Does it accelerate fast enough?
Activate the car with the key fob, and you’re ready to move. There is no sound, no rattle, no purring – the e20 would go about its business without making as much as a squeak. It’s an automatic, so you don’t have the hassle of shifting gears either. The drive selector lever on the E2O is different from you normal automatic. Unlike the PRNDL markings on a normal automatic, this one has RNFB marked on the drive selector. R is for reverse, N is for Neutral, F is for forward, and B is for boost. In Boost mode, the car accelerates with a little more zing. Top speed is 81 km/h – fast enough for the city.
While the idea of an EV may make you think that it would be sluggish, but we’re glad to announce here that the E2O breaks these conceptions with authority within the city. The acceleration from the 3 phase induction motor is reassuring to say the least. While the 25.8 PS of peak power is produced at 3750 rpm, the 53Nm of solid torque is available right from the word go at 0 rpm, and all the way up to 3400 rpm. This makes the E2O feel particularly peppy and confident even when it’s loaded with people.
While we cannot compare the acceleration of the E2O with the zest of a proper IC propelled car, it has enough spunk to keep you abreast with rest of the cars in traffic. You’ll notice the difference only when you gun it on an open stretch where the outright acceleration is not all that great, but part throttle response is strong, and at slow to medium speeds you wouldn’t find it difficult to keep up with traffic or even overtake.
What about handling and braking? Can the E2O corner?
Now you’re asking for too much. The E20 is a city slicker, more of a utilitarian machine, which is meant to take people from point A to B, without contaminating the environment and at a very low operational cost. If you want a car that carves corners, and takes you up a hill in the shortest time possible, you should probably be looking elsewhere.
Even with all its eco-friendly credentials, the zing and pep in its acceleration, the hi-end features and the space inside, the E2O isn’t quite a driver’s delight. It’s a city runabout, and your expectations shouldn’t exceed that definition. The steering is not power assisted, yet vague at speed, the soft suspension makes the body wallow when you steer hard and sudden change is directions unnerve the machine. Braking too isn’t anything much to write home about.
The Reva E2O is at home being driven at moderate speeds. If you try to hold it by its neck and squeeze the life out of it, you’d be doing it at your own peril. Being a functional tool this car is not made to handle those extremities.
How long does it take to charge the batteries?
A five hour charge should be enough to brim the batteries with power. When we drove the E2O, we recharged it when it was at 20% charge, after four hours, it was at 98% percent. You will need a 15 AMP socket to charge it though. Don’t expect it to be charged by your more commonly found 5 Amp socket. We had a tough time finding such a 15 AMP socket to charge it, so make sure that you have located such a power outlet before you drive this baby in.
What is the warranty period for the batteries?
Batteries come with a Standard warranty of 3 Years or 60,000 Km – whichever is earlier. Mahindra claims that these batteries can last for as much as 5 years or more. However they also say that this purely depends on driving habits and usage.
What is the service interval, and what are the costs involved?
The first service is at 10,000 km or 1 year, followed by 20,000 km or 2 years and 30,000 km or 3 years. A regular paid service will cost you Rs 1,500 to 2,000, which is paid towards labour and consumables.
Do you recommend this car ?
Will it really be able to replace a petrol car for short ranges ofcourse ??