Electric vehicles are yet to create waves in the power-stricken Indian market, as seen in the slow adoption of Mahendra E2O electric car.
The slow response is a huge disappointment for Mahendra Reva especially because the company recently announced a price cut of Rs. 1.7 lakh for E2O in major cities like Mumbai, Bangalore and Delhi.
To revive the enthusiasm, Mahindra Reva is now setting up experience centers that will allow buyers to experience the various aspects of the E2O before buying one.
The new experience centers will also educate users on how the E2O can save money for them and how the car is actually beneficial for the environment.
The first experience center will be set up in Bangalore, with other cities to follow, Mahindra Revo said in an announcement.
Currently E2O is sold in four cities — Bangalore, Delhi, Mumbai and Pune. If the company can set up more experience centers across the country, it can create awareness about the vehicle.
Mahindra Revo also has plans to export the car to European countries. The new export version will have more safety features, better battery range and more powerful engine. Initially the company eyes the U.K and Norway, with other countries to follow.
E2O features the patented REVive technology that allows users to remotely activate the reserve power using a smartphone. It also features an intelligent drive assist system that allows the driver to diagnose, record and notify information to its owner on a regular basis.
E2O is offered under an attractive battery rental scheme that lowers the cost of the vehicles to as low as Rs. 4.99 lakhs, the company claims. Under the battery rental scheme, Mahindra Reva will charge a monthly EMI for the lithium ion batteries of the E2O.
Commenting on this offer, Chetan Maini, CEO, Mahindra Reva Electric Vehicles, said, “What we are doing with the scheme is bringing down the cost of acquisition while we guarantee the customers battery performance coupled with inflation proof running costs. We will own the battery, all that the customer needs to do is pay a monthly fee.”
The discount is a part of the company’s strategy to attract customers who are keen to buy electric vehicles but are deterred by their cost, Maini added.