This is a significant saving compared to driving my Hyundai Verna 1.5 Turbo, which would have required a full tank of fuel.

BHPian ram7077 recently shared this with other enthusiasts:

I began my journey with a 100% charged battery and drove 51 km from Mahe to Iritty, where I stopped at Skypenta Hotel with 84% charge remaining. This indicates a 16% drop in battery charge for the 51 km stretch.

I charged my vehicle using the 30kW EVOQ Charger from GOEC, paying ₹166.12 to reach 100% charge. With ghat roads ahead, I prioritized caution and opted for a full charge. The charging process took approximately 27 minutes to charge from 84% to 100%.

I drove directly from Skypenta Hotel in Iritty to Kodagu Planter's Club in Gonikoppa, Coorg, as a precautionary measure to charge my car again as it was declared a bandh in Karnataka that day. I didn't want to risk getting stranded on NH275 without a charge.

Kodagu Planter’s Club had a 60kW JIO Pulse charger with dual charging guns and I used this to top up my battery. After my drive from Iritty to Coorg of 48 km through ghat roads, my charge had dropped to 70%. I charged my vehicle from 70% to 99% in approximately 29 minutes, incurring a cost of ₹286.27.

Then, started driving all guns blazing through the scorching sun towards Bangalore. After covering 156 km on the Mysore-Bangalore expressway, I spotted a Burger King with a Zeon Charger. And that’s when I decided to take a lunch break and charge my car simultaneously which would reduce the time of travel and help me with ease of travel. The convenient stop reinforced the value of planning, making the journey even smoother.

After traveling 151 km from Kodagu Planter’s Club at Gonikkopa at Coorg to Zeon Charger at Ramanagara near Bangalore, my battery level dropped to 41%. Fortunately, the 60kW Zeon Charger at Burger King was a boon, which fully charged my vehicle to 100% in just 50 minutes while I had lunch. The charging session consumed 25.92 units, costing approximately ₹608.66.

I ended my journey with a 68% battery level after traveling the last 74 km to my hotel. This represented a 32% decrease, which works out to approximately 2.3 km per 1% of battery charge.

My final day began with a journey from Bangalore to a charging station on the Bangalore-Mysore expressway (NH275), where I found a 60kW Statiq charger. After a 72 km drive, my battery level dropped from 67% to 47%, a 20% decrease, which translates to approximately 3.6 km per percentage point of charge. Conveniently, a Cafe Coffee Day outlet was nearby, allowing me to combine charging with breakfast. The charging session took around 45-50 minutes and cost ₹405.

I had planned to drive 166 km directly to Kodagu Planter's Club, expecting to arrive with 40-45% battery charge. However, upon arrival, I had only 38% charge left. This was because I drove most of the NH 275 stretch in Normal mode instead of ECO+ mode, which would have limited my speed to 80-83 kmph and helped conserve more battery charge.

Next up, there was a twist in the tale. When I arrived at Kodagu Planter’s club, the Jio Pulse charger was not functioning. Another EV owner, who was also struggling to charge his Nexon EV, shared the same experience. With only 38% charge and 117 km range, I was concerned about making it back home, which was 95 km away. Range anxiety started to set in. Fortunately, the other EV owner kindly directed me to a nearby Tata Showroom, which had a 24kW Zeon Charger. Although it was slower than the 60kW Jio Pulse charger, I was relieved to have an alternative option.

My relief was short-lived, as I arrived at the Tata Showroom, only to discover that the 24kW Zeon Charger was also out of order. I met another EV owner, who was about to leave after trying to charge his Punch EV. He informed me that a power outage in the area had rendered both charging stations - Jio Pulse and Zeon Charger - unusable, leaving me with no immediate charging options.

This is where nerves started to jangle and now the charge dropped to 35% and next charger was at SkyPenta Hotel at Iritty which was 47 kms away and around 1:30 hrs - 2 hrs drive. However, I chose to trust my vehicle and proceed confidently, relying on regeneration to help. As I navigated the challenging Coorg Ghat roads, filled with potholes and ongoing roadwork, I relied heavily on braking and regeneration, which surprisingly boosted my charge to 38% and increased my range to 125 km by the time I exited the ghat section.

