Q.Mahindra Reva e20: The Only One!

Mahindra is launching the E20 Plus today. Follow the launch and updates in this thread: [url]https://www.zigwheels.com/forum/posts/19785-mahindra-e2o-plus-launch-and-updates[/url]

[URL="https://www.zigwheels.com/forum/profile/21"]JijoMalayil[/URL] Though the plus size for the E2O is nothing great in my opinion, now that they have the 5 seated e-Verito and 8 seater Supro. However, what interests me about the plus is if the plus means more range. Mahindra hasn't shown much increase in their range in any of the other versions since the E2O. When globally electric cars are at 300+ kms in terms of range and with the new entrants claiming 400 miles, Mahindra can't think of competing with them outside India with their 120km range. Also, if any of the major players like Chevy Bolt or Tesla Model 3 , do come to India, it would be quite a big hit for already slow selling E2O. Though Mahindra has successfully integrated the power train in multiple class of vehicles , their focus now should be to improve the power train. A range of 300kms with fast charging would be the actual move that would make the vehicle practical, especially in the Indian context where we have a major lack of charging stations.

Mahindra Electric has teased the 4-door variant of the e20, the same was spotted many times being tested on Indian roads. Christened as e20 Plus, promises to be more spacious and practical when compared to the existing model. [ATTACH=CONFIG]n19191[/ATTACH] In a press release, Mahindra Electric also claims that the new e20 Plus will have superior styling, increased range and fast charging capabilities. The current e20 has a claimed range of 120 kilometres. Mahindra Electric has not indicated a possible launch date, but we expect it to be launched by the end of 2016. Image: rushlane.com

Here are some interesting e20 TVC, check it out. [video=youtube_share;mlQ5SqnU8jE]https://youtu.be/mlQ5SqnU8jE[/video] [video=youtube_share;tjn4pe1o8Lc]https://youtu.be/tjn4pe1o8Lc[/video] [video=youtube_share;TbvAimR9nCA]https://youtu.be/TbvAimR9nCA[/video] [video=youtube_share;qT5B4eZBmXg]https://youtu.be/qT5B4eZBmXg[/video]

[QUOTE=Arjun;n10890]Has it been through any NCAP? Do we have the data for the crash tests?[/QUOTE] Mahindra claims to have passed EU crash norms - dunno if that is for cars or for quadricycles. No E-NCAP videos, so guess it has not been through that. Funny. Anyway, I somehow get a fuzzy warm feeling when I see the e2o on the road. I do give a thumbs up or a wave if I can to the person driving one.

[USER="12"]Arjun[/USER], Mahindra had exported an e2o to Spain for crash testing. However, I can’t find the results anywhere online. But in terms of safety, the international-spec e20 gets power steering, dual front airbags, ABS and tyre pressure monitoring system as standard. The Euro-spec e2o offers more power from the same battery pack compared to the India-spec car and so has the range.

A decent review for the e2o. It would be a good option for those trying to avoid the congestion charges, and there are many who live not very far from their work place but still can't take the car as they would be entering the congestion. Electric and Hybrid cars have been quite popular in London for this reason,and at least half the cars you see in the congestion zones would be hybrids or electrics. Has it been through any NCAP? Do we have the data for the crash tests?

