Lining up for a bright future

The compact cars lined up behind each other recently to form a long chain as almost 80 Mahindra e20s drove through a small part of the City in a rally to raise awareness about the alternate modes of transport. 

Mahindra hosted the event and called in all the owners of the e20s. The drivers of the small electric car drove a seven kilometer stretch from 11 am onwards after having breakfast at the ITC Windsor.

They passed through Golf Course Road, KR Circle, Cubbon Park and ended up at the Indira Gandhi Musical Fountain Park, where they planted almost 100 saplings. The concept was developed around the theme of ‘Drive for a better tomorrow’. Chetan Maini, chief executive officer, Mahindra Reva Electric Vehicles Pvt Ltd, said that the urban population contributes to 80 per cent of the carbon emission produced and pollution. 

Their aim was to drive  towards a greener future where the saplings they had planted would become big trees. 

According to Mahindra representatives, Bangaloreans are taking to the car very well.  Chetan said that the City is getting choked with poisonous gases and that people should start going in for greener vehicles. 

   “Bangalore used to be the ‘Green City’ but almost 1.6 lakh trees have been cut down. CSR should stand for ‘Citizen Social Responsibility’ from now,” he said.  

The car is not only driver-friendly but also eco-friendly. “The amount of petrol used has decreased and our customers have driven 2.6 million km in the cars. It is highly convenient and is damage-free to a large extent. We even do home servicing once a year.

 This is where the future lies because it is cost-effective and environmentally-friendly,” said Chetan. 

The car lasts for upto 80 km while using the air-conditioner and other facilities and can reach speeds of 90 kmph on a free road. 

But not everyone thought that it is cost-effective. Raj, who loves the e2o, said he bought one a couple of months back. He added that if it were a couple of lakhs less, it would be all over Indian roads. 

“I didn’t like the earlier model but this one is great. I saved money so that I wouldn’t have to buy it on a loan and got one in October.” However, in general, the customers were satisfied and happy to be a part of the rally. 

Arvind said that this is the future and he really appreciated the makers for their hand in the work.