GM India and Reva finally strike a deal. The speculation has been around for a while now and it has been made official. According to the deal GM India and Reva will jointly make electric versions of the GM’s small cars starting with Spark. U-VA and GM’s yet to be launched small car beat will also benefit from the deal.
The first EV from GM will seen the sun in 2010. It will have options of both lead-acid and lithium-ion batteries. The lead-acid batteries are the conventional one with a range of 80kms. The lithium-ions are expensive with a longer range of 120kms. The lithium-ion battery version of the cars will be twice as expensive as the petrol variants as the battery itself costs 3Lakh rupees and it has to be imported.
GM India’s platform will be used by Reva to install its electric technology in to the car for which GM pays a royalty fee to Reva. Both the firms have strong backing of the Indian Government, since this promotes the step towards zero-emission personal transportation.
When Karl Slym, President and Managing Director of GM India spoke “Electric car technology is fast growing in the domestic market, primarily due to government support, by this agreement signed today, we hope to get the first mover advantage in the consumer’s minds”
Chetan Maini, Deputy Chairman and Chief technology officer of Reva said that they have been approached by other companies for a similar deal but “Nothing has been finalized”.
January 7, 2010
[...] in its new range of cars. This grill has given the Beat and the Cruze a very appealing feel. The Spark’s electric variant who’s drive train is developed by Reva gets to sport this grill and from what we see, it is quite electric. Sorry folks More on this [...]