Wikipedia

REVAi

"G-Wiz" redirects here. For the basketball mascot, seeWashington Wizards.For other uses, seeGee Whiz.
For other uses, seeReva (disambiguation).

TheREVAi,known asG-Wizin the United Kingdom,[2]is asmall microelectric car,made by the Indian manufacturerReva Electric Car Companybetween 2001 and 2012. By late 2013 Reva had sold about 4,600 vehicles worldwide, in 26 countries.[3][4]Sales in the United Kingdom, its main market, ended by the end of 2011.[5]Production ended in 2012 and the REVAi was replaced by theMahindra e2o.[1]

REVAi / G-Wiz
Overview
ManufacturerReva Electric Car Company
Also calledG-Wiz i
Production2001–2019 [1]
AssemblyBangalore,India
Body and chassis
LayoutRear motor, Rear wheel drive
Dimensions
Wheelbase1,700 mm (66.9 in)
Length2,600 mm (102.4 in)
Width1,300 mm (51.2 in)
Height1,500 mm (59.1 in)
Kerb weight400 kg (882 lb) (excluding battery)
Chronology
SuccessorReva e2o

In many countries the REVAidoes not meet the criteria to qualify as a highway-capable motor vehicle, and fits into other classes, such asneighborhood electric vehicle(NEV) in the United States andheavy quadricyclein Europe.[6]

The vehicle was originally known as simply the REVA, but was then improved and renamed the REVAi.[7][8]

Design

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The REVAiis a small three-door hatchback measuring 2.6 m (8 ft 6 in) long, 1.3 m (4 ft 3 in) wide and 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in) 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 270 kg (600 lb).

The REVAiis intended for city trips and commuting, particularly in congested traffic. It is registered in Europe as aheavy 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 aneighborhood electric vehicle(NEV).

Models

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First model

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On display at the 2009Hampton Court PalaceFlower Show

The first model, produced from 2001 to 2007, was simply called REVA (G-Wiz in the United Kingdom). Its power flowed through a 400ampmotor controller to aDC motorrated at 4.8kW(6.4hp), with a maximum of 13.1 kW (17.6 hp). Power came from eight 6V,200Ah,lead-acid batterieslocated 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 40 km/h (25 mph).

REVAi

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REVA i Electric power
Traction motor AC, 13 kW peak power
Charger Onboard
Charging connector Cable to standard domestic 230 V 13 A outlet
Charge time 8 hours to full power
Pack voltage 48 V
Battery type 8lead–acid batteries
Battery rating 6V,200Aheach
Maximum speed 80 km/h (50 mph)

In January 2008, a new model was introduced, the REVAi(G-Wiziin the United Kingdom). It has an AC drive system, which raises the maximum speed to 80 km/h (50 mph). The power flows through a 350Ampmotor controller to a 3-phaseAC motorrated at 13 kW (17 hp) 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 80 km/h (50 mph)[citation needed].It weighs 665 kg (1,466 lb), including 270 kg (600 lb) batteries. The nominal range is 80 km (50 mi),[9]but driving fast or using the heater orair conditionerreduces the range.[10]To address the previous safety concerns, and in conjunction withLotus 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 40 km/h (25 mph) by ARAI in India.[11]

REVA L-ion

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In January 2009, a new model was launched, the REVA L-ion. It is similar to the REVAi,but powered by high performancelithium-ion batteries,which reduce the car's curb weight to 565 kg (1,246 lb), offer greater acceleration, reduce charging time to six hours, and extend the nominal range to 120 km (75 mi).[12]The performance of these batteries is also less affected by variations in temperature.[13]

An off-boardcharging stationis available, which requires three phase power and gives a 90% charge in one hour.[12]The REVA L-ion will also have asolar panelon the roof for harnessingsolar energy.[14]

