{"id":5504,"date":"2025-09-18T18:22:41","date_gmt":"2025-09-18T12:52:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/evjoints.com\/ev-guide\/?p=5504"},"modified":"2025-09-19T07:55:08","modified_gmt":"2025-09-19T02:25:08","slug":"3-day-ev-road-trip-in-my-mahindra-xev-9e-1800-km-pune-to-ujjain-and-return","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/evjoints.com\/ev-guide\/3-day-ev-road-trip-in-my-mahindra-xev-9e-1800-km-pune-to-ujjain-and-return\/","title":{"rendered":"3-Day EV Road Trip in My Mahindra XEV 9e: 1800 km Pune to Ujjain and Return"},"content":{"rendered":"

1 EV, 2 Friends, 3 Days – An 1800 km EV Road Yatra<\/strong><\/p>\n

It all began with the most dangerous of inventions in Indian history: the 10-second phone call<\/em><\/strong>. \u201cUjjain chalte hai kya?\u201d \u201cHa, chal.\u201d<\/p>\n

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And boom – an epic 3-day, 1800 km road trip was born. Before my friend could even hang up, I had already added Indore, Omkareshwar, and Maheshwar into the mix. And just when he thought the plan was set, I threw in Grishneshwar as well into the party – added literally 10 minutes before departure<\/strong>. Planning? Overrated. Optimism? Unlimited.<\/p>\n

Route Planning<\/a> – A PhD in Google Maps & Charging Infrastructure<\/strong><\/p>\n

Armed with EVJoints, Statiq, and Google Maps as my holy trinity, I transformed into a walking-talking EV charging station directory<\/strong>. At one point, I was reciting charger names, location coordinates, charger speeds, and even their owner\u2019s probable blood groups as if I was preparing for Kaun Banega Crorepati: EV Edition<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Now, while my car can swagger around with 500+ kms on a single charge, I chose to act like that relative who carries five umbrellas for a drizzle. I pegged my magic number at 400 kms per stop. Thus began my epic quest of mapping stops, backups, and backups for the backups – because if Murphy\u2019s Law had a charging cable, it would plug itself into my car. The \u201cextra\u201d 100 kms I left untouched became my insurance policy against life\u2019s little curveballs: chargers being occupied, breaking down, getting ICE-d, or, who knows, abducted by aliens under the bright blue sky. By the time I was done, I had a laundry list of 16 charging points ready, like a paranoid squirrel hoarding nuts. To level up, I roped in Charles Nadar (the EVJoints<\/a> founder and my temporary crisis counselor), who cheerfully handed me another dozen options and a crash course on the app. The interface was so slick that even my thumb felt important while planning the drive.<\/p>\n

Three routes wrestled in my head (Ahilyanagar-Sambhajinagar, Sinnar-Samruddhi & Nashik-Malegaon), but Route Option 2 – via the shiny new Samruddhi Expressway won. Why? Toll-free for EVs, silky-smooth tarmac, and a perfect playground to test out Adaptive Cruise Control. Distance-wise, it was like going from Pune to Delhi via Goa<\/a>, but hey, Experiences > Kilometers<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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Day 1 \u2013 Pune \u2192 Grishneshwar \u2192 Indore (via Shirpur)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Start Time:<\/strong> 4:30 AM
\nStart Point:<\/strong> Pune
\nEnd Time:<\/strong> 10:15 PM
\nEnd Point:<\/strong> Sayaji Indore Hotel
\nHighlight: <\/strong>Testing Adaptive Cruise Control & bribing a waiter for a bike ride back to the charger.<\/p>\n

We began at 4:30 AM sharp(ish). Plan was simple: drive in shifts, nap while the other drove. Reality: neither of us slept a wink. Instead, we kept up a non-stop commentary praising the XEV9e like proud parents at a school play.<\/p>\n

Breakfast and the first charge stop came at Hotel Mayur Express<\/strong>, where the car juiced up while we feasted on some South Indian delicacies. Post that, the Samruddhi Expressway blew our minds. I set ACC to 115 km\/h, and the car did its magic – auto lane change included. Honestly, it felt less like driving and more like being chauffeured by Iron Man.<\/p>\n

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After darshan at Grishneshwar (and a mandatory wait for an hour during aarti), we drove on. Lunch was delayed till Shirpur, where we found a 120kWh DC fast charger and a restaurant\u2026 but the restaurant was 1 km away. We walked there enthusiastically, but flat-out refused to walk back post-meal. We bribed a waiter to drop us back on his EV scooty. EV road trips<\/a> = jugaad + generosity<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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We finally rolled into Indore<\/a> at 10:15 PM<\/strong>, battery topped, spirits high, and stomachs ready for 56 Dukan. Chilled out at 56 Dukan for about an hour while binging on Panipuri & other fast foods before crashing for the day just before midnight.<\/p>\n

