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Future of Reva - India's First and Only Electric Car
The manufacturer of India’s first and only electric car, Reva Electric Car Company (RECC) is known as a technology innovator in the Indian automobile sector. The company established in Bangalore is formed as a joint venture between Maini Group of India and AEV LLC of California.
The founder of the company Mr. Chetan Maini has over 15 years of experience with electric vehicles. During the course of his successful journey with electric cars, he has introduced a host of electric, solar, and hybrid-vehicles in India as well as U.S. Mr. Maini built his first solar electric car in 1990 while he was studying at the University of Michigan. This car participated in a race across U.S. from Florida to Michigan and stood first. Later on, the same solar electric car participated in a race across Australia and stood third there. The winning scenarios of Chetan’s first solar electric car inspired him and forced him to think over the future lucrative opportunities and possibilities of such technologies in the automobile industry.
Thereafter, in 1994 the idea of Reva crept into the heart of Chetan. Earlier there was a lot of skepticism about such a technology being introduced in cars but gradually many car manufacturers started working on electric cars. The car manufacturer had undergone a series of innovations and developments to roll out the India’s first electric car from its Bangalore facility in the year 2001. The year 2001 marked a significant milestone in the rich heritage of Indian car industry with the launch of India’s first electric car.
The primary factors driving Mr. Maini to develop the Reva were city mobility and zero emissions. Since the first Reva was rolled out, the car manufacturer has continuously kept on moving up the value chain with innovative technology being fitted in the car as and when required in accordance to the changing needs of the car buyers. Even the future holds many fruitful fruits for the Reva and this is because the founder of the company Chetan Maini has many bright plans for Reva’s future.
The founder of the company Mr. Chetan Maini has over 15 years of experience with electric vehicles. During the course of his successful journey with electric cars, he has introduced a host of electric, solar, and hybrid-vehicles in India as well as U.S. Mr. Maini built his first solar electric car in 1990 while he was studying at the University of Michigan. This car participated in a race across U.S. from Florida to Michigan and stood first. Later on, the same solar electric car participated in a race across Australia and stood third there. The winning scenarios of Chetan’s first solar electric car inspired him and forced him to think over the future lucrative opportunities and possibilities of such technologies in the automobile industry.
Thereafter, in 1994 the idea of Reva crept into the heart of Chetan. Earlier there was a lot of skepticism about such a technology being introduced in cars but gradually many car manufacturers started working on electric cars. The car manufacturer had undergone a series of innovations and developments to roll out the India’s first electric car from its Bangalore facility in the year 2001. The year 2001 marked a significant milestone in the rich heritage of Indian car industry with the launch of India’s first electric car.
The primary factors driving Mr. Maini to develop the Reva were city mobility and zero emissions. Since the first Reva was rolled out, the car manufacturer has continuously kept on moving up the value chain with innovative technology being fitted in the car as and when required in accordance to the changing needs of the car buyers. Even the future holds many fruitful fruits for the Reva and this is because the founder of the company Chetan Maini has many bright plans for Reva’s future.
Introduction of Fuel Cell Technologies
RECC is working on future technologies and is about to introduce the fuel cell technology. Fuel cell technology is believed to be an alternative fuel solution for the future that is an eco-friendly and zero polluting solution.
The prototype of the technology was launched on Technology Day in July 2004 by the President Abdul Kalam. The technology is still at the nascent stage and the auto manufacturers around the world are trying to make the technology commercially viable. In India, Reva is the first car manufacturer who is working on the technology, whereas in the global car market cars manufacturers like General Motors, Honda, and Toyota have also joined the bandwagon.
A fuel cell is an electrochemical device comprising a mixture of hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity. In this technology, the conversion of fuel to energy takes place through an electrochemical process and this makes the process clean, quiet, and highly efficient. The only by-products of the process are water and heat.
The key benefits of fuel cell technology are zero emissions, high efficiency, high reliability, multi-fuel capability, and ease of maintenance.
The prototype of the technology was launched on Technology Day in July 2004 by the President Abdul Kalam. The technology is still at the nascent stage and the auto manufacturers around the world are trying to make the technology commercially viable. In India, Reva is the first car manufacturer who is working on the technology, whereas in the global car market cars manufacturers like General Motors, Honda, and Toyota have also joined the bandwagon.
A fuel cell is an electrochemical device comprising a mixture of hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity. In this technology, the conversion of fuel to energy takes place through an electrochemical process and this makes the process clean, quiet, and highly efficient. The only by-products of the process are water and heat.
The key benefits of fuel cell technology are zero emissions, high efficiency, high reliability, multi-fuel capability, and ease of maintenance.
Innovative Battery Technologies
The only limitations in an electric car are the ‘driving range’ and the ‘refill time’. These abilities of the car mainly depend on the functioning of the battery. At present, the car manufacturer is working on innovative battery technologies to improve the driving range and increase the refill time, thereby crossing all limitations.
Simultaneously, RECC is researching on several promising technologies at various levels that are vying to become the next alternative of existing lead acid battery technology. Two key alternatives that are also under research are lithium-ion batteries and lithium-polymer batteries.
The introduction of lithium-ion batteries will prove to be a great breakthrough in the destiny of electric cars. These batteries are believed to pack more energy compared to conventional lead acid batteries.
It is quite visible that Lithium Ion batteries can pack a lot more energy into every kg compared to the conventional lead acid. These batteries also have the ability to accept charge at a higher rate and even deliver a driving range of up to 5 times more than the lead acid battery of the same weight. The refill time will also increase with the advanced charge stations that will be able to fully charge the battery in just one hour. Above all, the lithium-ion batteries have a longer life and better ‘low temperature’ characteristics. ‘Low temperature’ characteristics means that the battery will work efficiently even at cold temperatures. All these will overcome the limitations of the lead acid battery and make the Reva more promising in the years to come.
Simultaneously, RECC is researching on several promising technologies at various levels that are vying to become the next alternative of existing lead acid battery technology. Two key alternatives that are also under research are lithium-ion batteries and lithium-polymer batteries.
The introduction of lithium-ion batteries will prove to be a great breakthrough in the destiny of electric cars. These batteries are believed to pack more energy compared to conventional lead acid batteries.
It is quite visible that Lithium Ion batteries can pack a lot more energy into every kg compared to the conventional lead acid. These batteries also have the ability to accept charge at a higher rate and even deliver a driving range of up to 5 times more than the lead acid battery of the same weight. The refill time will also increase with the advanced charge stations that will be able to fully charge the battery in just one hour. Above all, the lithium-ion batteries have a longer life and better ‘low temperature’ characteristics. ‘Low temperature’ characteristics means that the battery will work efficiently even at cold temperatures. All these will overcome the limitations of the lead acid battery and make the Reva more promising in the years to come.
Discovering Next Generation Reva
Next generation Reva is on cards and is expected to be launch in 2009. The new avatar of the Reva will be more efficient and powerful than the existing model that is currently rejoicing a good reputation in many countries across the globe.
The new Reva variant will be powered by the lithium-ion batteries and will be capable to deliver a range of upto 200 km per charge. The most significant and pathbreaking technology in the next generation Reva is the introduction of roof mounted solar power panels. These panels are fitted with an aim of harnessing sun’s energy that can be further used to augment drive performance and achieve increased range.
The new Reva variant will be powered by the lithium-ion batteries and will be capable to deliver a range of upto 200 km per charge. The most significant and pathbreaking technology in the next generation Reva is the introduction of roof mounted solar power panels. These panels are fitted with an aim of harnessing sun’s energy that can be further used to augment drive performance and achieve increased range.
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