KPIT's plug-and-play Revolo ready but yet to get official nod

The Revolo plug-and-play hybrid system from the KPIT-Bharat Forge joint venture is finally ready for launch, as soon as it gets the regulation nod. “The product you saw at the Auto Expo is the final version. There will be some cosmetic changes though," Chinmay Pandit, director – hybrid solutions, KPIT Technologies, told
Autocar Professional.

Revolo promises a 35 percent improvement in fuel efficiency and emission reduction of 30 percent. The system has seen multiple iterations. The engineering team has chosen to reduce the cost of the solution through value engineering rather than enhancing efficiency further “to match the market’s ability to accept cost”. For example, the Revolo’s motor has been downsized instead of keeping the original motor and enhancing fuel efficiency. “Overall the cost has come down by around 20 percent,” says Pandit.

KPIT’s Revolo was first unveiled in June 2010. A positive nod from the government authorities will allow the company to start selling the green solution in the market.

At an entry level price of around Rs 75,000 (excluding battery), Revolo could need government subsidy to penetrate into the market. It could take “anywhere between 2-4 months to get the certification based on the notification when it comes up” before the Revolo is commercially launched in the market. “There’s enough demand in the market. We are also ready from the engineering and supply chain point of view to execute on the demand,” says Pandit.

If there’s a further significant delay in getting regulatory approvals, the Revolo may see a launch in an overseas market or two, before India. KPIT is already talking to a firm in Malaysia, promoted by the ex-CEO of Proton Syed Zainal, and tests are underway in that market. “We are getting a lot of interest from South East Asia. On a global level, we are getting a lot of interest from large fleet operators,” shares Pandit. Like many innovations, Revolo is also facing its share of tests before it hits the market.