Oreva Super, an electric car could be India’s first car to be available within one lakh rupees. Ajanta Group, a Saurashtra-based clockmaker, plans to throw a challenge to the Nano project through its landmark Oreva Super project. The same will be priced between Rs 85,000 - Rs 1 lakh, thereby making it the cheapest small car in India. While the non-AC version is likely to be priced at Rs 85,000, the air conditioned one will be priced over one lakh rupees.

While speaking to the media, the officials of the Ajanta Group said that the production at its plant in Kutch is running successfully to meet the goal within time. The recent shifting of Tata’s Nano project from Singur, West Bengal to Sanand, Gujarat last week has influenced the Ajanta officials to shift their Oreva Super’s showroom to Rajkot.

A demo model of the Oreva Super is already on display at a Rajkot showroom. The same was manufactured at Ajanta’s Samakhiyali unit in Kutch district of Gujarat. The company plans to launch its first lot in January-February, 2009.

A fabulous economic car in the days of rocketing fuel prices, Oreva Super can certainly give Tata’s Nano stiff competition in all aspects. Oreva is planned to be rolled out first in Gujarat and then in the entire country. Two adults and two kids can be easily accommodated in an Oreva. With the rising demand for cars, Oreva Super or Nano would grab the market easily. So, a tough competition is expected. Perhaps, a sizable chunk of the motor cycle market would be overshadowed by Oreva Super.

Rather than having lead-acid, the Oreva Super electric car will have a NiMH or lithium battery. In 2001, another electric car ’Reva’ was launched in India by a Bangalore-based automobile company. But the car is priced at Rs 4,00,000, four times costlier than the projected cost of the Oreva Super electric car. Oreva Super, remarkably similar to China’s Flybo in look, has the technology of Jinan Flybo Motors, a China based automobile company.