Through our EVTripDiaries series, we’re sharing real stories from EV owners who’ve gone the distance — not with massive batteries or premium EVs, but with smart planning. Because in EV travel, planning your route right is often the real secret behind a successful long trip.
The goal of this series is simple — to instill confidence in fellow EV owners to take their cars on long journeys. When more people start using public charging stations, it increases their revenue, encourages expansion, and ultimately helps accelerate EV adoption across India.
And this story from Rajesh Lakshman, an EV owner from Bangalore, proves that perfectly.
Rajesh recently completed a Bangalore–Sivasaailam–Bangalore round trip in his Mahindra EV, covering nearly 1,380 km over two days, using public DC fast chargers along one of South India’s most EV-friendly highway corridors.
Vehicle & Trip Overview
Owner: Rajesh Lakshman
EV: Mahindra BE6 (59 kWh battery)
Estimated Real-World Range: ~450 km
Trip Type: Round Trip
Trip Duration: 2 days
Route Corridor: Bangalore → Hosur → Salem → Tirunelveli → Sivasaailam
Trip Data Summary
| Metric | Value |
| Total Distance | ~1,380 km |
| Total Driving Days | 2 |
| Total Charging Stops | 7 |
| Battery Capacity | 59 kWh |
| Typical Cruising Speed | ~100 km/h |
| Average Efficiency (Trip) | ~8 km/kWh |
| SOC Buffer Maintained | 20–25% |
| Primary Trip Planner Used | EVJoints |
| CPO Networks Used | Zeon, OnePlug |
Day 1: Bangalore → Sivasaailam
Date: 13th Dec 2025
Distance Covered: ~690 km
Total Duration: ~10–11 hours (including charging)
Charging Stops: 4
Rajesh chose the well-established Bangalore–Hosur–Salem–Tirunelveli highway corridor for its predictable traffic flow and dense DC fast-charging network. Most chargers are located at hotels, making breaks productive rather than time-consuming.
Charging Stops – Day 1
Stop 1: Zeon, Rasipuram
- SOC: 41% → 82%
- Energy Charged: 25.45 kWh
- Charger: 120 kW DC
- Time: 25 min
- Activity: Breakfast
Stop 2: Zeon, Vadipatti (Hotel Temple City)
- SOC: 27% → 66%
- Energy Charged: 24.56 kWh
- Charger: 50 kW DC
- Time: 25 min
- Activity: Coffee & restroom break
Stop 3: OnePlug, Arasan Bakery
- SOC: 31% → 41%
- Energy Charged: 6.39 kWh
- Charger: 60 kW DC
- Time: 15 min
- Activity: Coffee break
Stop 4: Zeon, Tirunelveli (Regency by GRT Hotel)
- SOC: 33% → 90%
- Energy Charged: 35.08 kWh
- Charger: 50 kW DC
- Time: 54 min
- Activity: Snacks and catching up with a family friend
All chargers worked as expected, and hotel-attached locations made each stop comfortable and stress-free.
Day 2: Sivasaailam → Bangalore
Date: 14th Dec 2025
Distance Covered: ~690 km
Total Duration: ~13 hours
Charging Stops: 3
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Charging Stops – Day 2
Stop 1: Zeon, Vadipatti (Hotel Temple City)
- SOC: 18% → 60%
- Energy Charged: 25.89 kWh
- Charger: 60 kW DC
- Time: 35 min
- Activity: Breakfast
Stop 2: Zeon, Karur (Subbana Hotel)
- SOC: 30% → 59%
- Energy Charged: 18.4 kWh
- Charger: 60 kW DC
- Time: 47 min
- Activity: Lunch
Stop 3: Zeon, Omalur (Aasai Aasai Anandhan Bhavan)
- SOC: 32% → 82%
- Energy Charged: 31.81 kWh
- Charger: 120 kW DC
- Time: 27 min
- Activity: Evening snacks & coffee
A final top-up here ensured a comfortable arrival back in Bangalore with buffer to spare.
Planning the Trip
Rajesh used EVJoints as his primary trip planner, relying on it to:
- Identify reliable DC fast chargers along the route
- Maintain a consistent 20–25% SOC buffer
- Always have a Plan B charger within reach
Knowing there were multiple charging options ahead made the journey feel very similar to a long ICE highway drive — relaxed and predictable.
Was Range Anxiety a Concern?
With a 59 kWh battery and a charger-dense corridor, range anxiety was minimal. SOC was monitored mainly as a discipline rather than a concern, especially when arriving at chargers in the 20–30% band. Smart planning via EVJoints played a key role in keeping the drive calm and confidence-driven.
Surprises Along the Way
- Faster-than-expected charging at 120 kW locations
- Charging stops aligned naturally with meals, coffee, and rest
- Highway efficiency remained strong even with AC used throughout (18–24°C)
The only downside was how easy it was to lose track of time at comfortable hotel stops.
Tips for Fellow EV Owners
- Maintaining ~100 km/h cruising speeds can still deliver excellent efficiency (~8 km/kWh on this trip).
- Learn regen levels, single-pedal driving, and cruise control — they make a big difference on highways.
- Use AC smartly, not sparingly. Comfort and efficiency can co-exist.
- Read and leave user comments on charging stations; small tips can save time.
- Use a dedicated EV trip planner like EVJoints, keep a healthy SOC buffer, and align charging with food and rest.
Final Takeaway
This Bangalore–Sivasaailam round trip shows that long-distance EV travel in India is already practical today — not because of bigger batteries, but because of better planning, reliable public charging, and the right tools.
If you’ve done a memorable EV road trip, we’d love to feature your story in EVTripDiaries. Your experience might be exactly what another EV owner needs to take their first long journey.
