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| Mahindra Reva e2o : Official Review The Mahindra e2o has been launched in India at a price of between Rs. 5.95 - 6.25 Lakhs (on-road Delhi). What you'll like: • Help save the planet. Zero tailpipe emissions and smaller carbon footprint • 'Auto box' & quick start-off are an absolute pleasure in stop & go traffic • Tech-dream: GPS, reverse camera, feature laden head-unit, smart phone integration • Cute size is a boon when finding parking and maneuvering in the city • Interior fit and finish are a leap ahead of the Reva-i & bring it on par with today's hatchbacks • ABS body panels are dent resistant and less prone to ugly scratches What you won't: • High price outside of Delhi results in negligible overall cost savings • Limited battery range makes you think twice about every journey • 83 km/h top speed & sub-par dynamics make it unsuitable for the highway • Only 2 doors; inconvenient as a family car • Brakes have an unpredictable and sudden bite to them The 4-Door e2oPlus: • Link to review ![]() Last edited by GTO : 21st October 2016 at 15:25. Reason: Linking to 4-door review |
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| Electric Cars & India A school kid runs by. I tell him it's electric. He says he knows, he saw it on the Discovery Channel. A roadside hero wants to know if it's the 'Pixel'. Two curious bystanders tell me that I must be mistaken about the 7 lakh price-tag. Another says that it's worth the money to go green, especially with the super-low running costs. The businessman drops in a word on the 80% depreciation - really good for companies, he says. The less clued in folk seem excited when they find out it’s a Mahindra! One wanted to know if he could fit a CNG kit on it… The road ahead for electric vehicles in India sure is going to be an interesting one! Does Electric Make Sense? There's a debate about how 'green' fully-electric cars like the Mahindra e2o really are. Sure, they have zero tailpipe emissions, but the electricity is still being produced (creating pollution) elsewhere. This act of taking pollution away from the cities to other locations is called de-centralizing pollution. Moral implications aside, it's considered to be a good thing. We'd only be de-centralizing power (not pollution) if hydro, nuclear, solar and wind were the major sources of power, but India still gets around 60% of its electricity from coal, with the next biggest chunk coming from petroleum. Taking a deeper look, 'internal combustion engines' found in conventional cars are extremely wasteful – they run at about 25% efficiency, and less than 20% of the energy makes it to the road. All the other energy gets wasted as heat. Now, car engines have to be designed as portable and light, whereas power stations can be huge and heavy, enabling them to harness energy that otherwise gets wasted. This makes power stations 2-3 times more efficient than car engines. They also have far better means of converting the resultant bi-products into more eco-friendly elements. Keep this in mind when people say that electric vehicles are only moving the pollution problem further away from us. Are electric vehicles the correct way forward for the future? I'm not an expert on the subject, but I think they are definitely a step in the right direction. Perhaps, EVs will find their success working in tandem with other new-age fuel & power source technologies. Price & the Indian Market In other markets, Governments have seen the need to reduce their oil consumption and provide several incentives to EV owners. Some of the biggest advantages of electric cars include the ability to have heavy congestion taxes waived or circumvent traffic by getting access to exclusive 'car-pool lanes'. Unfortunately this doesn’t apply to us. However, I'm sure our Government will add perks for EV buyers once they are under more pressure from the car manufacturer's lobby. Why would such a small car cost so much? Well, my best guess would be a mix of un-harnessed economies of scale, expensive imported batteries, heavy taxes and lack of subsidies...all adding up. Delhi offers a 29% subsidy on electric cars. Other states haven't followed suit yet. It's unclear if the Central Government has a subsidy planned, even though talks have been happening for years now. It's hard to do an apples-to-apples comparison between the e2o and any other car in the Indian market. The disparity between electric vehicles and fueled ones becomes apparent once any figures are compared on paper. If we were to compare, would we choose its competitors based on price? Running costs? Alternative fuels? Automatic transmission? Vehicle size? Features? Engine power? To be honest, EVs are still new in India and at this price-point, prospective e2o buyers are those early adopters who have an ideology in their minds that makes them want to purchase an electric-vehicle. All the specs and figures are just supplementary guidelines for comparison. We'll follow a similar approach with the comparo sheet below, choosing a mix of cars that relate to specific facets of the e2o well (but not as a whole). This will help you guys put some things into perspective. ![]() As you can see, this isn't a budget car. It's close to premium hatchback territory, especially in the non-subsidy cities. The higher cost is negated to some degree by the extremely low running costs (we'll calculate these later in the review), but it's still not at a point where it makes undeniable financial sense. If you're considering a company purchase, don't forget to work in the advantage of that 80% accelerated depreciation (related post)! The e2o's lower "T0" variant has the same equipment and features as the top-end "T2" variant we tested, except for the touchscreen audio system and the USB, Aux-in & reverse camera that come connected to it. Also, let me set the comparison benchmark here. I’m treating the car like a full-featured hatchback. It's no longer a quirky little toy like the Reva-i; the e2o is here to play with the big boys. We drove the e2o on the traffic-packed potholed streets of Mumbai. We drove it like it was any other test-drive car. We didn’t baby it at all, and we didn't go easy on it for fear of running out of charge. Last edited by Rehaan : 9th April 2013 at 11:53. |
