Are REVA's Electric Car, Manufacturing Plant Headed for the U.S.? Report Says Yes
By John O'Dell September 21, 2009
REVA, the Indian automaker with big electric plans, reportedly is negotiating to bring its NXR 3-door compact EV (right) to the North American market and hopes to set up an electric-car manufacturing facility in the U.S.
A report in Syracuse.com, the Syracuse (N.Y.) on-line "newspaper," cited unnamed local government and development sources Friday as saying that "almost all of the pieces are in place to make the deal, including state and federal incentives."
REVA, which introduced the NXR at the Frankfurt Auto Show last week, has sought a $40 million federal loan guarantee - possibly through a U.S. partner or partners, the report said - to finance an assembly plant in the U.S.
The report says that the Syracuse region of central New York is a "leading contender" for the factory if the financing comes through
The REVA NXR was introduced in Frankfurt as a 2010 model that will be sold in Europe in two versions: a $21,000 "Intercity" model that uses a lithium-ion battery pack with a 100-mile range and a top speed of 65 miles an hour; and a $14,000 city car with lead-acid batteries good for 50 miles between charges and a top speed of 50 mph.
Both models could be sold with or without batteries (which could then be leased from REVA), and there apparently would also be a monthly fee for various battery protection and charging-related services bundled into REVA's "REVive" remote charge-extending service.
In either version, the NXR is a four-seat, 3-door hatchback with dual charging points for 90-minute rapid charging at appropriate charging stations or 8-hour charging from home outlets.
The REVive system also will be standard with both, the company said. It describes the system as one that enables an owner whose battery has run down while on the road to call a company service center so a technician can remotely unlock a small battery reserve that will give the vehicle an additional mile or so of range.
The Syracuse.com report says that New York State Senate President Malcolm Smith spilled the beans about REVA's U.S. plans at a luncheon for state elected officials earlier this month and that Smith's legislative aide acknowledged his bosses' comment when contacted by the reporter.
Green Car Advisor was tipped to the news report by the Metropolitan Development Assn. of Syracuse and Central New York, which obviously wants to get the word out.
While the report could be based heavily on wishful thinking by business boosters in the region, it would be interesting, to say the least, if an Indian carmaker founded just eight years ago is one of the first to put mass-produced, highway-speed electric cars U.S. roads.
John O'Dell, Senior Editor
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