Have you heard about REVA ?

Well its an environment friendly small but cute car from Reva India, it runs on battery and has on board charging, which can be easily charged anywhere by plugging into a 15 Amp socket, at work or home.

REVA is designed to be unique and stands out on the road as a genuine city car with a mature expression. The advanced technologies used, make it highly differentiated and superior to other makes. It has all the inherent benefits of an Electric Car and is indeed a revelation in city mobility.

With twice efficiency of that of a petrol engine, it has low operating cost (40 paise or INR 0.4 per km) having a low battery indicator, it can give you an idea about how much range can it cover…

REVA has the best-in-class safety features like dent-proof ABS body panels, side-impact beams, a steel space frame and dual-braking system. This ensures minimum damage to the car and enhances protection to passengers in the event of a collision.

Globally Tested Product

REVA has been extensively tested and certified by the ARAI (Automotive Research Association of India) and received the EEC (European Economic Community) Certificate in December 2003, paving the way for an aggressive foray into European markets. Designed, marketed and used as a low speed urban commuter vehicle the Reva G-Wiz has a safety record second to none, with over 20 million miles / 32 million Km driven by customers globally and over 4,000 years of ownership with no reported serious injuries.

The export model in Europe is classified as a quadricycle (category L7e) under European law; it has received Full EU Type approval, which means it meets all European automotive mechanical and electrical standards governing emissions, safety and other relevant factors. The primary criteria for a quadricycle such as the REVA are weight (up to 400 kg unladen weight without batteries) and power output (maximum net power 15 kw).

How many variants does it have ? It has 4 variants – REVAi Standard, REVAi AC, REVAi Classe, and REVAi Sp. Ed.

For more information, you can visit, REVA’s official website – http://www.revaindia.com/

REVA globally….

LX – Top end model

Base Version

 

 

 

 

 

 

First Hand Test drive Video (from Autocar)  and Images.

With its official launch for public on 23rd March, 2009, its now clear that, people will get much anticipated car for a price of Indian Rs. 1 Lakh ( Base Model – INR 100000 / US$ 2000, ex-factory ), and that price will remain locked for 1 lakh customers . The booking will start from 9th of April to 25th of April and the delivery will start in July, 2009. With taxes etc. the expected price of base mode shall be around 1.25 Lakhs, 1.50 Lakhs for CX and 1.70 Lakhs for LX (all approximations)

Mind it, its a low budget car. Yet for a price of Rs. 1 Lakh, you are getting a brand new proper car !  The rival car which could be dented by Nano, can be Maruti 800.

 The car shall be in three variants - Base, Mid CX and top end LX.

All about NANO : Cost of base model not to exceed Rs. 1,00,000 (Ex factory).

• Safety as per Indian standards
• Seating capacity of 4 persons
• Engine: All aluminium rear mounted MPFI EMS: 32-bit microprocessor
• Piston displacement: 624 cc, petrol with single balancer shaft
• Drive train: rear wheel drive
• Cylinder count: 2 cylinders
• Valve gear: 4 valves, 2 valves per cylinder
• Max power: 33 bhp@5500 rpm
• Torque: 4.8 kgm@3000 rpm
• Compression ratio: 9.7:1
• Power to weight ratio: 0.58
• Acceleration: 0-60 kmph: 8 secs
• Top speed: 105 kmph EMS electronic engine management system with “blink code Mechanism” for easy repairs Fuel cut-off for safety
• Transmission: Manual
• Gearbox: 4 forward speeds, 1 reverse, all forward gears
• Synchronised Operation: cable operated
• Transmission ratios:

-1st: 3.45, shift upto 10 kmph

-2nd: 1.95, shift between 20-30 kmph

-3rd: 1.26, shift between 30-50 kmph

-4th: 0.838, shift between 50-70 kmph

-Reverse: 3.08

• Suspension: Front: independent mcpherson strut, shock absorber Rear: semi trailing arm, coil spring with gas filled shock Absorber
• Brakes: Front: 180 mm drum Rear: 180 mm drum
• Wheels and tyres:

- Wheels: 12″ Front tyres: 135/70 R 12 tubeless, Rear tyres: 155/65 R 12 tubeless, Spare: 1 tyre, 135/70 R 12 tubeless ,Tubeless radial tyres standard on all variants.

In case the front tyre punctures, you can replace it with the stepney provided. In case of a rear tyre puncture, since there is no stepney of that tyre, Tata recommends: Not to go beyond 40-60 kmph in case of puncture.