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| Exteriors ![]() The e2o is a lot bigger than the Reva-i that it replaces. If you've ever seen a full-grown person driving a Reva-i, you'll know that it looks somewhat like the circus act where a bear is made to drive around in a toy car. The new e2o however, is significantly bigger. This car has grown up past toy-like dimensions into the proper hatchback realm. In fact, it's longer than (only) the Nano, wider than the WagonR and taller than an i10. The e2o has an extremely short wheelbase though; about 30-50 cm shorter than all the 4-door hatchbacks on sale today. The e2o has a lot of unique things about it. Not only is its electric powertrain something we've never experienced before in India, but there are other things done differently too. Unlike the monocoque construction of all other hatchbacks (where the body shell is the primary structural element), the e2o is built upon a steel tubular-frame instead. You'll see a diagram of the same below. This is done to save weight, since weight is something that electric cars are scared of twice as much as fueled cars. Why? Not only does weight affect acceleration and braking, but it also reduces range per battery charge! The weight saving measures are all offset by the hefty battery pack though, and the e2o tips the scales at 830 kgs - not too far off from the i10 & WagonR. The e2o has another weight saving trick. It does not use metallic body panels. Each and every one of the car's body panels is made from ABS-plastic. It’s the same stuff that items like suitcases, construction hats and toothbrushes are made of. Mahindra Reva say there are a few other advantages to this, apart from the weight saving. Firstly, the panels are impact resistant. If your car gets hit by a rogue football (thanks to kids playing in the building), it won't dent. We reluctantly punched the door panel a few times as hard as we could, and it didn't dent! You'll see it in the video. Secondly, the body colour is infused into the plastic itself. Unlike conventional cars, there's no top-layer of paint that can scrape off. Perhaps, grazes and scratches will be less obvious, and could even be buffed out more easily. The eco-advantage of this is that the cocktail of chemicals required for painting a car aren't part of the manufacturing equation at all. That said, I'm not sure how eco-friendly the production of ABS plastic panels is in comparison. The e2o is available in 6 colours. I'll write them in plain English: Red, Green, Blue, Yellow, White and Silver. The Silver (as seen on our test car) is more like a Grey. I think it's good that the White and Silver (Grey) colours are offered - for those prospective buyers who want to save the world quietly. As it is, the e2o gets more than enough attention on the streets. I wish there was a Black colour on offer though, it would help mute the love-it or hate-it styling. Speaking of styling, in case you didn't already guess, Dilip Chhabria was involved here. I believe he set the Mahindra Reva team in a particular design direction at the start, and they took it from there. Personally, I'm not a big fan of the way the car looks on the outside. However, while driving around town, a majority of people said "cute" and "Nano se aur solid lagta hain" [It looks more solid than the Nano]. Interesting, isn't it? Just like Mahindra gave the XUV500 a powerful stance & tough look with the flared wheel arches, they've done the same with the e2o's excessively emphasized wheel arches too. It seems to work on the common man, many of whom stopped by just to say how 'solid' the e2o looked. The front has halogen projector headlamps, which aren't offered on any other cars in this segment or even on cars a segment higher. At the rear, we have LED tail-lamps, and a bunch of badges and stickers. The two important ones are "Electric" and "Automatic". A smart marketing move for visibility and awareness, as once again, these were the hot topics of discussion and questions amongst passersby. Quite a few people disliked the 'large' front grille for some reason, though it didn't bother me much: ![]() Note the flared wheel arches and molding on the door panel that give the e2o a more 'solid' look: ![]() Rear side-windows touch the tail-lamps! I think that might be a first for auto design: ![]() The compactness of the car becomes evident from the rear, especially when you're following it in traffic: ![]() 13" Alloy wheels wrapped with 155/70 R13 low rolling-resistance Hankook Optimo K715 rubber: ![]() The welded steel frame that the e2o is built on, to save weight: ![]() Here, you can see the ABS-plastic panel bolting on to the metal frame (top right) and the headlamp screwed onto the paneling (below): ![]() Halogen projector headlights are a first for any sub-10 lakh car: ![]() The e2o follows Mahindra's naming superstitions by ending the name with an "o" - like Scorpio, Bolero, Xylo, XUV 5-double-o, etc. ![]() The rear gets an undercut, right below the wraparound tail-lamps: ![]() A shout-out to the Reva Electric Car Co. who's responsible for the technology. Mahindra acquired Reva in May 2010: ![]() Wipers meet in the middle and move outwards (similar to the Civic). Water spray nozzles are mounted on the wipers, ala Nano: ![]() Look ma, no tail-pipe! One of the many party-tricks the e2o has in its repertoire. Note the reversing camera above the number plate: ![]() The funky styling, compact size and silent operation drew a lot of attention from Bombay's ever-present audience: ![]() A comparison to help put the size of the e2o in perspective. Remember that the Nano is very tall for its size: ![]() There's no doubt the e2o is a lot more grown-up than the teeny Reva-i: ![]() Last edited by Rehaan : 8th May 2013 at 23:25. |
