| Mahindra Last Mile Mobility | |
| Founder: | Chetan Maini |
| Key People: | Suman Mishra [1] |
| Former Name: | Reva Electric Car Company (2010-2016) Mahindra Electric Mobility Limited (2016-2023) |
| Industry: | Automotive |
| Products: | Electric vehicles |
| Parent: | Mahindra & Mahindra |
| Location: | Bangalore, India |
Mahindra Last Mile Mobility Limited, formerly known as Mahindra Electric Mobility Limited (2016–2023) and Reva Electric Car Company (2010–2016), is an Indian company based in Bangalore that designs and manufactures compact electric vehicles. The company's first vehicle, the REVAi electric car, was available in 26 countries with 4,000 versions sold worldwide by mid-March 2011. Reva was acquired by Indian conglomerate Mahindra & Mahindra in May 2010. After the acquisition, the company launched the electric hatchback e2o in 2013.[2] Today, the company sells electric vehicles in different segments – the electric sedan eVerito, the electric commercial vehicle eSupro (passenger and cargo), and the Treo range of low maintenance, lithium-ion battery-powered three-wheelers. Recently, Mahindra Electric became the first Indian car manufacturer to cross 170 million kilometres travelled on its fleet.
The Reva Electric Car Company (RECC) was founded in 1994 by Chetan Maini, as a joint venture between the Maini Group of Bangalore and Amerigon Electric Vehicle Technologies (AEVT Inc.) of the US.[3] The company aimed to develop and produce an affordable, compact electric car. Several other automakers also aimed to do so, but in 2001, RECC launched the REVA.
REVA is not an acronym for "Revolutionary Electric Vehicle Alternative"; it takes after Chetan Maini's Mother's name.[4]
RECC joined up with several automotive experts to develop components for REVA. Curtis Instruments, Inc. of USA created a Motor Controller for the car. The car had a power pack for which Tudor India Limited supplied customized Prestolite batteries. The Charger for Reva was developed by Modular Power Systems of USA (a division of TDI Power). Later, RECC started manufacturing the charger through a technical collaboration agreement between MPS and the Maini Group.[5]
In 2004, GoinGreen of the UK agreed with RECC to import REVA cars and market them under the G-Wiz moniker.
In 2008 a revamped REVA model was launched called the REVAi. The company started production of a Lithium-ion variant called the REVA L-ion in 2009.
In 2009 at the Frankfurt Motor Show, Reva presented its future models Reva NXR and Reva NXG.[6] During the event Reva and General Motors India declared a technical collaboration to develop affordable EV for the Indian market.[7] As a result of this General Motors India announced an electric version of their hatchback in the New Delhi Auto Expo 2010: named the e-Spark, Reva was to provide battery technology.[8]
On 26 May 2010, India's largest sports utility vehicles and tractor maker Mahindra & Mahindra bought a 55.2% controlling stake in Reva. Following the deal, the company was renamed Mahindra Reva Electric Vehicles Private Limited.[9] Mahindra's president of an automotive business, Pawan Goenka, became the new company's chairman. As a result of the ownership change General Motors pulled out of the tie-up with Reva that was to produce the e-spark.[10]
In Feb 2011 GoinGreen, the UK's exclusive importer of the G-Wiz, announced that it was no longer stocking the model (although it would order them on a 4-6-week lead time when requested by customers).[11] [12]
In 2016, the company was rebranded as Mahindra Electric Mobility Ltd. With the intention to reflect not just the business line of producing vehicles, but also developing powertrains and integrated mobility solutions.[13]
In 2023, the company was rebranded again as Mahindra Last Mile Mobility Ltd. with it completely merging with parent company Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd.[14]
See main article: REVAi. Mahindra Reva currently produces two versions of the REVAi, an urban electric micro-car seating two adults and two children:
The REVA went on sale in India in 2001 and in the UK since 2003. The different versions of the REVA have sold more than 4,000 vehicles worldwide by mid March 2011[16] and was also available in the following countries: Belgium, Bhutan, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cyprus, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Japan, Malta, Monaco, Nepal, Norfolk Islands, Norway, Peru, the Philippines, Portugal, Spain, and Sri Lanka.[17] 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.
In 2005, Reva showcased the REVA-NXG, a two-seater roadster concept car with a nominal range of 2000NaN0 per charge and a top speed of 1200NaN0.[18]
See main article: Mahindra e2o. The Mahindra e2o, previously REVA NXR, is an urban electric car hatchback manufactured by the Mahindra Group. The e2o is the REVA G-Wiz successor and was developed using REVA's technology. The REVA NXR electric concept car was unveiled at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show. Export production was initially scheduled for 2012. Production was initially scheduled for late 2010 with deliveries slated for early 2011.[19] The e2o was launched in India in March 2013 at a price of ₹5,96,000 after a 29% government subsidy granted by the state of Delhi. The e2o was also launched in Mumbai, Bangalore, Pune, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Chandigarh, and Kochi. Mahindra also launched the vehicle in the UK but later, in May 2017 withdrew from the market.[20]
The electric car has a lithium-ion battery pack that takes five hours for a full charge, and with a weight of 1830lb, delivers a range of 100km (100miles) and a top speed of 90km/h.[21] [22] The product was eventually pulled from the market following the launch of its four-door successor.[23]
The e-Verito was launched in 2016[24] and was Mahindra's second electric car. Based on the normal Verito, which was an evolution of the Mahindra Renault joint venture Dacia Logan, it features a 21.2 kWh battery with a claimed range of 181 km.
