least 10,000 people by the end of 2009 to have driven these cars as I believe that ‘touch and feel’ is very important if you want to drive sales,” Mr Chandramouli said.
Reva has also joined the nationwide Indian Climate Solutions Road Tour initiative, which will also showcase the benefits of using electric cars. Reva’s founder and Chief Technology Officer, Mr Chetan Maini, on Tuesday, flagged off the trip with three solar plug-in electric Reva vehicles being part of the tour.
“Any new technology costs more initially. But we expect the prices to come down in another three years,” Mr Chandramouli said. These cars, which will be powered by about 5,000 lithium ion batteries, will also have solar power panels that will increase the range to about 150-200 km per charge. Reva electric cars can run for about 80 km on a single charge.
Mr Chandramouli said the car maker would also launch a rent-a-car concept to push the sales of electric cars. He said customers can rent an electric car for Rs 2,000 a week starting middle of this month. “What it will ensure is that more and more people will start using this car because it will be more affordable now,” he said. He was confident that once more customers start renting the cars, it will lead to more people buying these cars.
‘Touch and feel’ push
“I expect at least 10,000 people by the end of 2009 to have driven these cars as I believe that ‘touch and feel’ is very important if you want to drive sales,” Mr Chandramouli said.
Reva has also joined the nationwide Indian Climate Solutions Road Tour initiative, which will also showcase the benefits of using electric cars. Reva’s founder and Chief Technology Officer, Mr Chetan Maini, on Tuesday, flagged off the trip with three solar plug-in electric Reva vehicles being part of the tour.
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