Top Gear UK has just reviewed the Mahindra e2o. Here's what they had to say: [QUOTE] [COLOR=#454545][FONT=Helvetica Neue][SIZE=15px]On the e2o’s rear axle lives an 31kW electric motor. That’s 41bhp in English, teamed with 67lb ft. Now the bad news: the e2o, despite being made of cheap-to-replace and resilient plastic panels mounted on a steel spaceframe, weighs 945kg. That’s more than a Lotus Elise. Batteries do not come lightly.[/SIZE][/FONT][/COLOR] [/QUOTE] Hahaha. That's the first thing they chose to pick on the baby Mahindra, that it's heavier than a Lotus Elise! If only Colin Chapman was alive to read this. And this is what they had to say about how it drives: [QUOTE] [COLOR=#454545][FONT=Helvetica Neue][SIZE=15px]Not brilliant, but adequate for the task at hand. The turning circle is usefully tighter than a London black cab’s, but unlike, say, Renault Twingo, the steering’s actually reasonably quick, so navigating a mini-roundabout doesn’t necessitate frantically working the wheel like François Delecour.[/SIZE][/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#454545][FONT=Helvetica Neue][SIZE=15px]The tiny wheels handle speed bumps and urban potholes reasonably well for a car with such a short wheelbase, and it doesn’t feel as top-heavy as it looks. We wouldn’t fancy taking it on one of London’s rare stretches of dual carriageway, though. Crosswinds, lorry turbulence and speeds above 35mph are not the e2o’s forte.[/SIZE][/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#454545][FONT=Helvetica Neue][SIZE=15px]On the plus side, visibility is brilliant, particularly over your shoulder, where that bizarre drooping glassline makes spotting cyclists hiding on your rear quarter a doddle. Function before form.[/SIZE][/FONT][/COLOR] [/QUOTE] Read the full review [URL="http://www.topgear.com/car-reviews/e2o/first-drive"]here[/URL]. Source: [URL="http://www.topgear.com/car-reviews/e2o/first-drive"]Topgear.com[/URL]

I just wish Mahindra made this car a little more practical. What it needs, is slightly less quirky looks and more range. Mahindra is working on a 200 km range I hear, and if that comes out in a slightly better looking car, it will make some sense. Of course, price is still going to be an issue. I couldn't help but recall this test I had done three years ago! [video=youtube_share;HrUyFhBne8k]https://youtu.be/HrUyFhBne8k[/video] EDIT: Watch on YouTube if it does not play here: [url]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HrUyFhBne8k[/url]

[QUOTE=Roshun;n7619] All car makers should form a network and set up charging points across the country[/QUOTE] I do not know what the situation is in other cities, but at least in Bangalore, charging points are quite easily available. They are there in almost all malls, Multi level parking lots, office parking, and airport parking bays. This way the companies are trying to encourage people to bring in their electric car, and let it charge while they are working or shopping in the malls.

[QUOTE=Arjun;n7615] I used to work near the Reva plant in Bangalore. There, they were testing many electric versions of the Verito. I noticed it as the cars had charging points in it. With the bigger size, for cabin and more space for battery storage, I believe the Verito Electic may come upto your expectations.[/QUOTE] I think the biggest concern with electric vehicles even now is range. Range Anxiety can set in pretty early. I remember a couple of years ago, I had the E20 with me for about a week to test. Just to charge it I had to set up a 30 metre cable and plug point, and drop that down from my first-floor flat balcony to the parking lot to plug in the E20. The best range I got, with absolutely frugal driving was 87 km from one charge. I had to recharge when it dropped to less than 10 km and the car went into battery saving mode. If an electric car at the same price point (5 lakh) as the E20 can get me 200 km of range, I would be willing to consider it. Sure, a fossil fuel car can get me 600+ km and takes just 5 minutes to refuel. But I'm willing to go all-electric and bear that slight inconvenience of charging time - only slight. I would love for an electric car to be able to recharge in less than 30 minutes. Take the upcoming Tesla Model 3 for instance - a supercharger can charge it to 80% capacity in 30 minutes. And it has a range of 300+ km on a single charge. So if I was doing a long trip with it, I can still take a break after about 300 km (if I found a supercharger at that distance) and have a coffee while my Tesla recharges and then carry on. But that's not going to happen any time soon. All car makers should form a network and set up charging points across the country. And they should also follow a universal voltage / connector standard also (like USB / Micro USB slots and 3.7 volt - 5 volt for phones). That would help. That said, I have a few [URL="http://www.zigwheels.com/forum/topics/car-and-bike-research/upcoming-cars-and-bikes/7613-why-the-tesla-model-3-won%E2%80%99t-take-off-in-india"]Concerns with the Model 3[/URL]