Get the tyre repaired

- Recommended tyre pressure: Front: 26 psi, Rear: 28 psi

- Turning radius: 4 meters

- Dimensions and weights:

• Length: 3099 mm
• Width: 1495 mm
• Height: 1620 mm
• Wheel base: 2230 mm
• Ground clearance: 180 mm
• Kerb weight: 600 kg
• Fuel tank capacity: 15 litres, Fuel cut-off @ 5600 rpm in every gear or at 105 kmph
• Fuel consumption: 23.6 kmpl
• Battery: semi sealed under the driver’s seat
• Boot capacity: 80 litres, 500 litres with seats folded

Features:

Nano base: (BS-2 & BS-3)  Seat belts: front ELR, Rear static

-Only Odometer

-Fixed tail gate. Engine opening through rear bumper

-Egg shaped design

-Rear mounted high mounted stop light

-Centrally placed exhaust

-Only Driver’s seat adjust-sliding and reclining

-Fixed co driver seat

-Rear Folding Seat 2 spoke steering wheel

-Grey bumpers and interiors

-Driver side OSRVM

Nano CX: (BS-2 & BS-3)  Adds to Nano base:

-Only Odometer

-HVAC (air conditioner with heater)

-Tinted glasses all round

-Driver and co driver seat sliding and reclining

-2 tone grey interiors and seats

-Metallic paint

Nano LX (available in BS-3 variant only)

-Adds to Nano CX: Front power windows

-Central locking

-Front and rear fog lamps

-3 spoke steering wheel

-Moulded door trim with fabric

-Tripmeter and Odometer

-Floor console with glass holder

-Anti glare inside rear view mirror (prismatic day/ night) sunvisors on both sides

-Warranty 18 months or 24,000 km whichever is earlier. By paying Rs.2999/- one can book finance amount from Rs.95 ooo to 140000, or can pay entire amount. After booking closes, allotment will be done on the basis of random number lottery where the lucky customer’s name will be declared along with the name of the dealer from where he/ she can take delivery of the car along with date and time of delivery will also be specified. Tie up with 14 Banks, for loans, all over India. Booking can be done online too, as well as banks, tata indicom retails, Croma mega outlets.

Indian Government / State Governments should gear up for new cars going to hit in July, hence the road infrastructure is of paramount importance. They will have to come out with a strategy to stop plying of old vehicles ! As per my thoughts, some vehicles will get replaced by new cars and some will definitely add on to the already crowded roads.

PS: Please do check specifications/exact details with the banks and tata dealers. *BS Standard- Bharat Stage emission standards is an Indian equivalent of Euro emissions.

2010 Commonwealth Games, N.Delhi

The 2010 Commonwealth Games are scheduled to be held in Delhi, India between 3rd October and 14th October 2010. With a population of over 15 million, Delhi is one of the largest cities in the world. This will be the largest multi-sport event conducted to date in Delhi and India generally, which has previously hosted the Asian Games in 1951 and 1982. The opening ceremony is scheduled to take place at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Delhi.

Delhi has been going all out in its effort to clean-up the city, in the run up to the Commonwealth Games, to be hosted in the capital in 2010.

As the date of hosting the Commonwealth Games 2010 to comes nearer – there is a flurry of activities going everywhere – in every government department remotely connected to the games. Of late some judges of the high court gave their go ahead for building the Commonwealth Games village at Yamuna river bed near Akshardham.

This is the first time the Commonwealth Games will be held in India, which will be the third developing country to host the event (after Jamaica in 1966 and Malaysia in 1998). This is the second time the event has been held in Asia (after 1998).

Participating Countries Map

There are currently 70 nations or more which plan to host teams at the 2010 Commonwealth Games.

In addition to the Commonwealth Games, the city of Pune, India will be hosting the 3rd Commonwealth Youth Games between October 12 and 18, 2008. The Youth Games will offer nine sports: athletics, badminton, boxing, shooting, swimming, table tennis, tennis, weightlifting and wrestling.

Indira Gandhi International Airport

The capital city already has many elements of modern infrastructure in place such a mass rapid transit system (metro), new highways, and pollution checking systems in place. But such systems will get dwarf, if they are not expanded to a level which can accommodate large influx of people that will occur during the 2010 games. Looking at that, the government of India is investing roughly $27 billion into the city, for it to be ready in time for the 2010 games.

This money will be used to give the entire city a face lift, including the construction of new roads, an increase in public transport, the construction of new power plants, water utility services, the Games Village, city beautification, better connectivity, traffic management, parking, security and health services.etc.

National Highway connecting IGIA airport

New- Greater Noida Highway

Delhi Metro Rail

The DMRC – Delhi Metro Rail Corp. is expanding Metro rail network to entire Delhi, by 2010, thereby making world’s second longest network and later on making the world’s longest network of around 420 kms. DMRC is already constructing Airport Express route, which will have high speed metro and connect IGI airport with central Delhi, so it will take only 15-20 minutes to reach central Delhi from airport.

