Indian firm eyes European electric car market

Indian car maker Reva unveiled two electric cars at the Frankfurt motor show this week and announced the launch in Europe of one model in early 2010 as the buzz for electric vehicles grows louder.

In its first major presence at the German show, Reva presented the NXR city car, which is to be built in a new plant in Bangalore and will retail for less than €10,000 for a city driving model.

A two-seater NXG coupe that was shown as a prototype is due to follow in 2011, the company said last Wednesday.

Reva co-founder Chetan Maini said electric cars, which were a major feature of the fair, had come of age.

"We are for the first time seeing everything come together: the technology and people's concerns about the environment," said Maini, Reva's deputy chairman and chief technical officer. "The world cannot afford conventional cars anymore." A surge in global oil prices last year had helped raise people's consciousness, he added.

"Five years ago I don't think people were thinking about electric cars," added Mr Maini.

When consumers mull a purchase now, however, "they would at least consider an electric car", the Indian entrepreneur added.

Reva will launch its Bangalore output with capacity of 300,000 vehicles per year.

"We believe it may take us two to three years to get to full capacity but we think the market potential is very high, and that's why we are setting up that kind of capacity," he said.

He cited a study which forecast a market of 500,000 electric vehicles in Europe in 2015, while also stressing a key role for governments in developing electric cars.

"There is a societal cost to pollution" that justified funding to help companies invest in infrastructure, technologies and product launches, Mr Maini maintained.

"Once people use it and feel the benefits, the volumes grow and prices come down and then you don't need support" any longer, he said.

Reva, which has produced electric vehicles since 2001, claims now to have solid experience in the field.

Mr Maini said 300,000 of its cars were already being used in 24 countries.

Powered by a lithium-ion battery, the NXR is a three-door model designed to carry up to four passengers.

It is expected to cost €15,000 euros, minus the battery which specialists note is one of the most expensive components, for an "inter-city" version.

A pure city car with less range and traditional batteries is to be offered for less than €10,000.

Customers would be charged "a mobility fee" for battery rental, but they will be available for purchase as well. The prices were noticeably higher than the $2,055 tag for the Indian produced Nano, which was launched last July and is currently the cheapest car in the world.