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| Interiors ![]() At the Front Get seated in the cabin, and you'll immediately realize that the e2o's fit and finish are good. Nothing looks cheap, flimsy or ill-fitted. The materials and colours have been tastefully chosen. Everyone who saw it was very impressed and there's no comparison with its predecessor, the Reva-i. However, we have to compare it to other cars from the same price bracket and so, we'll say it's well on-par with the interior quality of its price-wise competitors. The door hinges are fairly snug, making the light ABS-plastic clad doors feel like they have some serious heft to them, when they are being opened and shut. All rubber beadings (around the doors and rear hatch area) are well fitted and feel like they are of good quality too. Get inside and there's a surprising amount of space in here. The e2o's external dimensions are similar to the Nano. When seated at the front, it comes close to matching the excellently packaged Nano for space as well. It's fairly airy in here, and the tall-boy seating position makes intelligent use of the interiors. The front seats are high-perched (remember, the battery pack is located below them). They have a 'dining chair' like seating position, very similar to the WagonR. This is not cool or sporty, yet it's very comfortable. Legroom and headroom for taller drivers aren't an issue at all. The black wood-finished trim used to highlight parts of the interior is very subtle and tastefully done. The shiny trim looks just like a piano-black finish, unless you look at it more closely. The steering feels chunky and has some contours molded into it. The material textures and cross-stitching are nice too. On the other hand, the stitching at the cutout for the thumb-rests is fairly sharp and pokey. On longer drives, this started to hurt my thumbs. There's no rake or reach adjustment either, so depending on your seating position, the view of the top of the instrument cluster can get blocked out by the top of the steering wheel (as was the case for me). The IRVM too has a similar issue. You can only see about 100 meters back, since it's mounted higher than the top of the rear windshield. The roof cuts off any view beyond that. The blue backlit instrument cluster with white text looks crisp and modern. It's very clearly visible in the day as well. When you press the start/stop button, it requests you to authenticate the key by holding it near the button. This didn't work too well though, with the key only registering about 1 in 3 times for us. It was frustrating! You don't need to authenticate the key to turn on the A/C or other accessories. It's only required to drive the car. Gearshift Interestingly, Mahindra has gone with a conventional looking "Automatic" gearshift. The earlier prototypes had a forward/reverse rotary knob on the dashboard (since in reality, it's just an electrical switch). They have probably done this to keep things familiar, making the e2o look more like a "normal car". Indians are skeptical enough of electric cars as it is, so the closer this looks to what they are comfortable with, the better. On the front of the gearshift is a soft-touch button that needs to be pressed in order to shift the lever. Only the shift between "Forward" and "Boost" doesn't require a press of this button. Another interesting marketing move is the fact that they've badged the e2o as an "automatic", when in reality, it's a single-speed transmission. Window switches are located behind the gearshift. There is no one touch up / down functionality. All the switchgear in the cabin has a solid feel. The indicator stalk has the lane-change functionality where it blinks 3-times on a soft press. Air-Conditioner The air-conditioner is impressive, even on hot Bombay afternoons with no sunfilm on the windows. The blower has 6 selectable speeds, each one being marginally more powerful than the next. I used speeds 1 & 2 which did a satisfactory job, even with the onset of summer. The compressor is an electric unit, and the e2o even has a heater mode for the colder days. The cabin & ambient temperature are shown alternatingly on the instrument display. If you're stuck in awful traffic, running only the A/C for a full hour uses roughly 10% of the e2o's battery charge. Irritatingly, the A/C always starts off as a blower only. You have to turn the temperature knob (manually) each time you want to activate the A/C. Not only does this happen when you first turn on the car, but also if you turn the blower off for just a minute and then restart it. Audio & Entertainment System The e2o has a 6.2" touchscreen audio and entertainment unit. It is a fairly high-resolution resistive screen, quite responsive and loaded with a host of features, and a "carbon fiber" wallpaper too. Inputs include DVD