Greentech Lead India: Mahindra Group unveiled Mahindra
Reva’s new purpose-built, ground-up green facility in Bangalore to manufacture
next generation Electric Vehicles.
The new factory in Bangalore, capable of producing 30,000
cars per year, is scheduled to begin production in September 2012. The plant
uses sustainable methods in manufacturing electric cars by reducing use of
materials and energy.
Mahindra Reva has also been awarded the highest Platinum
rating by the Indian Green Building Council.
Unveiling the plant, Anand Mahindra, chairman, Mahindra
Group, said, “We firmly believe that the automobile industry is at an
inflection point that will re-shape the way we own and use mobility solutions.
This change is being driven by rapidly changing customer needs and dramatic
advancements in automotive technologies, including the growing influence of
electronics and IT in automobile products and solutions.”
Mahindra has created a 5C framework to define the ‘future
of mobility’ that the company is focusing not only for cars but rather to the
entire automotive value chain and ecosystem. The five C’s include Clean
(green), Convenience, Connected Vehicles, Clever (through integration of
electronics and IT), and Cost-effectiveness.
Complimenting the Mahindra Reva team on the
inauguration of the platinum rated manufacturing facility, Dr. Farooq
Abdullah, Hon. Minister for New and Renewable Energy said, “I
congratulate the team of Mahindra Reva and the Mahindra Group for pioneering
environment friendly solutions in manufacturing and transportation. I am sure
that the new plant and its electric cars will make a significant impact in the
days to come. We, in our ministry, are committed to encouraging all such
endeavors as shall help reduce dependence on fossil fuels.”
According to Dr. Pawan Goenka, president – AFS, Mahindra
& Mahindra Ltd. and chairman Mahindra Reva Electric Vehicles, EVs are
being seen as a serious alternative to fossil fuel driven cars and Mahindra
wants to take a lead in developing the EV segment and the surrounding
ecosystem.
“This is the first purpose-built, ground-up EV plant in
India, the first manufacturing plant to get IGBC platinum rating, the first
plant where cars get their first fill using solar power. In fact, this plant
will consume the least amount of energy per car build, with 1/3rd of this
energy coming from solar power.”
Mahindra Reva also unveiled a host of technologies that
drive the vision of future of mobility. Some of them include ‘Quick2Charge’
that will charge the car in 15 minutes to run 25 kms, Sun2Car that will provide
free and clean energy for the lifetime of the car, and ‘Car 2 Home’ that
makes it possible to use energy from the car to power a house.