Comparison of models

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REVA L-ion REVAi G-Wiz
Top speed 50 mph (80 km/h) 50 mph (80 km/h) 50 mph (80 km/h)
Range 75 mi (120 km) 50 mi (80 km) 50 mi (80 km)
Lotusassisted safety pack Yes Yes No
Upgradeable tolithium-ion batteries Yes Yes No
Hill rolling-restraint feature Yes Yes Yes
Regenerative brakes First 30% First 30% First 30%
Front brakes Disc brakes Disc brakes Drum brakes
Rear brakes Drum brakes Drum brakes Drum brakes
Anti-roll bar Yes Yes Yes
NEVSElectric Yes No Yes
TOGGC-city No Yes Yes

Sales and price

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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.[4]

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 theBangalorecity, whereMahindra Revais based.[3]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.[15]

Pricing

Pricing in the United Kingdom started at approximately£9,995for the standard model[16]The G-Wiz qualifies for exemption from theLondon congestion chargedue to being an electrically propelled vehicle.[17]The REVA was also sold in other European countries, including Spain and Norway. InCosta Rica,the REVAi was launched in March 2009 and is sold forUS$13,000.[18]In theChileanmarket was sold forUS$12,000.[19]

The REVAi was available in the Republic of Ireland at a retail price of€11,500for the REVA Standard and€17,500for the better specified REVA Li-Ion.[20]

REVA was sold for₹350,000 (US$7,130) in India and has a "running cost of just 40paise/km "(40 paise [0.08 US cent]/km), considering the Indian petrol price ofUS$1/liter.[21]

Safety concerns

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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.

TheUK Department for Transportfound "serious safety concerns" after crashing a now-discontinued G-Wiz at 56 km/h (35 mph) into a deformable barrier on 24 April 2007,[22]which is part of the normal test for production cars. Likewise, a test commissioned byTop Gear Magazinethat followed theEuro NCAPcrash testspecifications found that the occupants would suffer "serious or life-threatening" injuries in a 64 km/h (40 mph) crash.[23]

In October 2010, a fatal accident in London occurred between a G-Wiz and aŠkoda Octavia,with the driver of the G-Wiz, British scientistJudit 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”[24]but he did not recommend further action regarding the vehicle's design.[25]Mr Walker said he would be writing to Transport for London about making improvements to the safety of the junction.[25]Subsequently, the government ordered an investigation into the safety of small electric vehicles.[24]

Current REVAiand 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 byARAI.A 40 km/h (25 mph) frontal crash test video of the new model is available online.[11]

Reception and criticism

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The REVAi has been panned by many critics, including criticisms that it is underpowered, unsafe, and ugly.[26]The BBC programmeTop Gearhas consistently and incessantly lambasted the G-Wiz, named it the Worst Car of 2007 and even blew it up later that same episode; co-presenterJames Mayreferred 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."[27]

In July 2004,The IndependentreportedArchie Normanowned a G-Wiz to commute around London, and outside London, he drove aVolkswagen Golf.[28]

In October 2013,Top Gear Magazineplaced the G-Wiz on its list of "The 13 worst cars of the last 20 years."[29]

In December 2016, twenty G-Wiz vehicles were destroyed in an episode ofThe Grand Tourand continuing on the theme of lambasting the car, which the presenters started whilst working together onTop Gear.[30]