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Day 2 \u2013 Indore \u2192 Ujjain \u2192 Omkareshwar<\/strong><\/p>\n

Start Time:<\/strong> 9:00 AM
\nStart Point:<\/strong> Indore
\nEnd Time:<\/strong> 11:30 PM
\nEnd Point:<\/strong> MPT Temple View, Omkareshwar
\nHighlight:<\/strong> Losing the schedule to temple queues & the \u201cHum Upar Hai Ya Neeche?\u201d game<\/p>\n

The day started well – with a heavy breakfast. Mahakaleshwar Darshan queues ate up 90 minutes, Kaal Bhairav added another hour, and by 4 PM our “tight schedule” had been quashed to a million pieces.<\/p>\n

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Hungry and tired, we gave up on speed-running temples and decided to stay at Omkareshwar overnight. A quick detour into Phoenix Citadel Mall, Indore<\/strong> gave the car some much-needed electrons while we treated ourselves to a fresh Keventers cold coffee.<\/p>\n

The Bheru Ghat drive at night was comedy gold. Dense foliage, pitch darkness, and my friend clueless about whether we were going uphill or downhill due to the faint gradient and weird ghat sections with as many straights as a State Highway. He kept asking & I kept increasing his confusion by retorting every two minutes – \u201cHum upar hai ya neeche?\u201d<\/em> He had no clue and I didn\u2019t bother telling him, for a straight 10 kilometers. We laughed like two schoolboys until we finally reached Omkareshwar at 11:30 PM.<\/p>\n

Day 3 \u2013 Omkareshwar \u2192 Maheshwar \u2192 Pune<\/strong><\/p>\n

Start Time:<\/strong> 8:00 AM
\nStart Point: <\/strong>Omkareshwar
\nEnd Time: <\/strong>7:30 AM next day
\nEnd Point:<\/strong> Pune
\nHighlight:<\/strong> Saree shopping, torrential rain, and a traffic jam that lasted longer than most Bollywood movies.<\/p>\n

Darshan done, breakfast demolished, and off we went to Maheshwar. Ahilyabai Holkar\u2019s palace and fort were stunning, and of course, I couldn\u2019t escape without buying the world famous Maheshwari sarees for mom and wife. (Top tip for husbands: never return from Maheshwar empty-handed.<\/em>)<\/p>\n

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The return drive was smooth\u2026 until Manchar, where torrential rain + traffic jam = 3 hours for moving 2 km. Trucks were driving everywhere – left, right, wrong side – you name it. Our final recharge at Mayur Express<\/strong> was like a last energy bar in a video game.<\/p>\n

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We finally reached Pune at 7:30 AM, after three days, countless laughs, endless queues, and about as much food as one could possibly fit into an EV trip.<\/p>\n

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Charging Stop Logbook (Because EV = Excel + Darshan)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Date<\/strong><\/td>\nCPO<\/strong><\/td>\nType<\/strong><\/td>\nCharger Speed<\/strong><\/td>\nLocation<\/strong><\/td>\nDuration<\/strong><\/td>\nStart SoC<\/strong><\/td>\nEnd SoC<\/strong><\/td>\nCost<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
12-Sep-25<\/td>\nCharge Zone<\/a><\/td>\nDC<\/td>\n30 kWh<\/td>\nMayur Express, Pun-Nashik Highway<\/td>\n0:59:49<\/td>\n71%<\/td>\n100%<\/td>\n\u20b9 561.44<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
12-Sep-25<\/td>\nNikol EV<\/a><\/td>\nDC<\/td>\n120 kWh<\/td>\nG R Charging Station, Shirpur<\/td>\n1:08:11<\/td>\n22%<\/td>\n100%<\/td>\n\u20b91,725.67<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
13-Sep-25<\/td>\nGlida<\/a><\/td>\nDC<\/td>\n30 kWh<\/td>\nPhoenix Citadel Mall, Indore<\/td>\n1:20:18<\/td>\n27%<\/td>\n100%<\/td>\n\u20b91,353.01<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
14-Sep-25<\/td>\nTata Power<\/td>\nDC<\/td>\n60 kWh<\/td>\nThe Rajhans Hotel, Julwania<\/td>\n0:52:11<\/td>\n62%<\/td>\n100%<\/td>\n\u20b9779.70<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
15-Sep-25<\/td>\nCharge Zone<\/a><\/td>\nDC<\/td>\n30 kWh<\/td>\nMayur Express, Pun-Nashik Highway<\/td>\n1:22:27<\/td>\n24%<\/td>\n100%<\/td>\n\u20b91,539.78<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Total<\/td>\n5:42:56<\/td>\n–<\/td>\n\u20b97982.73*<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
*<\/strong> Total cost includes the pre-trip 100% cost as well<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

<\/p>\n

Trip Stats at a Glance<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n