Page 77 - Motoring World (January 2020)

The first electric car was invented that poignant mark from a standing passionate electric car fan. ‘I like
in the 1880s. And 140 years later, start with torque-laced humility. The it more for the size it is, it’s a great
I drove a Hyundai Kona EV home. Kona’s acceleration was great, with thing in a crowded city like Mumbai.
Between the preceding sentences Hyundai claiming that its 134 bhp The electric motor does make for a
lies a history that finally seems to and 40.27 kgm enable a 9.7-second smooth drive, but if offered a petrol
be coming full circle, all over the run to 100 kph. I wondered if La car of the same size, I’d definitely
world. In the late 1800s and early Jamais Contente had the same high- consider it.’ There’s a mark around
1900s, electric cars were actually all pitched whine as the Kona. Was that his wrist that didn’t escape notice.
over the place in Europe. But then the sound of an inevitable future, You see, his kada happened to touch
petrol-powered cars came along delayed as it may be? his Reva’s modified battery and
and addressed issues that plagued All of this pondering led me to became superhot in a second, and
EVs — range and ease of refuelling think of the first electric car I drove, burned his skin. If a car did that
— and pretty much wiped out their the Maini Reva. And I wondered if I to me, I’d immediately return the
electric rivals. The more things could find one to juxtapose with the favour, and that prompted another
change, the more they don’t, it would Kona. A couple of phone calls later, question — is it even possible to be
appear. Plus I suspect IC gave men not only did I find a Reva, it also charmed by electric motors in the
something manly to do, and they came with Dr Swaranjit Singh Bhatti same way that IC engines can? Does
even immediately labelled EVs as as its owner who’s been driving it the absence of a crankshaft and
cars for women. Typical. for the past ten years. Who better to piston also mean a lack of emotion?
However, did you know that the plonk in the Kona and talk all things ‘The Kona feels like any IC car
first automobile to break the 100- electric? For those who came in late, to drive, but the acceleration is
kph barrier was electric? La Jamais the Reva was India’s first electric car better than any petrol car I’ve
Contente (meaning Never Happy) and sold from 2001 to 2012. It was driven,’ said Dr Bhatti. ‘Even my
from Belgium whined away to a an idea far ahead of its time and, Reva is great in the city because
historic 105.882 kph in 1899. And as it goes with such things, is even of its low-end acceleration and
as I wondered about the history of more relevant today. that is the advantage of electric
electric vehicles, the Kona blew past Dr Bhatti says he’s not a cars. A friend helped me assemble

JANUARY 2020 | MOTORING WORLD 77