ELECTRIC CAR maker, Reva, is getting serious about its efforts to get more people into its cars – literally. Up to now the Reva seated two, but the new NXR, due for launch at next week’s Frankfurt Motor Show, is a four-seater urban runabout aimed at families. It will be available here early in 2010 and has been designed by Indian car styling guru, Dilip Chhabria. Prices are not yet available.
Also being launched at Frankfurt is Reva’s hi-tech solution to so-called “range anxiety”. Electric cars still have a modest range between charges and one of the drawbacks consumers associate with driving electric is running out of power, en route.
Reva’s quick fix for range anxiety is called REVive and it allows a customer to phone or text message a 24-hour helpline for an instant remote recharge, should the battery die while driving.
The NXR (above), standing for next Reva), is a three-door hatchback with seats for four adults. Its range between charges is approximately 160km and it has two charging ports, including a one-hour fast charge.
The new model has dual airbags and an Isofix child seat safety mounting point. Also on the way is a soft-topped sports car called the NXG, which will debut in 2011. It will have a top speed of 130km/h and a range of around 200km.
Reva is based in Bangalore, India, and is a joint Indian-US venture. The company has the largest fleet of first generation electric vehicles (around 3,000 units) on the road worldwide.
The company is currently building a new production facility in India with the capacity to produce 30,000 units a year.
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