playback, USB (with iPod integration), Bluetooth (phone & audio streaming), 2x Micro-SD slots (Media & GPS data), a 3.5" AUX-in and apparently a composite AUX-in as well. GPS navigation is provided, and the fact that it is integrated with the distance to empty (DTE) count of the e2o is awesome. It can show you charging stations & service centers within your battery range. The reverse camera too shows up on this screen, and the music automatically mutes once you engage reverse gear. I don't think I've seen such a host of features on a head unit in this segment, or even in cars at twice the price! It's worth noting that the lower 'T0' variant doesn't get this head unit and all its ancillaries. The system is advertised as having 4 JBL speakers. The settings menu indicates support for a sub-woofer pre-out too. However, the sound was tinny, and there was absolutely no bass. The mids too were weak. In this condition, I would have given the sound quality a 6/10. D-BHPian SS-Traveller did get a chance to try the audio system in another e2o, and he said the sound was surprisingly good, which confirmed my suspicion that there was some sort of speaker connection problem in our test car (the equalizer settings were fine). At the Rear Being a 2-door, you have to flip the front seats forward to access the rear. Pull one of the two available levers, and the whole seat slides ahead in a very smooth manner, almost like its motorized. Squeezing through the gap requires you to hunch over a bit, but once you're seated, it's comfortable and there is sufficient legroom. Thanks to the tall-boy design, leg space is comparable to the smaller hatchbacks. Head room isn't a problem either, even for taller occupants. Each rear passenger gets a small molded armrest on the side panels, which wears a padded and stitched fabric inset like the front doors. Adjustable head-rests and 3-point seat belts are part of the package. Two adults can sit back here quite comfortably, but the option for squeezing in a 5th passenger doesn't exist. Safety On the safety front, the e2o does not offer airbags or ABS. It does have 3-crumple zones, and given that it is soon to be sold in Europe, it has been designed with the NCAP crash tests in mind (though the results aren't out yet). Front seatbelts have a pre-tensioner function, and rear passengers get 3-point ALR seatbelts which enable the use of a child seat. It gets central locking, an immobilizer, adjustable head restraints for all 4 passengers and follow-me-home headlamps. Steering is chunky, nicely textured and good to hold. Unfortunately, no steering-mounted audio controls are present: ![]() Display is futuristic and functional. SOC is 'State Of Charge'. RPM meter at the top works like a speed indicator as it's a single-speed transmission: ![]() The center console clad with a shiny black wood finish trim. 6.2" touch screen is the entertainment hub: ![]() Rotary knobs for the A/C are well put together and easy to use: ![]() Front seats are perched over the battery pack. The seats look basic, but they are comfortable. e2o themed stitching pattern: ![]() The intruding wheel-arch tends to touch your foot when you press the accelerator. Dead pedal is huge: ![]() Gearshift follows the familiar auto-tranny design. "B" is for "Boost" mode. Window switches are placed behind the gearshift: ![]() There are a few storage cubby holes as part of the center console: ![]() Start / stop button is more like an on / off button here, as engine cranking is not part of the routine: ![]() Wiper and indicator stalks feel solid and don't have any ugly plastic mold-lines visible: ![]() Door pads get a stitched fabric insert, wood finish trim on the armrest, and a chromed door handle & lock: ![]() Bottle holder with an elastic string to keep it from rattling. Front speakers are positioned in the foot-well: ![]() USB / iPod, Aux-in and a 12v lighter socket are found in the cubby hole ahead of the gear lever: ![]() The glovebox is pretty basic. Respectable size for a small car like this. Remote shown as a size reference: ![]() Electrically adjustable outside mirrors give you a sufficient view of what's behind: ![]() Rearward visibility is limited due to the dropping roof-line and thick C-pillars: ![]() Front seats can be slid forward by using either of the 2 levers shown here: ![]() The rear seat has the same dual-tone upholstery with a stitched design: ![]() Parrys demonstrates the rear headroom. He is 5'7" and there's a good 4-5" of space above him: ![]() This is the legroom behind a 5'8" driver: ![]() Luggage space is limited to 3 backpacks or 2 small strolleys: ![]() Halogen projectors do an excellent job, with a uniform spread of light: ![]() Last edited by Rehaan : 9th April 2013 at 10:45. |
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| Driving the e2o ![]() Let's get this out of the way first. After seeing how the e2o is a full-featured hatchback alternative when it comes to the interiors, the next logical question is : Can the e2o keep up with traffic on the average intra-city commute? I think the answer is YES. Acceleration & Driveability The e2o is powered by a 19 kW (kilo-watt) electric motor. That translates to about 25.5 BHP @ 3,750 rpm. It might sound measly (even the 2-cylinder Nano has 37 BHP), but the numbers don't really tell the true story in terms of driveability, as we're only looking at the peak output. Also, keep in mind that unlike internal combustion engines which start off weak at low rpms and then build up their power/torque output as the revs climb, electric motors have a perfectly flat torque curve all through their range. Translated, 100% of the