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India’s first electric car: the Lovebird.Did You Know?
In 1993, Eddy Current Controls, a company founded by MD Jose and based in Chalakkudy, Kerala, introduced the Lovebird, a two-seater electric car that captured the imagination of car enthusiasts even before electric vehicles became mainstream.The Lovebird: India’s Pioneering Electric Car
Here are some remarkable facts about the Lovebird:
Design and Features:
* The Lovebird sported a cute design with a DC electric motor and a four-speed gearbox.
* Surprisingly, it had a range of 60 kilometers, impressive for its time.
* The battery took 6 to 8 hours to fully charge.
Challenges and Limitations:
* Despite its charm, the Lovebird faced limitations. It couldn’t climb steep slopes (with a slope limit of 15 degrees).
* Initially introduced at the Delhi Auto Expo in 1993, the government allowed commercial sales of the Lovebird.
* However, only 25 cars were sold to institutional and private buyers combined.
Subsidy and Decline:
* The government provided a subsidy of Rs 80,000, but it was later discontinued.
* Unfortunately, this led to the end of Lovebird production.
The Legacy Lives On
The Lovebird paved the way for electric mobility in India. Subsequent milestones include the Vikram Safa (India’s first electric three-wheeler in 1996) and the REVA (India’s first successful electric car in 2001).
Today, as electric vehicles gain prominence, we can look back at the Lovebird as a charming pioneer—a small car that left a big impact on India’s automotive landscape.
Image Credit : Team-BHP.If the Lovebird were reintroduced today, how would you envision its design and features to meet the demands of modern electric mobility?
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