11 March 2010

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G-Wiz

A small car with a big reputation, the G-Wiz from Indian manufacturer REVA is one of the most notorious electric cars in the world. Infamously slammed on BBC2’s Top Gear programme, the car has nevertheless gone on to establish itself as the number-one selling electric vehicle in the UK. So what is all the fuss about? This guide to the G-Wiz will explain.

History of the G-Wiz

The G-Wiz, manufactured by the REVA Electric Car Company, first burst on to the scene in 2001 with the intention of being a city car providing a solution for drivers who wanted to get around at low high-traffic speeds without having to pay out for fuel or affect the environment with the emissions regular cars cause.

Known in some markets simply as the REVA, the vehicle is a three-door hatchback with the ability to accommodate two adults in the front and two children in the rear – it also includes back seats that can fold down, which are meant to increase cargo space.

The concept behind the G-Wiz was to create a vehicle that would be environmentally friendly and also provide a solid city car driving solution. The car is exempt from UK crash test rules because it is officially classed as a quadricycle rather than a car and was criticised in 2007 by the UK Department of Transport, which found “serious safety concerns” after crashing the vehicle into a deformable barrier. However, the latest model know as the G-Wiz i helps to deal with some of those issues thanks to a new crash tested safety package along with new front disc brakes which improved braking performance by 30 per cent.

In addition, G-Wiz introduced the G-Wiz L-ion in May 2009, offering enhanced driving range of up to 75 miles through use of lithium-ion batteries .

Environmental credentials of the G-Wiz

As with any electric vehicle, the number one selling point of the G-Wiz is that there are no emissions at all. It also happens to be exempt from both vehicle excise duty and from the London Congestion Charge, which means that are massive financial benefits for its drivers.

It is estimated that supplying a year’s worth of fuel for the G-Wiz costs around £50 – which works out at 1.3p/mile. There are also many parking incentives, particularly around the London area, and the car is appealing to business owners as it can benefit from a 100% year one tax write-down and a company car tax rate of just nine per cent.

The key to the G-Wiz is that while it may not be suited to fast roads with its limited top speeds, it is excellent for the low speeds of inner-city traffic where its emission levels are not affected by constant braking and acceleration.