REVA announces lithium-ion electric car and fast charge station

Press Release

REVA announces lithium-ion electric car and fast charge station

Reva Electric Car Company (REVA), the market and technology-leader in the EV (electric vehicle) personal transport segment, announces the European launch of its lithium-ion (li-ion) battery powered EV the REVA L-ion. Based on the REVAi platform, the current version of the world’s best selling city electric car, the REVA L-ion is the result of more than two years of testing, with a range of 120 km (75 miles) per charge and a maximum speed of 80 km (50 miles) per hour. REVA is also introducing a fast charge station capable of charging the REVA L-ion to 90% in one hour.

REVA’s proven EV platform now offers an increased range, faster acceleration, shorter charging time, less energy consumption, improved cold weather performance, maintenance-free battery operation and a longer operating life. REVA has also developed a new proprietary intelligent battery management system for the L-ion that tracks the performance of each cell for uninterrupted performance, which allows a three-year battery warranty to be provided to customers.

Research conducted by Professor Julia King for 2008’s King Review of low carbon cars concludes that 93% of car journeys are less than 40 kms (25 miles) and 97% are less than 80 kms (50 miles). REVA’s own data, based on 55 million kms of driving habits by customers in 20 cities worldwide also reflects the nature of every day city driving and the number of short trips. REVA’s decision to offer this combination of increased range and speed extends the L-ion's usage to the suburbs and means that up to 95% of all car journeys can be completed without the requirement to recharge.

The new REVA off-board fast charge station, which gives a 90% charge in one hour, uses three-phase power. It is primarily aimed at organisations that require constant vehicle availability during the day and will be offered to purchase or lease. The REVA L-ion’s normal full charging time is six hours using ordinary mains electricity, with an 80% charge taking 3.5 hours.

‘With the REVAi and REVA L-ion, we are now able to offer a choice of performance options to suit commuter needs and preferences. The introduction of fast charge stations really opens up the market to reach new customers and increase the availability of EVs. Local authorities and businesses can now create the charging and parking infrastructure necessary to make zero- emission personal transport an everyday reality,’ said Chetan Maini, REVA’s deputy chairman and chief technology officer.

The REVA L-ion EV and fast charge stations will be available to pre-order from REVA distributors in Norway, UK, France, Cyprus, Greece, Spain, Belgium and Ireland from February 2009, with the first test drive vehicles and customer deliveries commencing May 2009. Customers will have the option of outright purchase or battery leasing, with prices to be announced by the end of January. REVA’s European expansion, under the guidance of Keith Johnston, president of European operations, will continue throughout 2009, with new distributors being sought in all European countries.

REVA is also developing upgrade kits that will enable existing REVA(G-Wiz in the UK) owners with an ac motor and lead acid powertrain to upgrade to the lithium-ion powertrain later in 2009.

January 5, 2009

For further information, please contact Rossana Tich PR: + 44 (0) 20 8985 8935.
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Notes to editors:

REVA is the brand name of the Reva Electric Car Company, a Bangalore-based company formed as a joint venture between Maini Group of India and AEV LLC of California and venture-backed by lead US investors Global Environment Fund and Draper Fisher Jurveston.
REVA aims to mitigate the impact of pollution, climate change and oil dependency through the development and manufacture of electric vehicles and related EV products and services.
REVA was voted one of ‘India’s Cool Companies’ by Business World in 2006. REVA is a technology innovator and is the first company worldwide to successfully commercialise electric cars.
In recognition of its leadership in the development of EV technology, REVA is the recipient of the Frost & Sullivan 2008 Automotive Power train Company of the Year award.
The new REVA-L-ion has a range of 120km and a top speed of 80kmph. When charged normally, a full charge takes six hours, whilst a 90% recharge using the new REVA fast charge station takes just one hour.
REVA is sold in 10 countries worldwide and being test marketed in a further 10. The current model, REVAi, is sold in the UK as the G-Wiz i, and has a range of up to 80kmph and a top speed of 80kmph. A full charge takes eight hours and an 80% charge takes 2.5 hours. The REVAi is zero emissions if charged using energy from a renewable source and produces 63gms per km if recharged using electricity from a conventional source.
Professor Julia King CBE is Vice-Chancellor of Aston University and in March 2007 she was appointed by the UK Government to lead the King Review into vehicle and fuel technologies that could help to reduce carbon emissions from road transport over the next 25 years.