e2o's 53 Nm of torque is available right at 0 rpm, all the way up till 3,400 rpm. The Nano in comparison would only attain its peak torque of 51 Nm @ 4,000 rpm. Most Nano drivers have probably never revved till 4,000 rpm! Naturally this flat torque curve of electric motors is great for starting off, as well as slow-speed driveability. The instant response you get from a standstill lets the little e2o shoot ahead of all other casually driven cars in the traffic-ridden stop light Olympics. No need to engage any gears, no need to slip the clutch and no need to wait till your motor or turbo revs up enough. There's no lag, and the acceleration is smooth and jerk-free. It's lovely to dart through gaps in slow moving traffic. The car's size helps too. A simple dab of the accelerator and the e2o effortlessly zips off without making a big hue and cry about it. The e2o really shines in these typical stop-and-go traffic conditions (especially since there's no clutch), making it an absolute pleasure to drive in the city. However, if you're besides an aggressive driver, or the road ahead opens up and the speeds continue to increase, that’s when the internal combustion cars will shoot past the e2o quite easily. If the highway is part of your daily commute, the e2o will leave you underwhelmed. You'll need to be a fairly patient person. Once you cross 60 km/h, progress gets slower and throttle response is fairly dead. I managed to get the car up to 83 km/h on its own steam, and 90 km/h on a downhill stretch. It touched top speed without a big hue and cry. Unlike internal combustion engine'd cars, the e2o doesn't scream and strain as it reaches the end of its capabilities. It's much less obvious that it's being pushed to the limit. The rate of acceleration just slows down, until you're zipping along at a constant speed, even if you keep your foot down. A soft electric whine will give you company. Despite the slower progress as speeds increase, it's not at all uncommon to find yourself in the 70s at most open stretches during your daily commute. Click the gear lever back one position, and you're in "B"oost mode. This driving mode lets the motor have more juice, and the e2o gets noticeably peppier. I'd say it feels like a 15% increase in power. 0-60 km/h takes 11.5 seconds in boost mode. Boost was probably not worked into the standard mode since it uses up more of the battery, and generates more heat & strain for the motor and battery pack. Quite frankly, the car does pretty well in most situations without it. In boost mode, you'll be at 80 km/h in the same time it would normally take you to get to 60 km/h. There is no limit to how much you can use the boost mode, though once the battery level drops below 20%, it gets deactivated to save charge. Aside from tickling the fancy of zippy drivers, the boost function is extremely useful when you want a little extra push going uphill. Remember the flat torque curve of the electric motor? That makes hill climbing a steady affair. The car will chug uphill at a constant (and respectable) speed. Switch to boost mode, and it will begin to accelerate. I attacked some steep hills in South Mumbai (Manav Mandir & other Malabar Hill ascents) and the e2o climbed `em without a fuss in regular drive mode. Not a honk was heard behind me. It feels good to be stuck in traffic with the A/C on. The guilt of running just the AC on fossil fuels isn't present with the e2o. There's no heat emanating from the car, and no fumes either. I dream of being stuck in an all-electric traffic jam. It would be the peaceful future. It's worth mentioning that the car does not start moving when you lift your foot off the brake (like a conventional AT). It requires accelerator input. Another point is that, regardless of which gear you're in, the car will roll just like it's in neutral, unless you are pressing the accelerator or have the brakes engaged. Nervous drivers, don't fret - it does have a hill-hold function that keeps the e2o in place for 1 second after you release the brake pedal, and then lets it roll backwards very slowly after that. There is a mild electric whine when you're accelerating. It gets softer when you take your foot off the accelerator. I got used to it pretty quickly, and started to enjoy it a bit too. At a standstill, there is an electric-fan like whine that seems to be coming from the dashboard or foot-well area. It's usually the cooling fans for the battery pack and motor below the car. There's another electric whirring sound when you press the brakes. You might notice these sounds and find them louder than expected, but the reality is that you're only noticing them more because the noise of an internal combustion engine idling away is not muffling them out. Watch this quick video to see it in action Ride & Handling The e2o does not have a power assisted steering. Chances are it's more about cost saving than it is about the extra drain that an Electric Power Steering (EPS) would put on the battery. Because of this, when the car is not in motion, the steering is extremely heavy. You'll need to use two hands at 0 km/h. Get the car moving slightly and it gets better, but even when the car is in motion, it's still on the heavier side of things. It's nowhere near the light EPS units of other hatchbacks. Due to the suspension geometry, the steering is also not very keen to return to center after you complete a turn. The turning radius at just 3.9 meters is ridiculously small on paper. However, in reality it's not as impressive as you'd expect. Due to the lack of power steering, it takes you a while to turn the wheel all the way. If you do wind up the