See also

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References

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Wikimedia Commons has media related toREVAi.
  1. ^abFerris, David (2013-03-04)."India's Only Electric Car Revamped to Woo Drivers".The New York Times.Retrieved2013-05-11.
  2. ^"Driving Down Pollution".GoinGreen. Archived fromthe originalon 2007-07-09.Retrieved2009-05-04.
  3. ^abAlysha Webb (2013-12-23)."Indian EVs Await Government Support, But Some Owners Are Already Happy With Their Cars".PluginCars.Retrieved2013-12-24.
  4. ^ab"Mahindra REVA: Petrol-free REVA".REVA Electric Car Company.Archived fromthe originalon 2012-02-15.Retrieved2012-02-25.
  5. ^Gordon-Bloomfield, Nikki (2011-02-16)."EXCLUSIVE: What Killed The Electric Car? For G-Wiz, Other Electric Cars".Green Car Reports.Retrieved2013-05-11.
  6. ^"Company Profile: Reva Electric Car Company".Eco20/20.
  7. ^"G-Wiz".Green Car Guide. 2008-05-14. Archived fromthe originalon 2009-09-26.
  8. ^"In The Slow Lane".Newsweek:para 3. 2008-02-16.Retrieved2008-02-28.
  9. ^"The REVA".Reva India. Archived fromthe originalon 2008-02-11.Retrieved2008-02-28.
  10. ^"G-Wiz — our urban friend's electric".Scotland on Sunday.2006-04-30. Archived fromthe originalon 2008-07-18.Retrieved2008-02-28.
  11. ^ab"REVA i safety".Revacar.be. Archived fromthe originalon 2009-08-25.Retrieved2011-11-05.
  12. ^abYoney, Domenick (2009-01-04)."Reva Electric Car Company offering lithium ion option".Autobloggreen.Retrieved2010-12-12.
  13. ^"G-Wiz Faq".GoinGreen. Archived fromthe originalon 2011-07-24.Retrieved2010-12-12.
  14. ^"Delhi vs. Detroit: India's Cheaper, Greener Cars | Newsweek Business".Newsweek. April 2009.Retrieved2009-05-04.
  15. ^Nikki Gordon-Bloomfield (2013-08-30)."TLC needed: Can cars like the G-Wiz still have a purpose in life?".The Green Car Website. Archived fromthe originalon 2013-10-29.Retrieved2013-10-10.
  16. ^"The new G-Whiz".GoinGreen. Archived fromthe originalon 2007-07-09.Retrieved2008-02-28.
  17. ^"Discounts and exemptions | Transport for London".Cclondon. 2007-07-16.Retrieved2010-12-12.
  18. ^Alejandro Vargas (2009-03-13)."Automóvil eléctrico ya recorre calles del país".La Nación(in Spanish). Archived fromthe originalon 2009-03-17.Retrieved2009-04-20.
  19. ^"El Reva, auto de la India 100% eléctrico, es presentado en Chile"(in Spanish). Agence France-Presse. 2008-07-31. Archived fromthe originalon 2009-05-28.Retrieved2009-04-20.
  20. ^"Greenaer Brochure for REVA"(PDF).Retrieved2010-09-16.[permanent dead link‍]
  21. ^"Business | India's iconic electric car".TheStar.Toronto. 2008-09-18.Retrieved2009-05-04.
  22. ^Webster, Ben (2007-05-09)."Celebrity green car is declared unsafe".Times Online.London.Retrieved2008-02-28.
  23. ^"G-Wiz crash test news — Electric shock".Top Gear. 2007-05-09. Archived fromthe originalon 2008-04-15.Retrieved2008-02-28.
  24. ^ab"Crash inquest raises eco-vehicle fears".The Sunday Times.2011-09-04. Archived fromthe originalon July 14, 2014.Retrieved2013-03-04.
  25. ^abI think I've made a mistake: Last words of scientist on phone before G-Wiz crash31 August 2011standard.co.uk,accessed 28 August 2019
  26. ^"G-Wiz vs Smart".The Telegraph.2010-09-14.Retrieved2012-12-17.
  27. ^"Top Gear".BBC.Retrieved2012-12-17.
  28. ^Biggs, Henry (2004-07-26)."A new charge that could transform city motoring".Independent.UK.Retrieved2017-03-16.
  29. ^"The 13 Worst Cars of the Last 20 Years".Top Gear magazine.2013-10-31. Archived fromthe originalon 2014-10-19.Retrieved2014-10-12.
  30. ^"The Grand Tour in numbers: The costs behind the £160million Amazon Prime series".Daily Star.12 November 2016.Retrieved2016-12-17.
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