The Hindu : Business : Reva unveils next generation car

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, May 12, 2005

Business

Business

Reva unveils next generation car

Special Correspondent

Pricing of the new car yet to be finalised

WILL IT BECOME A RAVE?: The Union Finance Minister, P. Chidambaram, and the Minister for Science & Technology, Kapil Sibal, with the REVA-NXG, Reva's next generation concept car, showcased at the National Awards Function Technology Day 2005 in New Delhi on Wednesday. — Photo: Rajeev Bhatt

NEW DELHI: A day after launching a computer for the common man, the Union Ministry of Science and Technology on Wednesday showcased a new model of Reva electric car which promises to provide nearly triple the mileage per charge as compared to the model that is now on the road. The occasion was part of the National Technology Day celebrations.

Called `Reva-NXG', the new model is expected to offer an extended range of 200 km per charge as against just 80 km with the current model. It will also be faster. It could reach a speed of up to 120 km per hour, almost double the maximum speed of 65 km per hour with the current model.

The new car also features a four-wheel independent suspension with integrated regenerative and hydraulic braking system to provide for better handling and braking and uses sodium nickel chloride batteries instead of the conventional lead acid batteries for extended life.

Speaking to The Hindu, Chetan Maini, Deputy Chairman of the Bangalore-based Reva Electric Company, at Ashoka Hotel here, where the car was showcased as part of the Technology Day celebrations, said the pricing for the new car was yet to be finalised.

"A prototype of the car was being showcased in different parts of the world and once we get adequate feedback, we will take a decision."

Funding the TDB

Meanwhile, a long pending demand of the Science and Technology Ministry is all set to be fulfilled. The Finance Minister, P. Chidambaram, announced at the function that the issue of shortfall in the funding for the Technology Development Board (TDB) had been sorted out.

At the time of the formation of the board ten years ago, it was decided that the entire R&D cess collected on import of technologies would be given to it. But, it is yet to be realised.

Recalling the decision, Mr. Chidambaram said the shortfall would be made good over the next two years, a part of it in the current financial year itself and the remaining in the next year.

The Science and Technology Minister, Kapil Sibal, said the National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting would soon dedicate a scientific team that would exclusively work on predicting the extent of damages by floods, storm surges and impacts of climate change.

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