DTC Non AC CNG Powered

The old conventional DTC- Delhi Transport Corporation buses, are being converted into ultra modern buses. They are non air conditioned and air conditioned. All are CNG powered.

Air conditioned DTC Buses

The non a/c buses are green in colour while air conditioned buses are reddish in colour. In addition to these private companies will also be allowed to bring in their buses.

The government has undertaken to give a face lift to New Delhi Railway station, but the development of the railways station should be taken on priority. It looks that the  old Delhi railway station has been forgotten, being of a part of cultural heritage and glory, it should be restored. Currently the station is one of the most dirtiest stations, which looks like a dump yard and full of filth. There is a lot of chaos around the building. There is a crowded bazaar. Loaders pushing their handcarts pass from front of the station. Exactly opposite of this view, is a metro station, which is a world class. Probably a professional corporation like DMRC – Delhi Metro Rail Corp., if given the charge of Delhi Station, can turn the entire look of the station.

A lot of changes are going on infrastructure point of view, but we still think, that we have to do much more to improve the creaky structures and dilapidated roads of Delhi. The roads need to be world class and as of now, it is not at all. I personally think that amount of $ 27 Billion is still not enough for spending on the city, going to host commonwealth games. It should be at least double of what they have allocated. The Chief Minister of Delhi and Central Government Ministers, themselves should go and check the development.

While keeping track of the development – Pollution should be on Watch. I guess the city will have to control or curb the number of the vehicles on the roads. I believe roughly 50% of vehicles in Delhi are primitive, though they say as conforming to EU norms of any levels (EU 1 or EU 2), but I still believe many are just carburetor based, right from scooters to cars, many commercial auto carriers, and trucks. I can figure out but why can’t the government not figure out ?

Spruce up the entire traffic police to introduce new set of rules and regulations, including stiff penalties to control the wild traffic system in Delhi, as of now, driving on the roads of Delhi is like driving among unguided missiles, coming from all directions. No lane system is followed in Delhi. If the rules & regulations are set in now, and implemented forcefully, then only people will get tamed in next 365 days or so.

Government should rope in the best developers to develop the architecture in Delhi and bring in French to give Delhi an artistic look. Bring in the expertise from Singapore to give our city a massive face lift. Involve Chinese expertise as they have recently concluded a huge gaming event – Olympics, which I think has been the best till date. Spruce up Municipal Corporation of Delhi in collaboration with some International expertise, so that they can really bring in some concrete and tangible infrastructural development results, and public and media, apart from government should keep constant tab on them.

According to the organizing committee all the sporting facilities are supposed to be ready by December 2009, and put to test through world level competitions in many disciplines before the Commonwealth Games.

The last and not the least, I want to say that there is no point of us boasting as Great Economy, as our capital city does not look like a capital city of a Great Economy. So here is an opportunity for the government to showcase New Delhi to entire World. If you missed the train, then you can never catch it, even with the fastest vehicle.

PS: All the views are my own personal views and observations, looking from a citizen’s perspective. I believe people of Delhi should and can play major role in the infrastructure development of our city as citizens always have the power to put pressure on government and if not then can always bring in change in the government as we are having Democracy.

In Reference to my earlier blog posting : Apple (iPhone) Drops a Bomb on Indian Mobile Consumers ! now we have a different situation Its just been a month, and I m anticipating that iPhone prices will be revised in India or I should say, it has become a flop case. Airtel and Vodafone, anticipated a huge response, when it was first introduced officially in India, (22-08-2008). Till date, they have been able to sell only 5000 sets. So what is reason for such a bad response to iPhone sales. The reason is simple, an ultra high price tag for the gadget – Rs.32,000 for 8 GB and Rs.36,000 for 16 GB. Apple needs to change its strategy, you cannot come out with the same strategy of selling your goods, like you did in United States, when it was first launched. If you cannot understand the market, better not to enter..or else compete with the other cellphone manufacturers like Nokia, HTC, Samsung, LG, HP, etc. The sales will pick up, once the prices are lowered. Besides that, here people look for value addition in practical terms, they don’t want a video / mp3 player at a price tag of $ 700 – 750 !  Maybe iPhone lovers will get benefited by this move of service providers, should they consider actual revision of the prices of iPhone. Otherwise, iPhone’s in their stock will be a liability for them. Remember, the prices of Hardwares always go down with the passage of time…

PS: All the views expressed here, are my own personal views, which are based on current events, happenings, and the learning I get from the different sources.