In Nov 2018, Mahindra Electric launched the Treo range of three-wheelers, powered by Lithium-ion technology. The range consists of the Treo, electric auto and Treo Yaari, electric rickshaw. The Treo auto boasts an ARAI-certified driving range of 170 km and has a typical driving range of 130 km on the Mahindra Treo after 3 hours 50 minutes of charging. The certified range on the Treo Yaari is 130 km that can hit a typical driving range of 85 km after 2 hours 30 minutes of charging. Both have a direct drive transmission type, and the Treo has a peak power of 5.4 kW and a peak torque of 30 Nm. The Treo Yaari has a peak power of 1.96 kW and a peak torque of 19 Nm.
Both the Treo and the Treo Yaari have a wheelbase of 2050 mm and a turning radius of 2.9 m. The Treo range has a vehicle kerb weight between 340 and 350 kg, while the Treo Yaari range has a vehicle kerb weight between 265 and 275 kg.
Mahindra Electric recently signed an MoU with TWU (Three Wheels United), a social enterprise providing affordable financing for autorickshaw drivers and Smart E for supplying a total of 2,000 Treo units in 2020.[25]
Mahindra unveiled XUV400 electric on 8 September 2022, which is based on Mahindra XUV300. The new Mahindra Twin Peaks logo, reserved for Sport Utility Vehicles, is used but in copper and also unveiled XUV400 Special Edition in November 2022, Mahindra claimed a range of 456 km on a single charge as per Indian driving cycle (MIDC). When plugged into a 50 kW DC fast charger, the batteries can be charged from 0-80 percent within 50 minutes. When charged via a 7.2 kW/32A outlet, it takes 6 hours 30 minutes for 0-100 percent charge while the same is achieved in 13 hours when using a standard 3.3 kW/16A domestic socket.
The Mahindra XUV400 also features three driving modes - Fun, Fast and Fearless - that adjusts the steering and throttle response as well as the level of regenerative braking. Mahindra claims that the XUV400 is capable of single pedal driving where the regenerative braking takes care of the deceleration. And it will launch in early 2023.[26]
Mahindra Last Mile Mobility Limited should not be confused with Cupra Born.
Born Electric (BE) is an electric SUV Sub brand under Indian automobile manufacturer Mahindra
In 2022, Mahindra unveiled 4 all-new electric SUVs under 2 brand names, XUV and BE. XUV.e8, XUV.e9 and BE.05, BE.07 at Mahindra Advanced Design Europe (MADE) in Oxfordshire, United Kingdom. BE.RALL-E was unveiled in Hyderabad on 11 February 2023. BE.09 and THAR.E concepts.[27]
INGLO modular platform or INGLO-born electric platform.[28] [29]
Prior to the Mahindra acquisition, Reva had partnered with Bannon Automotive to set up an assembly plant in upstate New York to produce the NXR for the US market.
In 2014, Reva displayed an all-electric sports car concept called Halo.[30] It is claimed to reach 0–100 km/h under 8 sec with a top speed of 160 km/h and range of over 200 km in one full range. The Halo boasts a large tablet on the centre console that displays various car functions in real-time and doubles up as a multimedia player.[31]
In 2018, Mahindra showed a concept for a small electric quadricycle called the Atom, with the production version of this auto-rickshaw based 4 wheeler shown at the 2020 Auto Expo.[32] [33] [34] [35] [36] Like the REVAi/G-Wiz the quadricycle will be built in Bengaluru and will join larger EV models like the Mahindra eXUV300[37] and eKUV100 in the company's range sometime in 2021.
A Formula E car was showcased by Mahindra Electric, as part of the Mahindra Group, in the 2014 Auto Expo at Delhi.[38] Mahindra Electric's team worked closely with Mahindra Racing, the racing division of Mahindra Group, to get the Formula E cars ready for the first race of the inaugural FIA Formula E Championship, which took place at Beijing in September 2014. Mahindra Racing Team is the only Indian team to race in the inaugural Formula E championship.[39] Following a successful first-ever Formula E race in Beijing, Mahindra Racing explored the possibility of bringing the electric-powered car series to India in the 2016–2017 season.[40]
Besides creating a mark on the global e-racing scene, the knowledge and technology from such Formula E cars will be used for commercial electric cars, [41] with performance characteristics usually seen in cars with high-performance internal combustion engines.[42]