[QUOTE=Shreyans;n7607]The fact of the matter is that the E2O is just too small, too slow, too expensive and requires too many compromises to be considered as an alternative to regular cars. I took at TD once and I clearly remember that awkward driving position. Ride quality was terrible and the thing felt truly dead in anything but B mode in Delhi traffic. The shockingly narrow cabin didn't help matters either. And the range is just not adequate for a metropolis as big as the capital. Ideally, the next gen of the car should be benchmarked against something like the WagonR in terms of size, space, comfort and quality. Range should be anything between a genuine 150-200km, with significantly better performance. That package should be priced at about where the current car is, for it to make any sense to regular buyers. The government also need to wake up and provide proper subsidy to true electrics and hybrids and not get conned by stuff like Sukuzi's SHVS. [/QUOTE] I used to work near the Reva plant in Bangalore. There, they were testing many electric versions of the Verito. I noticed it as the cars had charging points in it. With the bigger size, for cabin and more space for battery storage, I believe the Verito Electic may come upto your expectations.

The fact of the matter is that the E2O is just too small, too slow, too expensive and requires too many compromises to be considered as an alternative to regular cars. I took at TD once and I clearly remember that awkward driving position. Ride quality was terrible and the thing felt truly dead in anything but B mode in Delhi traffic. The shockingly narrow cabin didn't help matters either. And the range is just not adequate for a metropolis as big as the capital. Ideally, the next gen of the car should be benchmarked against something like the WagonR in terms of size, space, comfort and quality. Range should be anything between a genuine 150-200km, with significantly better performance. That package should be priced at about where the current car is, for it to make any sense to regular buyers. The government also need to wake up and provide proper subsidy to true electrics and hybrids and not get conned by stuff like Sukuzi's SHVS.

[QUOTE=JijoMalayil;n7604]EV sales in India have grown at an impressive rate of 37.5% in the last fiscal year. Total sales stood at 22,000 units (20,000 two-wheelers and 2,000 four-wheelers). India should definitely get more electric four-wheeler models to push those sales figures![/QUOTE] For the increase in sales in the four wheelers, I believe the launch of Lithium cabs is a major factor. Bangalore, which is one of the main markets for our only electric car the E2O, and also has the factory where it is made, has a lot of Lithium cabs. I see more Li Cabs than E2Os being used as private cars. Also, Zoomcars and CarzonRent who are giving E2Os on rent also would be major buyers for the electric cars. Similarly, I have noticed that most of the food delivery chains here like Chai Point, RollsOnWheels etc are using electric scooters for deliveries. However, I do not think that the sales in terms of individual buyers has increased a lot. Considering the delivery boys and cabs run more, I believe using the electric cars in these segments would help more to reduce pollution as compared to Individual buyers.

EV sales in India have grown at an impressive rate of 37.5% in the last fiscal year. Total sales stood at 22,000 units (20,000 two-wheelers and 2,000 four-wheelers). India should definitely get more electric four-wheeler models to push those sales figures!

This is a good start and has really come a long way from the Reva.Still for Me,electric cars are far being a reliable day to day alternative.Cost,Time needed for charging,Battery life and Range is still a major disadvantage.But the ECO friendly aspect like mentioned above makes it a viable option for Delhi.but i doubt if it is the answer.we really need to look forward to hydrogen fuel cell cars as its eco friendly and eliminates waiting period for refueling as it is just as straight forward as CNG/LPG.High cost of infrastructure and availability is the issue.but considering what we have today was once considered impossible,It is only a matter of time for the Hydrogen Innings.Hoping for the best :) Great post [USER="21"]JijoMalayil[/USER]

