Slowly but surely, India is going green. Why else would the only electric car maker, Reva Electric Car Company, expand capacity five-fold, enhance product range here and eye four-fold sales growth by 2010?
Deputy chairman Chetan Maini says his company plans to launch electric cars in 10 new overseas markets, including France and Brazil, by the end of this year and is looking at attaining 4,000 units per year target next year. The company sold about 500 cars last year and is aiming to sell 1,000 units, including exports, in 2009.
It makes electric cars in Bangalore where installed capacity is 6,000 units. But a second plant is coming up with installed capacity of 30,000 units per year. “Common people have become aware and are interested in having eco-friendly vehicles. We are targeting to sell a total of 4,000 cars each year by 2010,” Maini said.
Reva currently exports vehicles to the UK, Spain, Belgium and other European countries. Then, a lithium ion battery-fitted Reva-which can run for 120 km in a single charge and would come with a three-year warranty-is also on the anvil. But this version of Reva would cost twice as much as the electric car. The models of Reva are available between Rs 3 lakh and Rs 3.75 lakh in Delhi, after a 29% of tax rebate.
