The Reva ………. could soon be built in Christchurch
An Indian company is eyeing up Christchurch as a manufacturing base for 30,000 electric cars, spurred on by New Zealand’s new free trade agreement with China.
But the deal – understood to be under negotiation – is partially contingent on securing $US20 million private capital from New Zealand investors.
The company, Reva, is a joint venture with a New York based fund, but based in Bangalore. It has the largest deployed fleet of electric cars in 24 countries worldwide, with 3000 EVs (electric vehicles) on the road.
A New Zealand manufacturing base could provide up to 400 jobs and earn the country $100 million in exports.
Investment New Zealand’s manager of clean technology Chris Mulcare said New Zealand’s brand positioning, renewable energy, research and development and FTA with China made the country an attractive option.
“New Zealand is a nexus between India and China,” he said at this week’s New Zealand Private Equity Venture Capital Association conference.
New Zealand had potential to become the nexus between the two countries in other areas of clean technology, Mr Mulcare said.
Christchurch was a good fit, as it already had a manufacturing hub, with many companies already servicing the automotive industry, including hybrid city bus company, Designline, he said.
“It’s a good opportunity to develop a bridge with India and capitalising on the high level of skill we have in engineering and technology services, along with our boutique manufacturing businesses.”
Reva’s NXR and NXG cars are designed to use about 80% fewer parts than a conventional or hybrid car, and are manufactured in different markets using solar power, cleaned with rainwater and in Europe, their lithium ion batteries are recycled.
At the conference, Mr Mulcare was asked about a conflict between EV’s and biofuel. “Biofuels will be challenged by the availability of biomass, until you get marine algae into the play, but you’re not going to have electric airplanes either.
“There are multiple options and they can both sit alongside each other.”
Retaining ownership?
New Zealand does not have the capital needed to develop clean-tech plants and a licensing play is a better model, according to The Warehouse founder Stephen Tindall.
Speaking at the conference, Mr Tindall endorsed biofuel company LanzaTech, one of the most promising clean-tech investments for his K1W1 angel investor company.
LanzaTech is targeting China’s steel mill industry, using its proprietary microbe to produce ethanol and high value chemicals from industry off-gas, reformed methane and syngas.
Ethanol had potential to grow to a $113 billion industry by 2020, he said.
Asked how to retain ownership and a dividend flow for New Zealand investors, Mr Tindall said the goal was to have as much ownership as possible, while following a licensing model that took a percentage per litre.
“Let the steel companies put in plants and we take as much as we can.”
In the last week, Mr Tindall said two other technologies with even bigger potential had approached the company.
After the meeting, he said he was bound by non-disclosure agreements and K1W1 was undertaking due diligence.
This would include taking New Zealand based technology and IP and licensing it around the world, he said.
“There is nowhere near enough New Zealand capital to fund these [manufacturing and production plants] in different countries.”
* National Business Review
source: http://www.indianweekender.co.nz / Andrea Deuchrass* / Friday Nov 09h, 2009 / National Business Review