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General Motors and Bangalore-based Reva Electric Car have announced they are to produce a small and affordable all-electric version of the Chevrolet Spark for the Indian market within 12 months.
Under a pact announced last week, the zero-emission car is to be produced using Reva’s battery, electric drive train and power management system technologies, with the US auto giant providing the Spark platform and manufacturing facilities.
GM India spokesman P Balendran told the newspaper that the partnership would help top accelerate the roll out of electric car technology in the country. “We have a wider network and manufacturing strength, while Reva has the technology,” he said.
The companies said that if the all-electric Spark proves successful in India, they will consider launches in China, South Korea and Europe. Reva currently sells plug-in vehicles in the UK under the G-Wiz brand. Business Green
The Spark currently sells for about 260,000 rupees (£3,300) in India.
A price has not yet been set for the electric version of the car, but the goal is to keep it “affordable”.
The car will be manufactured at GM’s existing plants in India — at Halol, in the western state of Gujarat, and at Talegon, in neighbouring Maharashtra — which can together churn out 225,000 vehicles a year.
Reva, which sold its first electric car in India in 2001, says it has put over 3,000 electric vehicles on the road. The company, based in the southern city of Bangalore, is working to expand its annual production capacity to 30,000 vehicles. Ethiopian Review
The 14-year-old firm has raised $20 million (Rs 960 million) from global investors Draper Fisher Jurvetson and Global Environment Fund for this.
The company displayed prototypes of the two models at the 63rd Frankfurt International Motor Show (IAA) Sep 15-27.
The first model - Reva NXR (next revolution)—is a four-seat, two-door hatchback family car.
The second model—Reva NXG (next generation)—is a sporty two-seater with a targa roof, designed by renowned automotive designer Dilip Chhabria.
“We plan to roll out NXR by mid-2010 and NXG a year later (mid-2011),” Maini said on the sidelines of a conference.
“Export version of NXR will run on a Lithium Ion battery, with a top speed of 104 km per hour and a range of 160 km on a full charge. The lead acid battery variant, with 80 kmph speed and 80 km per charge, will be sold in the domestic market,” he added.
The 14-year-old firm, a joint venture with AEV LLC of the US, has a greenfield plant in the Bommasandra industrial area on the outskirts of the city, with an installed capacity of 6,000 electric vehicles (EV) per annum.
“We have exported about 1,500 cars to 24 countries across Europe, Asia and South America over the last five years. Global auto dealers have shown keen interest in the new models at the Frankfurt auto show,” Maini asserted. Economic Times
