G-Wiz!

Banglore's Reva Electric Car Company will invest R's 300 million (US$ 6.1 million) to build the worlds largest factory for low-cost, electric cars. With capacity of 30,000 vehicles per year, production begins Q1 2010.

Tata stalls

Contrast with Tata Motors who threaten to scrap plans to build the Vista electric car in the UK if it does not receive a £10 million government loan soon. The relatively small amount - part of UK governments £2.3 billion car assistance package, that Tata qualify for through ownership of Jaguar and Land Rover marques - is still to be approved and Tata by all accounts are losing patience,

Public power points

Questions remain about Reva economics, it sells at R's 350,000 (£4,650) in India and £7,500 in the UK, under the G-Wiz brand. This makes it nearly four times the cost of R's 100,000 Nano. While cost of running is less - Reva is powered by lead acid batteries (80 KM per charge) or litium ion technology (120 KM per charge) - the price difference must be a concern, as is the number of 15 amp public charging points available to buyers.

Low carbon, low cost

With just 20% of the number of components found in a petrol driven car Reva expect to be able to make major savings as production increases.

Despite selling just 3,000 vehicles since 2001 company owner Chetan Maini has big plans, the target is to sell 8,000 vehicles in year one, once the factory opens. His long term plans are bigger, referencing President Obama's range of "green" subsidies he optimistically predicts that electric cars will outnumber conventional models in just 15 years.

With Nano, Reva and perhaps Vista India is set to take the global lead in the low-cost auto design and production race.

Image source - www.informationmadness.com