steering completely in preparation, making a U-turn on a single-lane road is well within the capabilities of the e2o. The e2o is a rather neutral handler. The 155 width tyres are okay for a car of this size and weight. There's no understeer, but there is a fair amount of body roll. If you take corners quickly, or change lanes suddenly, it's apparent. Naturally so, because this is a fairly tall car with an extremely narrow stance. At high speeds (70+ in this case), it can take corners quite confidently (eg. the serpentine Muhammad Ali bridge in Mumbai). However, the e20 requires a good road to do this. If the surface has bumps and ruts, the e2o will dance around on turns and it's not very confidence inspiring. The suspension was a mixed bag on our test car. It sounded like parts were loose on multiple occasions and felt rather toy-like at times. There was some plasticy squeaking emanating from the left of the dashboard too. The ride is acceptable at the front and thanks to the tall-boy seating position, the overall level of comfort is good. You do tend to feel smaller discrepancies on the road surface though. When I was alone in the car, the rear wheels would jump off speed breakers with a loud thud, like they were attempting suicide - even at slow speeds. It's like the rear suspension didn't have the ability to soak up bumps when the rear seats are vacant. I was really not looking forward to my turn as a rear passenger - for fear of another herniated disc. However, once I was back there, I didn't have any complaints. We did the same route I had done alone, and things were well within acceptable limits. It turns out that putting a little weight on the rear axle takes care of the jumpy rear end. Other than the consistent electric hum, there's no audible tyre noise inside the cabin. Perhaps the low rolling resistance tyre tread design and the narrow 155 mm contact patch are to thank for this. There's no wind noise heard inside the cabin either, probably due to the not-very-high top speed of 83 km/h. Ground clearance at a high 180 mm was never an issue during our 200+ kms of driving the e2o. Braking In one sentence, the braking capability is good, but the brakes have an unpredictable and sudden bite to them. Let me explain that further. When gradually depressing the brake pedal, the e2o begins to slow down. However, at some unpredictable point in this deceleration, the brake force suddenly quadruples. This forces the driver to release the pedal a bit to accommodate. It brings up the constant fear of being rear-ended, and there's really no getting used to the erratic braking behaviour. Mahindra needs to fix this problem. Why is this happening? Was it something to do with the regenerative braking? Doesn't make sense as the regenerative braking kicks in very seamlessly as soon as you take your foot off the accelerator (you don't even need to press the brake pedal). At least that’s what the "E gen" indicator on the dash seems to indicate. It feels just like coasting in 3rd gear in any other car. Could it be activating more aggressively when the brake pedal is pressed? Nah. The e2o has disc brakes at the front, and there is a vacuum-assisted brake booster present. These are "Power Brakes" - just like every other car on the market. But wait, those systems use the vacuum generated by the internal combustion engine to operate the booster. How does the electric e2o do it? Turns out, this was the problem. There was a small motorized vacuum generator that would spin up every time it felt there wasn't enough vacuum available. This resulted in a huge and sudden power-assist to the booster, which caused the unpredictable braking behavior. How can we be sure? Well, I unplugged the electric vacuum generator and it fixed the problem ![]() Adding to the regenerative braking point, it appears that the 'E gen' disengages at 1-2 km/h, just before the car is about to come to a stop. This means you have to press the brake pedal just a wee bit more to compensate and bring the e2o to a dead stop where you expected it to. This is noticeable in traffic as you slow down and plan to stop close behind another car. Due to the short wheelbase and track, braking hard while taking extremely sharp corners can cause one of the rear tyres to lock up and skid a little. I was enthusiastically pushing along my twisty home-stretch when I experienced this a few times, though I really doubt that the average e2o owner would face a similar situation more than once or twice in their entire ownership. ![]() A strip of velcro holds the spare tyre in place. It's extremely easy to access and lift. The jack is mounted with a wing-nut. They are both secured very firmly: ![]() Differential on the rear axle (in foreground) with the motor in the background. What's between them is all there is of the transmission: ![]() The electric vacuum pump (silver) is connected to the brake booster. When this turns on, it makes the brakes bite suddenly: ![]() Last edited by Rehaan : 9th April 2013 at 11:24. |
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Team-BHP Support ![]() ![]() Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Bombay
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| Battery Range, Charging & Ownership Costs ![]() Range Per Charge How far will the e2o go on one charge? That seems to be the biggest mystery with the vehicle. Mahindra has said "100 kms under test conditions", but people want to know the real-world range. We had the car with us for a few days, so we decided to put it to the test in typical Mumbai conditions. Day 1: Single driver zipping around.
Day 2: Extremely rigorous family use.
