Page 79 - Motoring World (January 2020)

Cleaner and calmer? We could

all do with that, methinks

Hidden charging port very James Bond... ish... not

IC changes to EV, but ugly plastic cover remains! Dr Bhatti wondering which part he can ‘borrow’ for his Reva as he pretends to charge the Kona EV

I told Dr Bhatti how I faced a But there’s no doubting the basic electric car for the city.’ And
problem with finding a socket to electric car. Dr Bhatti said, ‘In the therein lies the rub.
charge the Kona at home and he Reva, I am much calmer. It’s just The Kona EV is the kind of car
completely empathised. ‘Even with more relaxing to drive. In the Zest, that will get people interested in EVs
a 15-ampere socket, charging my I can see myself getting angry. The in a more-than-cursory manner.
Reva sometimes trips the circuit. I’ve nature of the electric car and the Wherever I went in Mumbai, I had
tried to think of ways to charge it ease of driving it leads to a far more people come up to the car and gape
more efficiently. I even considered a peaceful drive.’ Cleaner and calmer? at it. And I could see that they
solar-panel setup, but then it’d take We could all do with that, methinks. wanted one. As cars, that is the
a week to charge my car, so that was So would he consider upgrading fundamental difference between the
that,’ he said. So how did I charge to the Kona, then? His one-word Reva and the Kona. The Reva didn’t
the Kona? I didn’t; I had to ask Aadil answer is more pertinent than most really work because in an automotive
to take the car and charge it at his people would realise — ‘Never.’ market that was coming of age, a
place. You can see how that can be a Pressed on it, he said, ‘I mean the gawky little electric car was never
bit of an issue to live with. car is great to drive, but I want a going to be desirable. The Kona, with

JANUARY 2020 | MOTORING WORLD 79