Kerala roads are always unpredictable and well-known for traffic jams, I headed directly to Skypenta Hotel in Iritty to recharge my car. While charging, I took a break to refresh myself, as the combination of range anxiety and early morning long-distance driving had taken a toll on my energy levels. I decided to have lunch at the hotel, enjoying some food and fresh juice to recharge myself. Meanwhile, the EVOQ charger stopped at 72% due to insufficient funds (Rs 315) in my EVOQ app wallet.

I had 72% charge remaining and only 51 km to cover to reach home, so I indulged in some enthusiastic driving. I arrived home in under an hour and still had 55% charge left.

Despite some minor confusion about charge and range, my Windsor reliably guided me to the next charging station. Moreover, the ride was extremely comfortable both to and from Bangalore, making the journey a pleasant experience.

My calculations show that the total charging cost for the 700 km trip was ₹1780, with 55% charge still remaining, enough for another 100-150 km. This is a significant saving compared to driving my Verna 1.5 Turbo, which would have required a full tank costing around ₹5000, plus an additional ₹1000 for a safety refill on the return journey, considering the poor mileage for petrol vehicles on ghat roads.

Hope my thread is interesting and will be back with another one while I plan my next trip. Until then, kudos mates.

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The BYD Sealion 05 sells as a plug-in hybrid in some global markets, but the EV version is different in terms of design and dimensions.

BYD has unveiled the new Sealion 05 all-electric SUV. It will be available in two variants and feature God’s Eye C intelligent driving system.

The BYD Sealion 05 sells as a plug-in hybrid in some global markets, but the EV version is different in terms of design and dimensions. The BYD Sealion 05 EV measures 4520 mm long, 1860 mm wide, 1630 mm tall, and has a wheelbase of 2720 mm. It gets a connected LED headlamp setup. The front bumper has a wide air dam with a silver skid plate. There are vertical air intakes on either side of the bumper. On the side, the EV gets black body cladding and aerodynamic wheels. There is a thick D-pillar with a slightly blackened portion. The rear gets wraparound LED tail lamps, an illuminated BYD logo and a roof spoiler. The BYD Sealion 05 EV will be offered in four exterior colours: Warm Sun White, Muchuan Green, Sea White, and Jun Kiln Gray; as well as two interior options: Starry Sky Black and Sea Salt Gray.

Inside, the electric SUV features a flat-bottom steering wheel, a digital instrument panel and a 15.6-inch rotatable centre screen for the infotainment powered by BYD’s DiLink 100 system. The vertically oriented AC vents are located on either side of the screen. Other features include a 50W wireless charger for smartphones and a refrigerator. The “God’s Eye” C entry-level intelligent driving system is supported by a three-camera cluster behind the windshield.

Power comes from a single permanent magnet synchronous motor that drives the rear wheels. It gets two battery pack options - 50 kWh and 60.9 kWh putting out 188 bhp and 215 bhp respectively. The 50 kWh pack offers a range of 430 km, while the 60.9 kWh one gives 520 km on a single charge.

The BYD Sealion 05 EV will launch in China on 25th March 2025.

Source: CarNewsChina

Toyota says that the ‘+’ suffix signifies “added versatility and practicality” over its hybrid C-HR sibling

Toyota has unveiled the C-HR+ in Europe. Calling it the core model in its EV lineup, it is the carmaker’s third all-electric model. The car was originally expected to carry the bZ3X nameplate and is based on the bZ Compact SUV concept, unveiled in 2022.

Toyota says that the ‘+’ suffix signifies “added versatility and practicality” over its hybrid C-HR sibling, as well as the “specific qualities and benefits of the BEV powertrain”.

Design-wise, it is quite similar to the concept. It gets a long bonnet and steeply raked roofline. It features Toyota’s new ‘hammerhead’ design upfront with slim headlights flanked by arrow-style LED DRLs. The rear gets a light bar running across the width of the car and a roof spoiler. It has a length of 4520 mm, a width of 1,870 mm and a height of 1,595 mm. It has a wheelbase measuring 2750 mm, and a boot space of 416 litres. The longer wheelbase gives it more space than what is expected in a C-SUV. There is generous headroom and a 900 mm front-rear couple distance.

