It is environment-friendly and the costs per kilometre are several times lower than for the cars running on gas or diesel. Those would be about two arguments that should make people buy an electric car. Not in Romania's case, though, where curiosity and fun have dwarfed the practical side.
"Our clients were not lawyers or notaries (that is people who would use the car to get to work) but business people and people with enough cash to spend, who wanted to buy an electric car for them or for their children," said Cristi Ionescu, project manager of Reva Automobile Electrice Romania, a company that brought the first electric car on the Romanian market two weeks ago.
The company importing the vehicles made by Indian Reva Group on the Romanian market had initially set 30 units as its sales target for this year, but has seen orders for almost 100 units coming in so far. The first cars are expected to ship as of March next year. "Most of the clients were interested in such a car, but only after we brought the first model two weeks ago and they had a chance to try it, they decided to buy," Ionescu added.
The car costs 12,590 euros, taxes not included, and an electrical power "fill" is enough for 80 kilometres. Refuelling requires an outlet and the battery recharges in six hours.
Those in a hurry can have their "fuel tank" recharging only 80 percent, which will last them about 65 kilometres.
Ionescu says recharging takes up 9 kW, which brings the cost per kilometre at 300 ROL. Considering the car is made in India, and adding the customs duties, excises and VAT, the price comes at about 20,000 euros. Almost every client has chosen to buy in leasing so far.
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