My 406 km EV Trip from Pune to Shahapur Without a Single Charging Stop in the Mahindra XEV 9e

I’m Satish Joshi from Pune. I recently bought the Mahindra XEV 9e in Stealth Black, and after one month of driving around the city and taking a couple of short trips, I decided it was time to really test what this EV can do.

So, on June 4th, I took my family on a round trip from Pune to Shahapur and back. We covered 406 kilometers in a single day, with zero charging stops. Yes, you read that right — not even once did I stop to charge the car. And guess what? I still came back home with 30% battery left.

Let me take you through how it went.

Why I Chose the XEV 9e

This is my first electric car. Before this, I used to drive regular petrol cars. After spending a lot of time reading up on EVs and watching YouTube videos, I wanted something that could easily manage highway trips without range anxiety. The XEV 9e stood out because of its large 79 kWh battery, real-world range of around 500 kilometers, and features like one-pedal driving and regenerative braking.

I took delivery of the car on April 30, and by the end of May, I had already driven 2,100 kilometers. One of those trips was to Mumbai and back, just four days after I got the car. I did make some mistakes on that trip — like unnecessary charging and driving too fast — but I learned a lot.

The Pune–Shahapur–Pune Trip

🗓️ Date: June 4, 2025

🚗 Total Distance: 406 km

⏱️ Total Time: 11.5 hours (out of 15 hours with breaks)

🔋 Charging Stops: None

👨‍👩‍👦 Occupants: Myself, my mother, my aunt, and my nephew

 Pune to Shahapur – Smooth Sailing

We left Pune around 1 PM with a full charge. The plan was to take the expressway and reach Shahapur by evening.

The drive was a mix of city roads and highway:

• 35 km city driving
• 90 km expressway
• 70 km city driving again

We stopped at the food mall on the expressway for about 45 minutes to eat. Even with this relaxed pace, we reached Shahapur around 7 PM. The battery was still at 67%.

That means we only used 33% battery for 195 kilometers. I was honestly surprised. Here’s what I think helped:

• One-pedal driving in city traffic
• Auto or Level 1 regenerative braking on the highway
• Maintaining a steady speed without sudden acceleration
• Going downhill from Pune helped a little too

 Return Trip – Shahapur to Pune

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We started back at 10 PM and reached Pune around 3:30 AM. This leg was slightly more uphill and included a bit more traffic, especially near the city.

Again, I kept it smooth:

• Drove under 100 km/h on the highway (mostly around 95)
• Avoided sudden braking or acceleration
• Used regen modes smartly
• Took two short 15-minute breaks

We reached home with 30% battery left, which means the return journey used about 37%. Not bad at all.

Since I covered 406 km using just 70% of the battery, the full-charge range looks like it could easily touch around 580 km with this kind of smooth driving.

What I Learned About EV Driving

Driving an EV is a different experience compared to petrol or diesel cars. Here’s what stood out:

• Less Tiring: No gear shifting or pressing the clutch. It really makes a difference on long drives.
• More Peaceful: The car is quiet and smooth. Even music sounds better. The 16-speaker system in the XEV is amazing.
• Family Approved: My mother said she felt less tired after the drive. That’s a big deal, especially for elders.
• Smarter Driving: I now enjoy cruising instead of racing. It’s a more mindful way to drive.

Final Thoughts – Should You Take Your EV on a Road Trip?

Absolutely yes.

This trip gave me a lot of confidence. If you plan your long trips properly in advance using EV trip planners and drive smart, long trips in EVs are not only possible, they’re actually more relaxing. I didn’t have to hunt for charging stations or stop midway. We just enjoyed the ride.

To anyone out there thinking about switching to an EV or worried about range, don’t be. The technology has come a long way. You just need to understand how to get the best out of your car.

The Mahindra XEV 9e proved itself on this trip, and I’m already looking forward to my next one.

Trip Summary

• Route: Pune → Shahapur → Pune
• Total Distance: 406 km
• Battery Start: 100%
• Battery End: 30%
• Charging Stops: 0
• Drive Time: 11.5 hours
• Lessons Learned: Drive smooth, use regen, stay under 100 km/h

If you’re still on the fence about electric cars or scared of long trips, take it from me, once you go electric, there’s no turning back.

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