Reva NXR electric car to be built in the US for 2010 launch

Reva electric Co. has struck a deal with Long Island-based Bannon Automotive LLC to manufacture the three-door hatchback Reva NXR electric car in Central New York.Bannon Automotive has entered a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the State of New York to build the cars in Central New York.

Reva wants to launch the Reva NXR electric car in the North American market in 2010.

Photo: Reva NXR

Bannon will renovate a 150,000-square-foot building in Clay, Syracuse, according to a Syracuse newspaper, The Post-Standard.

Reva and Bannon will pump in $26.5 million into the plant, while the state will put in $3 million in Empire State Development Corp. grants and $3.76 million in tax incentives and breaks, according to reports.

The state Assembly and Senate will provide around $10 million. Also, Bannon has applied for $40 million in loans from the US Department of Energy and $12 million in loan guarantees from the US Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development Agency.

The plant is expected to initially provide 100 jobs and 250 jobs over a period of three years.

The Reva NXR was one of the two models, the other being the Reva NXG, showcased by Reva at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show.

The four-seat, three door electric car will run on a Lithium Ion battery and will offer an optimum speed of 104 kmph (65 mph) and a range of 160 kms (100 miles) on one full charge, an a 15-minute fast-charge capability.

The car would need eight hours to be fully charged using a standard household outlet.

The car will feature Reva’s new REVive technology that acts like an invisible reserve fuel tank, if the drivers run out of charge, the company has said.