Highlighted features include a 14-inch infotainment screen, two wireless smartphone chargers, rear cabin USB ports, rear AC controls and a panoramic sunroof. The navigation system includes a dedicated EV routing function that calculates routes with convenient charging station options, according to the car’s state of battery charge and available driving range.

The myToyota app can be used to monitor and manage key aspects of the car, including charging status, charging time, driving range and usage data.

The safety kit includes a Blind Spot Monitor, Adaptive High-beam System headlights and Parking Support Brake. Park Assist and a Panoramic View Monitor are included in the High-grade variant.

The C-HR+ is offered with either a 57.7 kWh or 77.0 kWh battery. It has a WLTP range of up to 455 km and 600 km respectively, which makes it one of the longest-range cars in the segment. An 11 kW onboard charger is provided as standard, with a 22 kW unit provided from High grade. Fast DC charging can achieve speeds of up to 150 kW.

The C-HR+ is available in front-wheel drive, while all-wheel-drive is offered exclusively with the 77.0 kWh battery pack. Power output starts at 165 bhp, rising to 221 bhp and topping out at 338 bhp. The AWD version will do 0 to 100 kph in 5.2 seconds.

It adopts the e-TNGA platform, and Toyota says the specially tuned suspension makes it fun to drive thanks to excellent dynamics and agility. The electric power steering has also been remapped for better responsiveness.

The new Toyota C-HR+ is scheduled to launch in select European markets in the second half of 2025. Other European markets will get the SUV in 2026. It will join the all-new Urban Cruiser and the new bZ4X in the model lineup.

It will be built on a platform developed specifically for Volkswagen Group’s performance and luxury brands.

Italian supercar maker Lamborghini is currently working on its first-ever EV. It will be based on the Lanzador concept that was shown back in 2023, and will be built on a platform developed specifically for Volkswagen Group’s performance and luxury brands.

Speaking at Volkswagen Group’s annual media conference, boss Oliver Blume shed some light on the upcoming EV from the Raging Bull. He said that the EV would use a platform for Audi, Bentley, Lamborghini and Porsche, that will allow for up to 1973 bhp and 980 volts. He said it’s a very specific setup for Lamborghini. The platform development is being led by Porsche.

Lamborghini CEO Stephan Winkelmann had previously dropped hints that the upcoming EV would at least have 1341 bhp, citing a high power output as “one of the pillars” of an electric performance car. At the same time, driver feel and emotional engagement was more important than outright power.

A 980V electrical architecture for future performance models from the Volkswagen Group marks another substantial step. Most EVs currently use a 400V architecture, although an increasing number use an 800V system that allows for faster charging, better power delivery and increased range efficiency. Some Chinese cars now use a 900V architecture.

Blume confirmed that the EV would be assembled at Lamborghini’s Sant‘Agata headquarters in Italy, but didn’t comment where the body or batteries would be produced.

He said, “I promise that it will be a typical Lamborghini, something very emotional.”

Winkelmann said that because Lamborghini's first EV is an all-new model, rather than a replacement for any current car, there is less risk of it impacting the company's sales volumes; and it could even increase them.

"We have enough time to decide if we need to accelerate or delay the introduction of the electric cars," he said. "So far, we are not thinking about delaying anything. We said we want to have our first electric car by the end of this decade, and this is something that we will continue to foster because we said it has to be an additional car - a fourth model.” "It's an additional model – a new body style, a new type of car in general – so it's also going to attract new customers to Lamborghini."

Lamborghini’s current model lineup is now fully hybridized. These include the Revuelto V12, the URUS-SE SUV and the newly launched Temerario.

The production version of the Lanzador EV will launch by 2030, the end of the current decade.

Source: Autocar UK

I recently looked into MSEDCL charges for green meters in Thane and wanted to share my findings with fellow members

BHPian sdeepak29 recently shared this with other enthusiasts:

MSEDCL Green Meter Charges in Thane – Breakdown & Insights

I recently looked into MSEDCL charges for green meters in Thane and wanted to share my findings with fellow members, as getting clear information from EV dealers was quite challenging. I hope this proves useful, especially for first-time EV owners navigating the setup process.

