In our continuous efforts to bring real EV travel stories to a wider audience, we’re excited to share one such journey by an EV owner. What makes this story even more special is that he was inspired by another travel diary, a long road trip by Anuj Purohit in his Mahindra XEV 9e. Anuj, one of our users, travelled 2,036 km using the EVJoints trip planner.
That story gave the EV owner the confidence to take his own Nexon EV Max on a 2,200+ km round trip from Faridabad to Indore. Now, he’s sharing it with us, hoping to inspire more EV users just like Anuj’s story inspired him.
https://x.com/ferrarirules86/status/1940452432615473540
A few weeks ago, I stumbled upon a blog by Anuj about his road trip from Gurgaon to Ujjain and back in the XEV 9e. It wasn’t the numbers or charts that stayed with me. It was the confidence, the honesty, and the sheer joy of proving that electric vehicles can go the distance. That one trip inspired me more than any ad or review ever could.
So I thought — why not me?
I’ve been driving the Tata Nexon EV Max for over a year now. For city rides, it’s been brilliant. But a question always lingered: Can I take it on a proper highway trip? With the Delhi to Mumbai expressway now operational (except for a couple of sections), and Indore calling for both work and a bit of a getaway, the plan slowly came together.
As I sit down to write this, I can confidently say that EVs can handle long journeys. All you need is planning, patience, and a bit of curiosity.
Setting Off: A Rainy Morning and a Charged Battery
I left Faridabad at 5 AM with a full charge and a mix of excitement and nerves. It had been raining all night and didn’t stop all day, a perfect stress test for both the car and my planning skills.
Google Maps showed a distance of 740 km with an estimated drive time of 11.5 hours. I knew I’d take longer, not because the car couldn’t handle it, but because charging stops are part of the EV experience. I wasn’t racing. I was exploring.
My Nexon EV Max gives me around 230 to 240 km on the expressway at a constant 90 km/h. Based on that, I planned four charging stops between Faridabad and Indore. Some were right on the expressway, others a short detour away. Flexibility was key.
Leg 1: The First Charger Hiccup
By the time I reached Dausa, I had already skipped two chargers on the expressway, both were non-functional (Volttic and Indian Oil). Instead of gambling on them, I took a 9 km detour and charged at Eco Plug (60 kW) near Prince Hotel.
- Distance: 211 km
- SOC used: 85%
- Charging time: 58 mins
That first proper charge was a relief. It reminded me that when you’re well-planned, there’s no need to panic.
Leg 2: Breakfast and Charging at Oberoi
Next up was a smooth drive to Sawai Madhopur. I stopped at the Oberoi Vanyavilas, plugged into a Tata Power 60 kW charger, and had breakfast while the car charged. Everything aligned beautifully.
- Distance: 135 km
- SOC used: 57%
- Stop time: 60 mins
The setting, the weather, and the reliability made this one of the most relaxing legs of the journey.
Leg 3 & 4: Narrow Roads, Trucks, and a Bit of Patience
The route through Kota and Garoth was a mix of narrow two-lane roads and truck traffic. Still, I had enough charge to reach BPCL at Mandana, and later Volttic at Garoth.
- Distance: 156 km (Kota), 90 km (Garoth)
- Charging times: 79 mins and 36 mins
Both chargers were reliable and well-placed.
Leg 5: The Final Stretch to Indore
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With a full charge at Garoth, I comfortably made it to Indore via Ujjain. The roads improved, and I finally began to enjoy the drive fully.
- Distance: 206 km
- SOC used: 81%
I reached my hotel, The Park Indore, in 16 hours including all breaks. The best part? The hotel had onsite Tata Power chargers, both DC and AC. I didn’t have to look elsewhere for charging during the stay.
A Week in Indore: Work, Drives, and Great Food
Indore greeted me with perfect weather — 26 to 28°C, cool breeze, and light rain. Over the next six days:
- I drove 633 km around the city and nearby destinations like Mandu and Omkareshwar
- Explored local food at Sarafa and Chappan Dukan
- Visited Indore Zoo — one of the finest I’ve seen
- Stocked up on “Om Namkeen” for the return
I didn’t hire a single cab. My EV was my companion everywhere.
- Charging cost (public chargers): ₹1,979
- Running cost: ₹3.12/km
The Return Journey: Easier and More Efficient
This time, I was more confident. The weather was clear, and I made a few better choices, including a different charger at Kota. One mistake, though — I missed a message about charging stoppage at Oberoi Vanyavilas, which cost me 45 minutes.
Return Summary
- Distance: 784 km
- Time (including breaks): 16 hrs 20 mins
- Charging cost: ₹1,968
- Running cost: ₹2.50/km
- Energy consumption: 6.5 km/kWh
Final Thoughts: Would I Do This Again? Absolutely
Over 10 days, my EV covered 2,217 km with a total charging cost of ₹6,330. That works out to ₹2.85 per km — no petrol or diesel car I’ve driven comes close to that.
Beyond numbers, this is what I experienced:
- Significantly less fatigue compared to an ICE car
- Improving EV infrastructure, even if oil company chargers need better reliability
- Better EVs are arriving (MF Windsor EV Pro, Hyundai Creta Electric, Mahindra BE 6, Tata Harrier EV, Mahindra XEV 9e)
- No regrets buying a smaller-battery EV. My use is mostly city-based, and this car handled a highway journey just fine
Why I’m Sharing This with EVJoints
I came across a tweet by Anuj about his EV road trip, and that one post gave me the belief that it was possible. If Anuj’s story helped me take the leap, maybe mine will help someone else do the same.
Long EV journeys are not just possible, they’re practical, economical, and surprisingly fulfilling. All it takes is one trip to change the way you look at EVs.
So here’s mine. Now go plan yours.
Have a story to share? Drop a line at admin@evjoints.com and be part of India’s growing EV community.
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