Intel’s latest server chips, the Xeon 7400 series, formerly called Dunnington, are now available in six-core and quad-core models designed to be used in systems with four or more processors. It has been developed at Intel India’s Bangalore Design Center. The first chip to be developed outside United States, which will give AMD run for money, already trailing behind Intel’s stronghold of High End Server Segment.

This new chip is far more superior over its predecessor, the Xeon 7200 series. It is a 45 nanometer processor, and runs at clock speeds up to 2.66GHz. The performance improvement comes from adding 16MB level 3 cache. They are first Xeon chips to use level 3 cache, in which the data is stored closer to the processor cores, which helps boost an overall performance and reduces power consumption. This is first quad-core and six-core chips produced on a single piece of silicon.

The Dunnington chip design marks a technical milestone for Intel, as it uses a monolithic die, the term engineers use to describe putting all of the cores on a single piece of silicon.

The Xeon 7400 series is the last member of Intel’s Penryn chip family to be released. Later this year, the company will shift to a new processor architecture called Nehalem.

Google Chrome Beta

Google has come out with a browser also known as Google Chrome beta. Its appearance gives a look of a very simple browser (much simpler compared to IE 5 or Firefox Ver 1.0). By default the address bar is also having Google Search feature, or you can type direct web address on it. It also shows full history of the sites you have last visited on your home page..While I was browsing through Google Chrome, I came across some sites having Java, there it mentioned no plugin found. Should I say, it has no Java support?

On privacy issue, Google Chrome cannot give any assurances. I believe, whether you allow or not allow, google chrome will send information to google by default, maybe indirectly.

Some websites might experience orientation issues. Not many features, but it is good for a rookie, who just want to surf internet. Security issues will come up once people start testing on their computers. I felt that there is some problem in accessing Silverlight based webplayers on my website, though the music is audible but the support is highly limited. Some Silverlight based websites may not work at all. It needs to be further checked. I was unable to find out RSS logo, while accessing RSS feed sites. Flash based sites work.

There can be plugins for incorporating Google talk, Gmail and YouTube.

Not my kind of Browser, but as I said…

It is good for people who just want to surf internet or people have memory issues on their computers. This browser will work like kayak, for slow computers..Since it is a browser with minimum features, it gives a large view while accessing a website (inside window view of a webpage). Some new features like independent processes for tabs, compiled javascript, and the incognito mode have been introduced, it will further get checked when people start using it practically.

Being in beta form, Google will slowly take care of all the bugs, and reach to a much refined browser which is not a memory hog like firefox.

I believe the real browser war is between Microsoft IE, Firefox, and Apple Safari.

All the views are my personal views, depending on my observations.

Added – “Statcounter” says Google’s Chrome has taken 1.2% of worldwide browser market share in just one single day !! Incredible. People shifted to Chrome from Internet Explorer and Firefox both, though Google’s strategy was to take on IE, but it is the Firefox which will be a bigger loser.

Mystery Girl is now iPhone Girl !

Mystery girl and now called as iPhone Girl, is doing a lot good for Apple. Its iPhone, already a popular gadget, has got a thrust from the mysterious iPhone Girl’s victory sign with a smile, proves that Apple is an organization with Positive Attitude. The mood is upbeat.

For this sweet mistake, the company should do something good for this girl

Microsoft has come out with an updated browser, Internet Explorer 8, Beta 2. Lets scan its features, though, it promises to give you a whole new experience in terms of secured Internet browsing, but we should experience those features ourselves.

The new updated beta version is more compatible with web standards.It looks similar to IE 7 but Microsoft has introduced a gamut of new features. You must have also come across new features in Firefox 3, Internet Explorer loyal users will be pleased with the new features, Microsoft has come out with.

Tabbed Browsing

Tabbed browsing is quite common in browsers these days, it indeed is very helpful, but this feature is much more smarter. If you accidentally close a browser window in IE 8, or gets closed itself, due to some application fault, you can opt to restore it, when you reopen the program (similar to what you can do in Firefox). IE 8 will group related tabs together using a color coding.

For e.g. if you open a link from xyz.com in a new tab, it will open adjacent to the original tab, and the tabs themselves will have a matching color.

We have often seen that if we are surfing a website having coding errors, it some times causes the entire program to crash, now with this feature, only the tab displaying the problematic website will crash, allowing you to continue browsing.

Improvised safe browsing

If you enable IE 8’s InPrivate feature, the browser will not save any passwords, cookies, log-in info, history and temporary internet files, etc. It would be as if a browsing session has never happened. This feature reminds me of Apple’s Safari browser for Windows, which mentions of Private Browsing as one of its key features. An icon in IE’s address bar makes InPrivate’s active status more obvious.

