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Safety norms apply brakes on Reva

Reva, the only electric car which is exported to the UK market from India, may get a red signal from the UK government, owing to revised safety norms proposed by the UK Department of Transport.

The company has sold 2,000 units of the electric car, branded as the G-Wiz, so far in the UK. It is one of the largest selling mass-produced electric cars in the world.

According to the EU norms, Reva fits into the category called quadricycle — a vehicle with four wheels whose unladen mass is not more than 400 kg (excluding batteries if it is an electric vehicle) and whose maximum continuous rated power does not exceed 15 kw.

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“But, due to increasing environmental concerns, new vehicles that qualify as quadricycles have come to the market and are becoming more popular for urban use. Therefore, it is right that we reconsider the regulations for this type of vehicle and make safety regulations more stringent.”

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G-Wiz is marketed in the UK by GoinGreen. Because it is exempt from paying road tax, the London congestion charge and central London parking fees, the electric car’s sales in the country really took off. Besides this, other benefits include a grant for purchase of the car by customers, the lowest rate of tax as company car and 100 per cent tax writedown in year one for businesses.