REVAi

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
"G-Wiz" redirects here. For the basketball mascot, see Washington Wizards. For other uses, see Gee Whiz.
For other uses, see Reva (disambiguation).
REVAi / G-Wiz
Reva Electric Car Company
Also calledG-Wiz i
Production2001–2019
Kerb weight
400 kg (882 lb) (excluding battery)
Chronology
SuccessorReva e2o

The REVAi, known as G-Wiz in the United Kingdom,

Reva Electric Car Company between 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 the Mahindra e2o.[1]

In many countries the REVAi does not meet the criteria to qualify as a highway-capable motor vehicle, and fits into other classes, such as

heavy quadricycle in Europe.[6]

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

Design

The REVAi is 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 REVAi is intended for city trips and commuting, particularly in congested traffic. It is registered in Europe as a

neighborhood electric vehicle
(NEV).

Models

First model

On display at the 2009 Hampton Court Palace Flower Show

The first model, produced from 2001 to 2007, was simply called REVA (G-Wiz in the United Kingdom). Its power flowed through a 400 

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 40 km/h (25 mph).

REVAi

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 8
lead–acid batteries
Battery rating 6
Ah
each
Maximum speed 80 km/h (50 mph)

In January 2008, a new model was introduced, the REVAi (G-Wiz i in 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 350 Amp motor controller to a 3-phase AC motor rated 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)[

air conditioner reduces the range.[10] 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 40 km/h (25 mph) by ARAI in India.[11]

REVA L-ion

In January 2009, a new model was launched, the REVA L-ion. It is similar to the REVAi, but powered by high performance

lithium-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-board charging station is available, which requires three phase power and gives a 90% charge in one hour.[12] The REVA L-ion will also have a solar panel on the roof for harnessing solar energy.[14]

Comparison of models

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)
Lotus assisted safety pack Yes Yes No
Upgradeable to
lithium-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
NEVS Electric Yes No Yes
TOGG
C-city		 No Yes Yes

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.[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 the

Mahindra Reva is 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 £9,995 for the standard model[16] The G-Wiz qualifies for exemption from the London congestion charge due to being an electrically propelled vehicle.[17] 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 US$13,000.[18] In the Chilean market was sold for US$12,000.[19]

The REVAi was available in the Republic of Ireland at a retail price of €11,500 for the REVA Standard and €17,500 for 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 40

paise/km" (40 paise [0.08 US cent]/km), considering the Indian petrol price of US$1/liter.[21]

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

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.[23]

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”[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 REVAi 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 40 km/h (25 mph) frontal crash test video of the new model is available online.[11]

Reception and criticism

The REVAi has been panned by many critics, including criticisms that it is underpowered, unsafe, and ugly.[26] 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."[27]

In July 2004,

Archie Norman owned a G-Wiz to commute around London, and outside London, he drove a Volkswagen Golf.[28]

In October 2013, Top Gear Magazine placed 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 of

The Grand Tour and continuing on the theme of lambasting the car, which the presenters started whilst working together on Top Gear.[30]

See also

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to REVAi.
  1. ^ a b Ferris, David (2013-03-04). "India's Only Electric Car Revamped to Woo Drivers". The New York Times. Retrieved 2013-05-11.
  2. ^ "Driving Down Pollution". GoinGreen. Archived from the original on 2007-07-09. Retrieved 2009-05-04.
  3. ^ a b Alysha Webb (2013-12-23). "Indian EVs Await Government Support, But Some Owners Are Already Happy With Their Cars". PluginCars.com. Retrieved 2013-12-24.
  4. ^
    REVA Electric Car Company. Archived from the original
    on 2012-02-15. Retrieved 2012-02-25.
  5. ^ Gordon-Bloomfield, Nikki (2011-02-16). "EXCLUSIVE: What Killed The Electric Car? For G-Wiz, Other Electric Cars". Green Car Reports. Retrieved 2013-05-11.
  6. ^ "Company Profile: Reva Electric Car Company". Eco20/20.
  7. ^ "G-Wiz". Green Car Guide. 2008-05-14. Archived from the original on 2009-09-26.
  8. ^ "In The Slow Lane". Newsweek:para 3. 2008-02-16. Retrieved 2008-02-28.
  9. ^ "The REVA". Reva India. Archived from the original on 2008-02-11. Retrieved 2008-02-28.
  10. ^ "G-Wiz — our urban friend's electric". Scotland on Sunday. 2006-04-30. Archived from the original on 2008-07-18. Retrieved 2008-02-28.
  11. ^ a b "REVA i safety". Revacar.be. Archived from the original on 2009-08-25. Retrieved 2011-11-05.
  12. ^ a b Yoney, Domenick (2009-01-04). "Reva Electric Car Company offering lithium ion option". Autobloggreen.com. Retrieved 2010-12-12.
  13. ^ "G-Wiz Faq". GoinGreen. Archived from the original on 2011-07-24. Retrieved 2010-12-12.
  14. ^ "Delhi vs. Detroit: India's Cheaper, Greener Cars | Newsweek Business". Newsweek.com. April 2009. Retrieved 2009-05-04.
  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 from the original on 2013-10-29. Retrieved 2013-10-10.
  16. ^ "The new G-Whiz". GoinGreen. Archived from the original on 2007-07-09. Retrieved 2008-02-28.
  17. ^ "Discounts and exemptions | Transport for London". Cclondon.com. 2007-07-16. Retrieved 2010-12-12.
  18. La Nación (in Spanish). Archived from the original
    on 2009-03-17. Retrieved 2009-04-20.
  19. ^ "El Reva, auto de la India 100% eléctrico, es presentado en Chile" (in Spanish). Agence France-Presse. 2008-07-31. Archived from the original on 2009-05-28. Retrieved 2009-04-20.
  20. ^ "Greenaer Brochure for REVA" (PDF). Retrieved 2010-09-16.[permanent dead link]
  21. ^ "Business | India's iconic electric car". TheStar.com. Toronto. 2008-09-18. Retrieved 2009-05-04.
  22. ^ Webster, Ben (2007-05-09). "Celebrity green car is declared unsafe". Times Online. London. Retrieved 2008-02-28.
  23. ^ "G-Wiz crash test news — Electric shock". Top Gear. 2007-05-09. Archived from the original on 2008-04-15. Retrieved 2008-02-28.
  24. ^ a b "Crash inquest raises eco-vehicle fears". The Sunday Times. 2011-09-04. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved 2013-03-04.
  25. ^ a b 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
  26. ^ "G-Wiz vs Smart". The Telegraph. 2010-09-14. Retrieved 2012-12-17.
  27. ^ "Top Gear". BBC. Retrieved 2012-12-17.
  28. ^ Biggs, Henry (2004-07-26). "A new charge that could transform city motoring". Independent. UK. Retrieved 2017-03-16.
  29. ^ "The 13 Worst Cars of the Last 20 Years". Top Gear magazine. 2013-10-31. Archived from the original on 2014-10-19. Retrieved 2014-10-12.
  30. ^ "The Grand Tour in numbers: The costs behind the £160million Amazon Prime series". Daily Star. 12 November 2016. Retrieved 2016-12-17.

External links

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