Given the above numbers, I think it should be possible to get close to the advertised 100 km per charge if you drive conservatively. It's also reassuring that the car is always telling you what your expected range is, so you can alter your driving style if required. Believe me, a range of 87 kms doesn't sound like a lot when compared to internal-combustion vehicles, but I realized just how long 87 kms within the city is. How long would the battery last if it was running just the air conditioner? From some rough calculations, you should be able to get 7-10 hours of cooling, which is plenty. Think of it this way : running just the AC for an hour uses roughly 10% of the battery. You could run the AC in a parked e2o for an hour and only lose ~8 kms of range. As the Battery Runs Out
REVive
Charging the e2o
Additional Charging Information
Alternative Charging Technologies
Ownership & Service Costs
Ownership Calculation : Delhi
Ownership Calculation : Bangalore
Ownership Calculator : Other Cities / Different Running
Light near the charging port is very useful (most people will be coming home and plugging in at night): ![]() Supplied charging cable is 15-feet 6-inches long: ![]() You'll never have to visit this place again! Just kidding. You still have to go to the pump to set your tyre pressure right: ![]() Here's where the current 90+ charging stations in Bangalore are located: ![]() Last edited by Rehaan : 15th April 2013 at 15:29. Reason: Adding a bit more info |
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Team-BHP Support ![]() ![]() Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Bombay
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| Other Points Other Points: • The previous Reva was known as the “G-Wiz” in London, where it was relatively popular because it was exempt of London's steep congestion charge. • Pre-e2o, the company had sold 4,500 Revas in 24 countries. • The e2o is currently available in Delhi, Bangalore, Mumbai, Pune, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Chandigarh, and Kochi. A European launch is on the cards for later in 2013. • As a safety measure, the e2o wants you to shift to Neutral after it is switched on. • You can shift between "F"orward and "B"oost without pressing the button on the gear lever. However, every other shift requires that button to be pressed. • If you press the gear lever button, you can even switch from forward gear into reverse while the car is moving! This happens even at speeds of 15 km/h. I don't know if any other kind of protection has been built in, but I didn't risk trying to find out. • You don't need to press the brake when shifting gears or starting the car. It would have been a better practice if they required that. • When you park on a hill, you're relying ONLY on your hand brake. Unlike conventional cars, the transmission provides no resistance here. This lack of a double braking mechanism can be scary for people like me, whose permanent parking spot is on an incline. • The car is extremely quiet when in motion, so people do not hear you coming. Keep this in mind and use the horn liberally to warn unsuspecting pedestrians. Thankfully, the horn is loud. • The electric motor is sealed, and so is the battery compartment (except for the raised air-inlet for cooling). Minor flooding and water wading shouldn't be an issue. There are of the e2o being driven through 8" deep water for testing. • The indicator stalk got stuck in the downward position on day 2 of our drive. It had to be forced back up and wouldn't function smoothly after that. Ironic that it happened soon after we made a comment on the solid feel that the indicators had. • Parrys says: small size, cool-factor and city-friendly nature make it an ideal car for self-drive rental companies (eg. Zoomcar). He adds, if you charge your cell phone in the e2o, you'll be able to make more calls but drive less far. ![]() • Mahindra should have really pushed for a high subsidy in Karnataka. Multiple reasons; their factory is based there (more incentive for the government to help) and Bangalore had the highest number of Reva-i owners. Delhi NCR (where the subsidy is currently offered) typically has extremely long commuting distances compared to other cities in India. • Came across a few bugs with the AC controls and instrument display. Eg. The trip-meter mode button has a delay before it activates. The AC blower suddenly went to top-speed, even though it was at the slowest setting. • Back around 2012, along with the NXR (now rebadged as the e2o), Reva had also announced the possibility of the "NXG" - an electric sports coupe. I wonder if we'll ever get to see that on the streets. • Last year, Mahindra had stated that they would lease battery packs to e2o owners to help reduce initial costs & take the fear of the significant battery replacement cost away. I thought this was a brilliant idea, but unfortunately it hasn't been implemented. • Mahindra has just confirmed that an all-electric Verito will be launched within a year. They are already being used on some of Mahindra's campuses. • Hybrid vehicles sound like a more natural first step towards getting Indians to adopt EV technology. However, hybrids are typically a lot more expensive than pure EVs, and this would be a big deterrent in our price sensitive market. • I really liked Mahindra's pre-launch campaign. The "Ask Movement" : Last edited by Rehaan : 9th April 2013 at 16:43. |
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Team-BHP Support ![]() ![]() Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Bombay
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| The Smaller Yet Significant Things ![]() Mobile Application
The entertainment screen can show the car's vitals, GPS, Reverse camera and a graph of your driving efficiency: ![]() Choice of inputs, the audio playback screen and advanced audio settings: ![]() Rear speakers are mounted on the fixed tail-gate. Notice the tiny tweeter's position too (near the seat belt): ![]() 13" alloys have painted spokes with a machine-polished face: ![]() A few additional fuses and a communications port under the rear seat: ![]() Center mounted prop-up for the plastic hood. LED light is a thoughtful addition, especially if you have a puncture at night: ![]() This is the electric air-con compressor. Its got rubber mountings to reduce vibrations: ![]() Spare tyre is secured in place behind the A/C condensor fan. Tip : ensure the concave side of the wheel faces the fan to allow maximum airflow: ![]() Thick insulation in the boot damps out some of the noise from the electric motor: ![]() The feature-rich head unit even comes with its own remote: ![]() Despite the rear seats folding forward to create more luggage space, the sign advises against placing