Vodafone to power Mahindra's 'e2o' with M2M services

BT Online Bureau    Mumbai   Last Updated: April 11, 2013  | 00:00 IST

Tags: Mahindra Reva | Mahindra e2o | M&M | Vodafone

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Mahindra Reva formed an alliance with telecom operator Vodafone on Wednesday for powering its electric cars with machine-to-machine (M2M) communication services. This would enable the users to remotely lock their car, control air conditioning as well as get emergency boost charge for their vehicle.

M2M refers to technologies that allow wireless and wired systems to communicate with other enabled-devices.

As a part of the partnership, Vodafone Business Services (VBS), the enterprise arm of Vodafone, will also have access to Mahindra Reva Tech Help Desk, which can remotely do prognosis and diagnostics of the car, he added.

"Using an app on their smartphones, users can know how much battery is left, schedule pre-heating or pre-cooling, lock/unlock car door, find the nearest charging station as well as get an emergency boost charge to go an extra 8-10 kms," Mahindra Reva Electric Vehicles Chief of Strategy and Technology Chetan Maini said.

While the app will be maintained by Mahindra, the M2M technology will be supported by VBS in a five-year deal.

"M2M presents a huge opportunity as the market is expected to grow to $98 billion by 2018. We have capability to maintain over 10 billion SIMs and are confident of growing business further, especially from segments like automobiles," said VBS Director Naveen Chopra.

The Mahindra group had launched 'e2o' in March this year, almost three years after it acquired Bangalore-based electric car maker Reva.

Priced at Rs 5.96 lakh (on road Delhi, after state subsidy), the two-door, four-seater car is powered by lithiumion batteries and a three-phase induction electric motor.
PINTU KUMAR OJHA
P.G.D.M2nd