No Range Anxiety: Pune to Aurangabad to Pune in My Tata Nexon EV

Note: This trip experience was originally shared by EV owner Sanjay on his personal Facebook profile. We are publishing it here with his permission to help inspire and guide other EV drivers.

I set out from Pune at 5:00 AM with the Tata Nexon EV 45 fully charged and a quiet bit of excitement. I’d always wanted to test a longer run on an EV and see how the car, the chargers and the real road would hold up. This trip wasn’t about proving a point — it was about practical confidence: could I enjoy the drive, stop for breaks, charge quickly, and get back home without drama? Spoiler: yes.

Link to read the original post https://www.facebook.com/share/p/16MqWsT2rG/

The highway was wide awake as I rolled through Wagholi, Shirur and Nagar. I took my first stop at Smile Stone, Kamargaon for breakfast at 8:15 AM — a clean, reliable stop with good parking (I rested in the car for a bit; the AC used about 2% SOC while I napped). I left there around 9:05 AM and reached Aurangabad at 11:40 AM with 27% state-of-charge left on the battery.

Charging in Aurangabad was straightforward even though I had a small hiccup earlier with a different public charger that wouldn’t start. The JioPulse fast charger by the Reliance mall was available and the support team helped me initiate the session. From about 27% I topped back to 100% — the charger pumped power quickly, and after a short stop I was back on the road.

I began the return trip at 5:00 PM, stopped for dinner at Gurudatta Pure Veg at 8:05 PM, and pulled into my driveway in Pune at 11:55 PM with about 26% left. No engine noise, no fuel stops, and the comfort of cool air during rests — that quiet, simple comfort is where EVs really win.

This trip was 576.2 km round trip and showed me two things clearly: good route planning + a small top-up on the way = long-distance EV travel that’s calm, predictable, and enjoyable. If you’re considering long drives in an EV, it’s not the range number that matters most, it’s how you plan and how reliable the chargers along your route are.

Learnings from the EV Driver

1. Plan your charging stops in advance
   Even though chargers were available, one didn’t work (MSEDCL). Having a backup charger location saved time and reduced stress.

2. Real-world range is reliable if driven sensibly
   Achieved ~380–392 km on a full charge in mixed highway/city driving with AC — good planning means zero range anxiety.

3. Fast chargers can change the game
   Topping up from 27% to 100% in ~20 minutes kept the trip on schedule. Locate high-power DC chargers along your route.

4. SOC management is key
   Starting each leg at 100% SOC and ending with ~26–27% meant there was always a buffer for unexpected delays or detours.

5. Amenities matter
   Picking charging stops with food, restrooms, and shade (like Reliance Mall) made the wait time more comfortable.

6. Idle AC is a comfort bonus
   Using only ~2% SOC while resting with AC on shows how EVs can offer quiet, fuel-free comfort breaks without worry.

7. Drive timing helps efficiency
   Early morning and evening drives avoided peak heat and traffic, improving comfort and potentially conserving battery.

Trip at a Glance

• Vehicle: Tata Nexon EV45

• Total Distance: 576.2 km round trip

• Route: Pune → Wagholi → Shirur → Nagar → Newasa Phata → Waluj → Aurangabad (same route back)

• Start SOC: 100%

  

  Scan the barcode and download the EVJoints app to find 6,000 EV charging stations across various networks.

  

  Click & download the EVJoints app to find 6,000 charging stations.

  

• SOC at Aurangabad: 27%

• SOC after charging: 100%

• SOC at end of return journey: 26%

• Average Energy Consumption: 118 Wh/km (11.8 kWh/100 km)

• Distance per kWh: ~8.47 km

• Estimated Real-World Range: ~380–392 km/full charge

• Charging Stops:

  • Aurangabad: JioPulse Fast Charger at Reliance Mall – topped from 27% to 100% (≈15–20 min)

• Idle AC Usage: ~2% SOC while resting in the car

• Highway Amenities: Breakfast at Smile Stone, Kamargaon; Dinner at Gurudatta Pure Veg Hotel

• Trip Timing:

  • Outbound: 5:00 AM – 11:40 AM (including breakfast stop)

  • Return: 5:00 PM – 11:55 PM (including dinner stop)

• Charging Experience: Functional fast charger in Aurangabad with support team help; MSEDCL charger attempt failed, minimal time lost

• Comfort Note: Silent cabin, zero fuel wastage, and ability to rest with AC on

Have a story to share? Drop a line at admin@evjoints.com and be part of India’s growing EV community.