REVAi

Quality 0.50 · 3 views · Updated 2 months ago

title: "REVAi" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["production-electric-cars", "electric-city-cars", "cars-of-india", "car-brands", "cars-introduced-in-2001"] topic_path: "geography/india" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/REVAi" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::data[format=table title="Infobox automobile"]

Field	Value
name	REVAi / G-Wiz
image	Reva i silver.jpg
manufacturer	Reva Electric Car Company
aka	G-Wiz i
production	2001–2019
<ref name	E2O/
assembly	Bangalore, India
layout	Rear motor, Rear wheel drive
wheelbase	1700 mm
length	2600 mm
width	1300 mm
height	1500 mm
weight	400 kg (excluding battery)
sp	uk
successor	Reva e2o
::

The **REVA''i''''', known as **G-Wiz''' in the United Kingdom, is a small micro electric car, made by the Indian manufacturer Reva Electric Car Company between 2001 and 2012. By late 2013 Reva had sold about 4,600 vehicles worldwide, in 26 countries. Production ended in 2012 and the REVAi was replaced by the Mahindra e2o.

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 neighborhood electric vehicle (NEV) in the United States and heavy quadricycle in Europe.

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

Design

The REVAi is a small three-door hatchback measuring 2.6 m long, 1.3 m wide and 1.5 m 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.

The REVAi is intended for city trips and commuting, particularly in congested traffic. It is registered in Europe as a heavy 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 a neighborhood electric vehicle (NEV).

Models

First model

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/34/Reva-10208.jpg" caption="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 amp motor controller to a DC motor rated at 4.8 kW, with a maximum of 13.1 kW. Power came from eight 6 V, 200 Ah, 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.

REVAi

::data[format=table title="REVA i Electric power"]

Traction motor	Charger	Charging connector	Charge time	Pack voltage	Battery type	Battery rating	Maximum speed
AC, 13 kW peak power
Onboard
Cable to standard domestic 230 V 13 A outlet
8 hours to full power
48 V
8 lead–acid batteries
6 V, 200 Ah each
80 km/h
::

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. The power flows through a 350 Amp motor controller to a 3-phase AC motor rated at 13 kW 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. It weighs 665 kg, including 270 kg batteries. The nominal range is 80 km, but driving fast or using the heater or air conditioner reduces the range. 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 by ARAI in India.

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, offer greater acceleration, reduce charging time to six hours, and extend the nominal range to 120 km. The performance of these batteries is also less affected by variations in temperature.

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

Comparison of models

::data[format=table] | || REVA L-ion || REVAi || G-Wiz | |---| | Top speed | | Range | | Lotus assisted safety pack | | Upgradeable to lithium-ion batteries | | Hill rolling-restraint feature | | Regenerative brakes | | Front brakes | | Rear brakes | | Anti-roll bar | | NEVS Electric | | TOGG C-city | ::

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.

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 Bangalore city, where Mahindra Reva is based. 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.

;Pricing Pricing in the United Kingdom started at approximately for the standard model The G-Wiz qualifies for exemption from the London congestion charge due to being an electrically propelled vehicle. 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 . In the Chilean market was sold for .

The REVAi was available in the Republic of Ireland at a retail price of for the REVA Standard and for the better specified REVA Li-Ion.

REVA was sold for 350,000 () 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 /liter.

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 UK Department for Transport found "serious safety concerns" after crashing a now-discontinued G-Wiz at 56 km/h into a deformable barrier on 24 April 2007, which is part of the normal test for production cars. Likewise, a test commissioned by 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.

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” but he did not recommend further action regarding the vehicle's design. Subsequently, the government ordered an investigation into the safety of small electric vehicles.

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 frontal crash test video of the new model is available online.

Reception and criticism

The REVAi has been panned by many critics, including criticisms that it is underpowered, unsafe, and ugly. The BBC programme Top Gear has consistently and incessantly lambasted the G-Wiz, named it the Worst Car of 2007 and even blew it up later that 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."

In July 2004, The Independent reported Archie Norman owned a G-Wiz to commute around London, and outside London, he drove a Volkswagen Golf.

In October 2013, Top Gear Magazine placed the G-Wiz on its list of "The 13 worst cars of the last 20 years."

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.

References

"Driving Down Pollution". GoinGreen.
Gordon-Bloomfield, Nikki. (2011-02-16). "EXCLUSIVE: What Killed The Electric Car? For G-Wiz, Other Electric Cars". Green Car Reports.
Ferris, David. (2013-03-04). "India's Only Electric Car Revamped to Woo Drivers". [[The New York Times]].
"Company Profile: Reva Electric Car Company". Eco20/20.
(2008-05-14). "G-Wiz". Green Car Guide.
(2008-02-16). "In The Slow Lane". Newsweek:para 3.
"The REVA". Reva India.
(2006-04-30). "G-Wiz — our urban friend's electric". Scotland on Sunday.
"REVA i safety". Revacar.be.
Yoney, Domenick. (2009-01-04). "Reva Electric Car Company offering lithium ion option". Autobloggreen.com.
"G-Wiz Faq". GoinGreen.
(April 2009). "Delhi vs. Detroit: India's Cheaper, Greener Cars | Newsweek Business". Newsweek.com.
"Mahindra REVA: Petrol-free REVA". [[REVA Electric Car Company]].
Alysha Webb. (2013-12-23). "Indian EVs Await Government Support, But Some Owners Are Already Happy With Their Cars". PluginCars.com.
Nikki Gordon-Bloomfield. (2013-08-30). "TLC needed: Can cars like the G-Wiz still have a purpose in life?". The Green Car Website.
"The new G-Whiz". GoinGreen.
(2007-07-16). "Discounts and exemptions | Transport for London". Cclondon.com.
Alejandro Vargas. (2009-03-13). "Automóvil eléctrico ya recorre calles del país". [[La Nación (San José).
(2008-07-31). "El Reva, auto de la India 100% eléctrico, es presentado en Chile". Agence France-Presse.
(April 2018). "Greenaer Brochure for REVA".
(2008-09-18). "Business | India's iconic electric car". TheStar.com.
Webster, Ben. (2007-05-09). "Celebrity green car is declared unsafe". Times Online.
(2007-05-09). "G-Wiz crash test news — Electric shock". Top Gear.
(2011-09-04). "Crash inquest raises eco-vehicle fears". The Sunday Times.
Mr Walker said he would be writing to Transport for London about making improvements to the safety of the junction.[https://www.standard.co.uk/news/i-think-ive-made-a-mistake-last-words-of-scientist-on-phone-before-g-wiz-crash-6438558.html 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
(2010-09-14). "G-Wiz vs Smart". The Telegraph.
"Top Gear". BBC.
Biggs, Henry. (2004-07-26). "A new charge that could transform city motoring". Independent.
(2013-10-31). "The 13 Worst Cars of the Last 20 Years".
(12 November 2016). "The Grand Tour in numbers: The costs behind the £160million Amazon Prime series". Daily Star.

::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::