NEW ELECTRIC CAR e20 FROM MAHINDRA

The Mahindra group today launched its first electric car 'e2o' priced at Rs 5.96 lakh (on road Delhi, after state subsidy), almost three years after it acquired Bangalore-based electric car maker Reva.The group also said it has plans to extend the electric mobility technology to its two-wheelers, while seeking support from the central government for pushing eco-friendly vehicles. "The launch of the Mahindra e2o marks an important milestone for the Mahindra Group...it advances the group's efforts at redefining sustainable urbanisation with the creation of an ecosystem that includes mobility solutions along with other environment friendly innovations," Mahindra Group Chairman Anand Mahindra told reporters here.

The two-door, four-seater car is powered by new generation lithium–ion batteries and a three phase induction electric motor. It has driving range of 100 kms per charge, which takes 5 hours for one full charging. The fully automatic car is aimed for city driving. It has also a host of features like GPS navigation system, keyless entry, start/stop button, regenerative braking feature, which puts energy back into the car's batteries and charges them every time it is slowed down or brakes are applied.
 The 'e2o' will also be launched in Mumbai, Bangalore, Pune, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Chandigarh, Pune and Kochi. The prices will vary as it would depend on how much subsidy state governments will give to the electric car. In Delhi, the government has given a total of 29 per cent subsidy on the electric car as a result of which the company has been able to sell it at an on-road price of Rs 5.96 lakh. 

The e2o has been developed on technology of Reva, which the Mahindra group had acquired in May 2010. The company has invested a total of Rs 100 crore on the development of the car and construction of a manufacturing plant with an annual capacity of 30,000 units a year. The company has already set up over 250 charging stations in various cities, with 95 in Delhi and over 100 in Bangalore