The browser’s phishing filter-called SmartScreen – is an improved version, with such features like thorough checking of the website addresses (and their hidden urls). The Phishing feature depends on the existing database of phishing websites, so any new website, may pass through it, until it is reported as a phishing site by users.

It also displays websites’ domains in a darker text (www.gsworldonline.com) highlighting feature is a welcoming feature. So it identifies whether you are actually visiting a genuine website or in reality a page on some other site which you may have never heard of.

Innovative features

Features such as Webslices and Accelerators have been carried forward from IE 8 Beta 1, but is something through which one can popularize feed syndication.

What is a Web Slice?

The Web Slice is based on the hAtom Microformat , with a few additional properties. The Web Slice itself uses simple, semantic HTML markup to represent a portion of Web page that can be subscribed to. Annotations can be applied directly to content within the HTML page; additional files are not required.

What is an accelerator?

An Accelerator is a kind of mini-mashup that delivers information from another website to your current browser page, or that interacts with another website or service. For example, if you’re on a page with a street address, you can highlight the address and choose an Accelerator such as Live Maps or Google Maps. The Accelerator will then display the map in a pop-up or open another tab, depending on how the Accelerator has been written for that site.

Web Compatibility

Creating a website that looks identical in Internet Explorer, Firefox, and Safari can be a challenge. IE 8 Beta 2 offers better support for W3 Web standards

–a set of guidelines developed to ensure that a Web page appears the same in all browsers. The downside is that IE 8 will break some pages designed for earlier Internet Explorer versions.

This happened when I was accessing my blog, it was showing out of place menu, some text and few images. So, switching to compatibility mode will help you view those pages better as they were designed to work for older browsers.

I think, Microsoft is closely studying its rival Firefox and now Apple’s Safari, and is introducing the best of both in IE  and I am lovin’ it !

Tata Nano

“Our Factory cannot function in Singur, under police protection” these were the words of Tata Group chairman Mr. Ratan Tata, while addressing to Media. If TATA pulls out, it will be one of the saddest things to happen in India. The image of West Bengal as a manufacturing destination will get a severe blow not just in India but globally, and all the future investments in related with manufacturing sector (a key for job creation for poor) will be at stake. Other states may enter into competition to invite TATA, while keeping in mind that adequate compensation is given to the people, whose land is taken for setting up of a plant.

Ratan Tata also said “I’ve made a major investment here … to move will be at a great cost to Tata Motors and to shareholders,”. “But there is a concern about our people, a definite concern about not being wanted.”

Incidentally the political parties which are adding fuel to the agitation, one of them is ruling center !

My personal viewpoint, everyone should sit down, the CM of West Bengal, the opposition and Mr. Ratan Tata, come out with a win-win situation.

Don’t let this opportunity go, here the leadership skills of CM has to be seen. Everyone including opposition parties should think of only win-win situation for all and work for the development of state, rather than looking for own selfish political interests. Don’t make our own people, unwanted in your state !

Added later..

On 3rd of October, 2008, Tata has decided to pull out of Singur…..Mamta Banerjee, leader of opposition party Trinamool Congress is now busy in messing other issues of West Bengal. It is a lesson for Communist Party, they have converted West Bengal into a state where unionism is above everything and now they will bear the brunt in form of corporates pulling out of the state.

The country, which is among the fastest growing telecom market in world for mobile companies, cellphone makers and telecommunication organisations, has been bombed by an unaffordable price tag of iPhone 3G ( $715 for 8GB version and $ 850 for 16GB version, taxes can be extra! ) by APPLE Inc. through their exclusive distributors Vodafone, India. Bharti Airtel will announce its pricing on 22nd of August or later. So why is the pricing so high? As everyone is aware that in US, the price of Apple iPhone 3G is being given on a subsidized price to the customers for $199 + taxes and locked in subscription for 2 years by AT&T (with monthly billing cycle). Are Indian Cellphone service providers becoming selfish, by selling a gadget at an unrealistic pricing and going to put entire burden on the consumers, already reeling under high inflation or do they have a strategy in place to offer Indian consumers at a much lower price. Indian service providers, which are bringing iPhone are not sure, when they will be allocated 3G spectrum, so don’t expect 3G services to be ready on iPhone for several months probably. When we compare so many things with US, why not compare their iPhone prices?

India, which is most price sensitive market, monopolistic policies being mutually agreed by either one or both may reign in unfair trade practices by them to rule here, is MRTPC  listening?

MRTPC – The Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Practices Commission, India

All the observations are my personal observations.