You would be surprised to know that India’s first electric car was launched 27 years prior to the Tata Nexon EV. The electrification in the automobile industry has been going on for a long time. However, since it was not mainstream, not a lot of people knew about it. In fact, there were such cases in various parts of the world. For instance, Eddy Current Controls India Limited showcased the Lovebird electric car at the Auto Expo 1993 in New Delhi. Let us check out the details of this vehicle.
You may also like: Donald Trump Calls Electric Cars A Catastrophe Waiting to Happen
India’s First Electric Car
This video comes from Electric Vehicles India on YouTube. It captures a brief history of the Lovebird. It was officially the first electric vehicle on sale in India back in 1993. Unfortunately, there were no government subsidies at the time. Hence, it was not affordable for a vast majority of people. That is why the company only sold 25 units of this EV. Had there been FAME subsidies, which are currently boosting the EV sales in our market, we might still have the Lovebird running on our roads. In fact, the entire EV revolution might have occurred slightly earlier.
You may also like: Differences Between Mild Hybrid, Full Hybrid and Electric Vehicles
Specs
Even though we are talking about 27 years ago, the Lovebird still boasted some pretty decent specifications. It had a 5 hp DC series motor. It was powered by a rechargeable Lead Acid battery which had a capacity of 5.4 kWh. A Mosfet chopper and transmission were used for torque multiplication to ensure smooth operation even on inclined roads with 15 degrees of gradient. The owners could charge it between 6 and 8 hours. The top speed was a usable 50 km/h. The production had to be stopped after the government stopped giving subsidies worth Rs 82,000.
| Specifications | Lovebird EV |
| Motor | DC Series |
| Power | 5 hp |
| Battery | 5.4 kWh Lead Acid |
| Charging Time | 6 to 8 hours |
| Top Speed | 50 km/k |
You may also like: Govt Gives Tesla’s Indian Innings a Headstart – Big Benefit for Buyers!
What We Think
While this news might be relatively common knowledge among automobile enthusiasts, we are certain that most regular folks would have no idea about it. That is why we bring you this information and would urge everyone to share it with others. It is incredible to comprehend that EVs have been around for so long. We might think that this is a new phenomenon. But the fact remains that it takes decades for any new technology to become mainstream. Even today, we are at the cusp of mass adoption of EVs. Still, there are tons of issues the electric mobility revolution is struggling with. With time, let us see how things pan out.
You may also like: Renault Kwid EV Launch Details Revealed!
You may also like: Tesla Valuation Looks Unsustainable: Wall Street Analysts
Disclaimer- The embedded videos/ external content is/are being used as a convenience and for informational purposes only; they do not constitute an endorsement or approval by Car Blog India of any of the products, services, and /or opinions of the corporation or organization or individual. Car Blog India bears no responsibility for the accuracy, legality, and/or content of the external site or for that of subsequent external videos/ external content. Contact the external publisher for answers to questions regarding its content.
