Exploring the Functionality of the G-Wiz Electric Car

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As you sit at your computer, you hit the "Buy Now" button. Before finalizing your purchase, you double-check your online cart and notice the total: £9,194.00, roughly $18,000 USD as of February 2008. Surprisingly, this steep price doesn’t deter you, because you’re not purchasing an overpriced book or falling victim to an online scam. Instead, you’re investing in the Reva G-Wiz Automatic Electric Vehicle, a zero-emission electric car manufactured in India and sold by UK-based retailer GoinGreen.

Buying from an online showroom is one of the strategies GoinGreen uses to reduce costs and minimize the environmental impact of urban commuting. With compact, eco-friendly vehicles like the Smart Car gaining popularity in England, the G-Wiz has emerged as a top choice among electric cars in the UK, with over 900 models cruising London’s streets [source: GoinGreen]. According to GoinGreen, the G-Wiz is the most environmentally friendly car in England, boasting zero direct emissions and an eight-hour charge costing just $1 (50 pence), equivalent to nearly 600 miles per gallon. Additionally, the car is exempt from London’s congestion charges, offers free parking in select areas, and provides access to on-street charging stations.

Purchasing an affordable electric car, saving on future energy expenses, and contributing to environmental conservation might sound like a dream come true — but is it all too perfect? The concept of ordering a vehicle online and having it delivered to your doorstep, bypassing traditional dealerships, could raise some red flags. Additionally, negative publicity and safety concerns have given the G-Wiz as many critics as fans.

What compromises are automakers making in safety to produce an economical, eco-friendly vehicle? Is the G-Wiz truly efficient, or are GoinGreen and Reva simply engaging in greenwashing to appeal to British consumers? In this article, we’ll examine the G-Wiz and delve into the debates surrounding it.

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G-Wiz Specifications

In Britain, the G-Wiz is classified as a "quadricycle" — it weighs approximately 880 pounds (400 kg) without the battery and generates less than 15 kW of power, meaning it doesn’t qualify as a car under European Commission standards. While it’s legal to drive the G-Wiz on any UK road, GoinGreen emphasizes that it’s designed as a "low-speed urban runabout and commuter car" and advises against using it on motorways or high-speed roads.

There are three G-Wiz models available. While Reva has discontinued the original versions, the G-Wiz dc and G-Wiz ac, GoinGreen still sells used models on its website. The latest model, the G-Wiz i, features enhanced safety features and launched in February 2008.

Despite differences in names and safety features, all G-Wiz models share similar technical specs. The vehicle has two doors and a "2 + 2" seating arrangement, accommodating two adults in the front and two children in the back. Powered by eight six-volt lead-acid batteries under the front seats, the quadricycle’s electric motor is located at the rear. Charging is straightforward: simply plug the charge cable into the vehicle’s side and a standard electric outlet, similar to charging a cell phone. (GoinGreen recommends using an RCD or surge protector for household outlets.) A 2.5-hour charge provides 80% battery capacity, while a full charge takes eight hours. While using electricity, especially from renewable sources, saves money and benefits the environment (annual costs are around $100), the battery lifespan is a drawback. A replacement battery pack costs £1,595 (over $3,000) and lasts two to three years, prompting interest in fuel cells, which charge faster and don’t require replacement.

The G-Wiz has a range of about 50 miles per charge, reflecting its design for urban use rather than long-distance travel. Its top speed ranges between 40 and 50 mph (64-80 km/h), significantly slower than most cars but suitable for city driving. In London, where speed limits rarely exceed 40 mph (64 km/h), data from G-Wiz drivers shows an average speed of 10 mph (16 km/h). London’s traffic is the slowest in Europe, with an average speed of 12 mph (19 km/h) for all vehicles, according to KeepMoving.co.uk.

While the G-Wiz can help you save money, the question remains: can it protect you in a collision with a delivery truck? Discover more on the next page.

G-Wiz Safety Concerns

Safety is a major concern for compact cars. Their lightweight design makes them more vulnerable in accidents, requiring automakers to innovate in creating sturdy, protective structures. The confined space also increases the risk of injury from poorly engineered crumple zones or shattered windshields.

The G-Wiz is exceptionally small, measuring just 8.5 feet in length and 5 feet in height. As a quadricycle, it isn’t subject to the same rigorous safety testing as standard automobiles.

In 2004, Reva launched the G-Wiz dc on London streets, followed by the G-Wiz ac in 2006. These models underwent no official crash tests, leaving consumers in the dark about their safety in collisions. It wasn’t until summer 2007 that UK magazine Top Gear conducted its own crash tests on the G-Wiz, revealing the extent of damage the electric vehicle could sustain from a wall — or even a simple table.

The crash test results, available on the Jalopnik Web site, are unsettling. One video depicts a G-Wiz colliding with a wall at 40 mph, while another shows two G-Wizzes crashing into each other at 30 mph. In both scenarios, the front of the vehicle crumples severely, endangering the driver and passenger dummies. Another video, found here on YouTube, pits the G-Wiz against a table, with outcomes that are both shocking and darkly humorous.

GoinGreen addresses safety concerns on their website, stating: "While larger, heavier cars generally perform better in crash tests, statistics indicate they are often driven more aggressively and at higher speeds, increasing the risk of injuring others." Although Reva no longer produces the tested models, used versions of the G-Wiz dc and G-Wiz ac are still available. Over 900 of these early models remain on London’s streets, with more than 2,000 operating worldwide.

Adding to the concerns, Reva recalled several hundred G-Wiz vehicles in November 2007 to replace or repair faulty battery chargers after one quadricycle overheated and caught fire while parked. Thankfully, no injuries occurred, but the incident raised alarms about the G-Wiz being a potential hazard, even when stationary.

The G-Wiz appears to be driven by good intentions and innovative ideas, such as its unique delivery method: London residents receive their vehicle driven to them, while others in England get it delivered by trailer. However, the G-Wiz, designed in California and manufactured in India, seems to compromise too much to achieve affordability and eco-friendliness. Notably, it lacks airbags, with GoinGreen justifying this by stating that most UK cars don’t include them. In contrast, the Aptera, another efficient vehicle from California, prioritizes safety, exceeding standard requirements.

For further insights into electric cars and other unconventional vehicles, explore the details on the following page.