India only has one electric car, do you believe it? With the Delhi odd-even scheme in place, I guess this is the best time to review this only electric car! So does it make sense to own a Mahindra Reva e20 for daily city drives? [CENTER] [LEFT][ATTACH=CONFIG]n2390[/ATTACH][/LEFT] [LEFT]The e20 was previously known as 'Reva i' in India. This is the second generation of original 'Reva I' that was sold in India and Give in the international markets like the United Kingdom. After the Mahindra's acquisition of Reva, there has been a sea of changes with supply & distribution chain widened and Mahindra technology filtering into the e20 to make it a more practical everyday car.[/LEFT] [/CENTER] [ATTACH=CONFIG]n2391[/ATTACH] [CENTER] [LEFT]e20 looks more serious than the toy-ish looking Reva, with a futuristic touch to it. The nose is bold with a large bumper underneath that neat looking twin projector headlamps. But the grille looks a little plasticky & odd. The stylised rear catches your eye with the waistline flows down to meet the bumper starting from the c-pillar. The sandwiched rear taillights & huge back bumper makes the e20 looks a little bulky from the rear.[/LEFT] [/CENTER] [ATTACH=CONFIG]n2392[/ATTACH] [CENTER] [LEFT]e20 is dent & scratch resistant to an impact up to 15 km/h which is great for first-time drivers and a boon for people driving in the city. The body panels are just glued on to re-enforced frame to reduce weight but Mahindra claims it meets all European safety norms. But e20 doesn't get either airbags or ABS, not even as an option![/LEFT] [/CENTER] [ATTACH=CONFIG]n2393[/ATTACH] [CENTER] [LEFT] [/LEFT] [/CENTER] [CENTER] [LEFT][ATTACH=CONFIG]n2400[/ATTACH][/LEFT] [LEFT]Pleasant interiors with good quality plastics, ergonomically sound controls sets it apart from the old car. The sense of space both in terms of width and legroom is a welcome change. It is still a two- door vehicle, but getting in & out is easy as the front seats fold quite easily, a longer cabin also helps this cause. Space at the back is good for decent sized adults and generous for kids.[/LEFT] [/CENTER] [ATTACH=CONFIG]n2394[/ATTACH] [CENTER] [LEFT]What stands out is that e20 comes loaded with features like a 6.2-inch touch interface, fully digital instrument cluster, key less entry, start-stop button & an automatic transmission with two driving modes.[/LEFT] [/CENTER] [ATTACH=CONFIG]n2395[/ATTACH] [CENTER] [LEFT]Now to the main question, the power plant! e20 is powered by a 48V electric motor producing roughly 25.5 Bhp @ 3400 rpm and a peak torque of 53 Nm @0-3400 rpm. Yes! The torque is instant, and driving in the city is a breeze. Now the range, a full charge which takes about 6 hours will give a range around 100-120 kilometres with all the systems running. That is pretty impressive for a city car! The running cost per kilometre comes up to 50 paise.[/LEFT] [/CENTER] [ATTACH=CONFIG]n2396[/ATTACH] [CENTER] [LEFT]e20 handles well on tarmac well, hitting up to a top speed of 80 km/h. But anything in the 60-70 km/h will give us a more real world range close to the claimed 120 kilometres.The E20’s turning radius of a mere 3.9 meters is superb, especially while trying to fit into tight parking spots and navigating through crowded streets.[/LEFT] [/CENTER] [ATTACH=CONFIG]n2398[/ATTACH] [CENTER] [LEFT]e20 goes into sleep mode when stuck in traffic until you are not using the air conditioning or the stereo the battery level pretty much is maintained. Mahindra has created a network of charging points in the range of five kilometres in all major cities in case you ever run out of charge. Mahindra app in your smartphones let you control things like switching on the air-conditioning before you arrive, information on how much charge is remaining, lets you call for the vehicle servicing among others.[/LEFT] [/CENTER] [ATTACH=CONFIG]n2399[/ATTACH] [CENTER] [LEFT]Mahindra battery ownership scheme(the battery is owned by the company),in which a customer needs to pay 'energy fee' starting from Rs 2,599 per month which will allow the user to drive 50,000 km (800 km of usage per month) over 5 years. The company will also provide 24x7 assistance and guarantee a courtesy car during battery repair period.[/LEFT] [/CENTER] [ATTACH=CONFIG]n2397[/ATTACH] [CENTER] [LEFT]Mahindra e20 T2(base variant) is priced at 4.9 lakhs while the top of the T20 is priced at 5.4 lakhs (ex-showroom Delhi), that sounds like a steep price when you compare with similar hatchbacks available in that same price bracket. But saving the planet comes at a cost, plus with vehicular restriction in all major cities set to be put in place, electric vehicles, hybrids are the future! e20 is an ideal car for somebody looking for a small city hatch to take him/her from point A to point B in descent comfort.[/LEFT] [/CENTER]