India has always been an evolving car market and this has steadily led to several changes including the launch of new emission regulations, phasing out of older BS-III and BS-IV models, and also the advent of electric cars. While many companies like Mahindra & Mahindra, Tata Motors, and Hyundai have started doing better with their EVs, there was a time when the concept was completely nascent and unheard in India.
Which was India's first electric car?
Reports say that it was the Lovebird, an electric car manufactured back in the year 1993 by the Eddy Electric Series. The car was first displayed at the New Delhi Auto Expo and also got several awards after being launched in the country. The Indian Government readily endorsed the concept and gave it the green light for production. However, the car was discontinued owing to abysmally low sales figures in the country. The company behind the car was none other than Indian brand Eddy Current Controls. This project was done as part of a collaboration with Tokyo-based Japanese company Yuskawa Electric Mfg. Co.
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The car was manufactured at Chalakudy in Kerala and also in Tamil Nadu's Coimbatore. The two-seater Lovebird made use of a DC (direct current) electric motor and this was fuelled by the portable and rechargeable battery. The battery packs were not highly advanced in those days, meaning that a lead-acid pack was used for the vehicle. The exact cell count and power figures are relatively unknown till date. The Lovebird also has its own electronic chopper system, enabling better speed control. A four-speed gearbox was accompanied with a reverse gear for enabling better efficiency; the car could cover up to 60 kilometres with a single full charge.
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The car was mainly targeted at urban buyers or those living in smaller cities. The Lovebird needed around eight hours of charging to attain full charge and there were some limitations (15 degrees as the grade limit). This meant that it could not be legally used on inclines owing to safety concerns. The sales figures did not even cross 100 units for this vehicle, leading to it being phased out. Power deficiencies back then were also another factor behind the abysmal adoption of this new technology.
