Carmakers have realised the importance of using alternate fuels to power cars. Research and development is being done in this direction to come up with a technology so advanced that it is both efficient and economical.

One of the many solutions that are most likely to influence the future in a big way is the concept of electric cars.

In India the pioneer of electric cars has been the Reva Electric Car Company, which is a joint venture between the Maini Group India and AEV California.

The company began functioning in 1994 from Bangalore and soon launched the two-seater electric car we all know as Reva i.

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Electric cars that can come to India

What Reva started is now being taken forward by the country's other major carmaker like Tata Motors.

The company showcased a Tata Indica Vista Electric model at the Delhi Auto Expo and is right now showcasing the electric version of the Tata Nano at the Geneva Motor Show.

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General Motors India, in collaboration with Bangalore based Reva Electric Car Company, is also expected to launch Chevrolet E-Spark sometime later this year.

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Rumours of Nissan coming to India with its electric Leaf are also there.

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Sources claim that even Ford Motors might have two electric cars - Transit Electric van and Focus to offer by 2011, though nothing is final about any of these models making to India.

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Carmaker Renault also showcased its Twizy two-seater concept electric car at the Delhi Auto Expo.

However nothing is clear about Renault's India plans regarding Twizy.

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Major road blocks ahead

The biggest challenge for any electric car company in the country is the lack of infrastructure to support their products. So much so that country's biggest carmaker Tata Motors is not too keen on bringing Indica and Nano's electric versions to the country!

Prakash Telang, MD, India operations, was quoted saying, "Infrastructure is a problem and so is the manner in which electricity is produced in India. It's more about the source of electricity and unless we are assured that we aren't removing pollution from the roads, only to add those emitted by electric plants, we can't move into the local market."

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This is not all, high pricing, servicing problems and travel possible only in a limited range are some other key factors that have been hampering the growth of electric cars.

However, once these limitations are addressed the future might just belong to these eco-friendly beauties across the world.

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