Blast from the past

In this electric vehicle special issue, it would be treason if we did not pay homage to the very first mass produced electric car in India - the Maini Reva. Rahul Ghosh tells you all about the little devil

- Rahul Ghosh

It was just before the Tata Nano was revealed at the Auto Expo when we got to drive the little Maini Reva. The car was delivered to our office and much to the amusement of the entire team and the guards at the gate. The tiny little Reva quietly zipped through the gates as the guards wondered how this car was so silent. Nevertheless, we somehow managed to get the Reva free from the gathering crowd and literally hid it in our basement parking.

But before we delve into the car, here is how it came into existence. Chetan Maini had a vision far beyond anyone else’s and he dared to create his own electric car company called the Reva Electric Car Company Ltd in Bengaluru. The manufacturing unit was rather basic and people could be seen hand assembling the little Reva. However, the Reva struck a chord in international markets and was sold as the G-Whiz in the UK. In India though, people were not too sure if they wanted to pay the rather hefty sum of money for a plastic car with a limited range. Nevertheless, the Reva was selling across the country and dealerships starting springing up across India.