REVAi

The REVA''i'', known as G-Wiz in the United Kingdom, is a small micro electric car, made by the Indian manufacturer Reva Electric Car Company between 2001 and 2012. By late 2013 Reva had sold about 4,600 vehicles worldwide, in 26 countries. Sales in the United Kingdom, its main market, and was replaced by the Mahindra e2o.

In many countries the REVA''i'' does not meet the criteria to qualify as a highway-capable motor vehicle, and fits into other classes, such as neighborhood electric vehicle (NEV) in the United States and heavy quadricycle in Europe.

The vehicle was originally known as simply the REVA, but was then improved and renamed the REVA''i''.

Design

The REVA''i'' is a small three-door hatchback measuring long, wide and high. The car can accommodate two adults in the front and two children in the rear. The back seats can be folded down to provide cargo space. The maximum passenger and cargo weight is .

The REVA''i'' is intended for city trips and commuting, particularly in congested traffic. It is registered in Europe as a heavy quadricycle (category L7). It may be exported to the United States, with a speed limiter that limits the speed to twenty five miles per hour, for use as a neighborhood electric vehicle (NEV).

Models

First model

The first model, produced from 2001 to 2007, was simply called REVA (G-Wiz in the United Kingdom). Its power flowed through a 400 amp motor controller to a DC motor rated at , with a maximum of . Power came from eight 6  V, 200  Ah, lead-acid batteries located under the front seats and wired in series to create 48 V. This model did not have the strengthened chassis that allows subsequent models to pass a crash test at .

REVAi

In January 2008, a new model was introduced, the REVA''i'' (G-Wiz'' i'' in the United Kingdom). It has an AC drive system, which raises the maximum speed to . The power flows through a 350 Amp motor controller to a 3-phase AC motor rated at peak. Like the REVA, power comes from eight 6 V, 200 A h lead–acid batteries located under the front seats.

It has a "boost" switch that gives 40% extra torque for improved acceleration and hill climbing and increases the top speed to . It weighs , including batteries. The nominal range is , but driving fast or using the heater or air conditioner reduces the range. To address the previous safety concerns, and in conjunction with Lotus Engineering, several new safety features have been added, such as front disc brakes, a collapsible steering column, and a much revised and reinforced chassis that has been successfully crash tested at by ARAI in India.

REVA L-ion

In January 2009, a new model was launched, the REVA L-ion. It is similar to the REVA''i'', but powered by high performance lithium-ion batteries, which reduce the car's curb weight to , offer greater acceleration, reduce charging time to six hours, and extend the nominal range to . The performance of these batteries is also less affected by variations in temperature.

An off-board charging station is available, which requires three phase power and gives a 90% charge in one hour. The REVA L-ion will also have a solar panel on the roof for harnessing solar energy.

Comparison of models

Sales and price

The car was available in the following countries: Austria, Belgium, Bhutan, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, The Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Jamaica, Malta, Monaco, Nigeria, Nepal, The Netherlands, Norfolk Islands, Norway, Peru, the Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Slovenia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Sweden, Ukraine, The United Arab Emirates, The United States, and the United Kingdom.

The different versions of the REVA sold about 4,600 vehicles worldwide by late 2013, and India was its main market, accounting for 55% of global sales, of which, 40% were in the Bangalore city, where Mahindra Reva is based. The UK was one of the leading markets, and the REVA G-Wiz (as it was marketed in the country) was the top selling electric car in Britain for several years, particularly in London.

;Pricing
Pricing in the United Kingdom started at approximately for the standard model The G-Wiz qualifies for exemption from the London congestion charge due to being an electrically propelled vehicle. The REVA was also sold in other European countries, including Spain and Norway. In Costa Rica, the REVAi was launched in March 2009 and is sold for . In the Chilean market was sold for .

The REVAi was available in the Republic of Ireland at a retail price of for the REVA Standard and for the better specified REVA Li-Ion.

REVA was sold for 350,000 () in India and has a "running cost of just 40 paise/km" (40 paise .08 US centkm), considering the Indian petrol price of /liter.

Safety concerns

The REVA is exempt from most European crash test rules, because its low weight and power registers it in the European "heavy quadricycle" category instead of the "car" category.

The UK Department for Transport found "serious safety concerns" after crashing a now-discontinued G-Wiz at into a deformable barrier on 24 April 2007, which is part of the normal test for production cars. Likewise, a test commissioned by ''Top Gear Magazine'' that followed the Euro NCAP crash test specifications found that the occupants would suffer "serious or life-threatening" injuries in a 64 km/h (40 mph) crash.

In October 2010, a fatal accident in London occurred between a G-Wiz and a Škoda Octavia, with the driver of the G-Wiz, British scientist Judit Nadal, being killed. The coroner Andrew Walker was quoted as saying about the G-Wiz at the inquest: “What concerns me is that this vehicle was destroyed in this collision in a way that I have not seen a vehicle destroyed before” but he did not recommend further action regarding the vehicle's design. Mr Walker said he would be writing to Transport for London about making improvements to the safety of the junction.I think I've made a mistake: Last words of scientist on phone before G-Wiz crash
31 August 2011 ''standard.co.uk'', accessed 28 August 2019 Subsequently, the government ordered an investigation into the safety of small electric vehicles.

Current REVA''i'' and REVA L-ion models include several new safety features such as front disc brakes, a collapsible steering column, and a much revised and reinforced chassis that has been successfully crash tested in India by ARAI. A frontal crash test video of the new model is available online.

Reception and criticism

The REVAi has been panned by many critics, including criticisms that it is underpowered, unsafe, and ugly. The BBC programme ''Top Gear'' has consistently and incessantly lambasted the G-Wiz, named it the Worst Car of 2007 and then even blew it up later in the same episode; co-presenter James May referred to it as "the worst car for this year - and indeed for every other year whilst we have breath in our bodies — it is the most stupid, useless and dangerous car ever to stalk the earth. It is totally terrible, and disgusting."

In July 2004, ''The Independent'' reported Archie Norman owned a G-Wiz to commute around London, and outside London, he drove a Volkswagen Golf.

In October 2013, ''Top Gear Magazine'' placed the G-Wiz on its list of "The 13 worst cars of the last 20 years."

In December 2016, twenty G-Wiz vehicles were destroyed in an episode of ''The Grand Tour'' and continuing on the theme of lambasting the car, which the presenters started whilst working together on ''Top Gear''.

See also

* City car
* Government incentives for plug-in electric vehicles
* Kei car
* List of modern production plug-in electric vehicles
* List of production battery electric vehicles
* Neighborhood electric vehicle
* Mahindra e2o
* Zero-emissions vehicle

References

{{reflist, 2

External links

REVA Electric Car Club

Production electric cars
Electric city cars
Cars of India
Car brands
Cars introduced in 2001