anything heavy on them: ![]() Rear seats flipped down give it a respectable amount of luggage space. There is no 60:40 seat split: ![]() Remote buttons require a hard press. Boot open button is useful (for plugging in the charging cable). Not a very high quality remote: ![]() Heat sink on the underside of what might be the motor and battery control unit: ![]() I found a plug-point near my parking spot! Turns out, the earthing wire wasn't connected, causing the red light to come on: ![]() Investing in an extension cable might be a good plan for a rainy day! The e2o uses the larger 15-Amp plug that most fridges and air-conditioners use. The more commonly found 5-Amp plug is shown on the right: ![]() Manufactured in a space-age looking factory. They’ve kept the manufacturing process extremely eco-friendly too. Read-more: ![]() Impatient? When plugged in, the "TTC" (Time To Charge) figure is displayed at the bottom right of the display: ![]() User manual is an audio-visual presentation with a voice-over that plays on the speakers. The screen displays useful graphics and hints at the location of features within the menu: ![]() Last edited by Rehaan : 9th April 2013 at 11:15. |
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Distinguished - BHPian ![]() ![]() | Re: Electric Cars & India Excellent review Rehaan, on a emerging segment that should see more investments and action in the market going ahead. Quote:
What needs to be given a lot more focus is the "Sun2car" solar charging station, which unfortunately isn't a viable option in the current scenario. | |
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![]() | #10 |
Senior - BHPian ![]() Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Bengaluru
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| Re: Mahindra Reva e2o : Official Review The interior looks very good. Do they have plans for a non-electric version of this car? Also, are these charging stations free ? Last edited by srishiva : 9th April 2013 at 11:57. |
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![]() | #11 |
BHPian Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Bangalore
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| Re: Mahindra Reva e2o : Official Review Awesome review Rehaan. I personally like the concept of electric car, though the shape and exterior of e2O is quirky IMHO! The dampener is the lack of support from the Government to provide enough subsidy which shall bring down the ownership cost! Unless that is done, I think the car is restricted to only people who need a second car meant ONLY for shopping/ pick and drop from/to school. Hats off to Mahindra and Reva for bringing the geek stuff and making it a reality. The car has immense potential to strike the right chord with the urban youth and the educated retired class, but again the OTR price makes you think twice before taking the plunge ![]() Superb calculations and I was impressed the way the review is shaped. It considers the difference from the conventional cars and at the same time compares them too ![]() |
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![]() | #12 |
Senior - BHPian ![]() Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Thane - Mumbai
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| Re: Mahindra Reva e2o : Official Review Thanks for the brilliant review Rehaan. Even I was stunned by the quality and the overall fit and finish of the car. You told me "Wait till you actually see the car" - & it actually stood up to your claim. I am sure a lot of people will have a fair idea of how these electrics function once they read your review. Tech-Dream : Indeed. The 'start-ac' via mobile-app is my personal favorite. One more thing that surprised me was the fact that a lot of people were aware of the e20 (on the road); and they really wanted to know more. Rating this loooong review a well deserved 5*. Last edited by parrys : 9th April 2013 at 12:11. |
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![]() | #13 |
BHPian Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Bangalore
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| Re: Mahindra Reva e2o : Official Review Super Review Rehaan. Just completely changed my perception of the car, it seems very well made and Mahindra sure has lavished some attention on this one ![]() Now if we only had a competitor for this car in the market, perhaps we could see more realistic pricing. Shame on our central and state Governments for not going out of their way to reduce taxes on EV's and kick start the market The range seems perfect for a city like Bangalore, where a long commute is typically 50 km in a day tops (the average would be about 25 km up and down). Is it possible to get auto financing for this one ? |
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![]() | #14 |
Senior - BHPian ![]() | Re: Electric Cars & India Rehaan very good review of a very good car. I am amazed by M&M's strategy and focus. While 5 yrs back, TML was seen as the Indian car maker with a lot of future focus, the tables have COMPLETELY turned in M&M's favour and they are on a roll. The E20 has great potential in overseas markets immediately. As for India, as long as the MUL/HML lobby is strong, nothing much will happen. It will be an uphill task for M&M to influence any positive policy change to make such cars more affordable. Globally all green technologies have required governmental support by way of tax breaks to attain a certain critical mass. Once that happens, economies of scale will hopefully further help in bringing down battery costs which can help in making these cars a bit bigger and more comfortable. I am quite sure, M&M is the Indian automaker to watch out for in the next 10 yrs and they might most likely bring out a hybrid as well. You are correct to say that T&D losses eat into a large part of the inefficiency in the decentralised model BUT thats the case mostly with India only due to our lethargic attitude towards investment in the best T&D technologies as well as our lack of inclination to check power pilferage. If there was no power theft am quite sure, we can save 50% of the existing power cuts. |
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![]() | #15 |
BANNED Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Bangalore
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| Re: Mahindra Reva e2o : Official Review Nice, comprehensive one there Rehaan. ![]() Apart from the price, which is a result of our lopsided greedy Govt policies, I do not think there is anything stopping the e2o from taking on the likes of the Alto, the Nano, the Spark, and to a certain extent the i10, the Santro and the WagonR as well. May the e2o Rise. |
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