MSEDCL Bill Breakdown:

- Tariff & Classification: Green meters are categorized under the "Industrial" tariff, priced at ₹6.58 per unit. Although there are supposed to be discounted rates during non-peak hours (10 PM – 6 AM), this discount is currently unavailable due to a hardware (meter) limitation. The new meters are expected to be dispatched in the coming weeks.
- Demand Charges: Calculated based on the highest recorded demand (in kVA) during the billing period. Typically, a billed demand of 6 kVA is applied at a rate of ₹80 per kVA, amounting to ₹480 per month.
- Wheeling Charges: ₹1.17 per kWh, applied per unit of electricity consumed.
- Electricity Duty (E.D.): A 7.50% tax on the total billed amount, imposed by the government.
- Contract Demand: The maximum demand (in kVA) agreed between the consumer and MSEDCL. The billed demand is usually 6 kVA.
- FAC (Fuel Adjustment Charge): A variable charge reflecting fluctuations in fuel costs for power generation. Currently calculated at ₹0.75 per unit.

Example shared below.

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We set out on a journey with my BYD Atto 3 and Kia Carens. Driving an EV means planning your charging stops carefully.

BHPian axedrone recently shared this with other enthusiasts:

Electric Escape: A Smooth Ride from Bangalore to Pondy

We set out on a journey with my BYD Atto 3 and Kia Carens.
The plan was simple: Bangalore → Krishnagiri → Tiruvannamalai → Gingee → Tindivanam → Pondy, with a few essential stops along the way.

The Journey Begins
We started from Bangalore at 6 AM, cruising through the early morning mist. The roads were in pristine condition, free of potholes, making for a smooth ride.

Pit Stop 1: Breakfast at Krishnagiri A2B

By the time I reached A2B in Krishnagiri, I was ready for a hearty breakfast. Unfortunately, the experience was underwhelming—the food was mediocre, and the service was sluggish despite the place not being crowded. A quick meal later, I was back on the road.
Charging Up at Sri Lakshmi Bhavan, Melchengam

Driving an EV means planning your charging stops carefully. Around Melchengam, We took a quick break at Sri Lakshmi Bhavan to top up at their Statiq charging station. As expected, the app refused to start the session, and I had to call customer care to activate it manually. Left with 20% extra charge, I was ready to hit the road again.
Reaching Auro Bliss Villa

After eight hours on the road, I finally arrived at Auro Bliss Villa around 2 PM. The villa, nestled in Tamil Nadu, offered a quiet retreat, though ongoing construction work and an unfinished swimming pool were minor disappointments.

The Return Journey

After a relaxing stay, it was time to head back. We started at 3:30 PM, retracing the same route back to Bangalore.

Another Charging Stop at Sri Lakshmi Bhavan

A quick 20-minute charging stop at Sri Lakshmi Bhavan ensured I had enough juice for the rest of the journey.

Tea Trouble: No Good Tea Shops Between Tiruvannamalai & Krishnagiri
For tea lovers, a word of caution—there are no decent tea shops along the stretch between Tiruvannamalai and Krishnagiri. If you need a good cup of chai, plan accordingly!

Dinner at Sri Saravana Bhavan

Post Krishnagiri toll, we decided to stop at Sri Saravana Bhavan for dinner. The food here was delicious and well worth the stop.

After a long but comfortable drive, I finally reached home around 11:30 PM.

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Li is not talking about teaming up with Tesla and co-developing a new vehicle together.

BBYD has been the EV carmaker to beat in recent times. Over the past five years, it has climbed the ladder to establish itself as a major automotive giant. And there’s no denying that Tesla is its biggest rival currently.

However, BYD’s executive vice president, Stella Li, thinks there is scope for both carmakers to come together and join hands and take down internal combustion engine (ICE) cars. During an interview with the Financial Times, she said, “Our common enemy is the internal combustion engine car. We need to work together . . . to make the industry change.”

Li is not talking about teaming up with Tesla and co-developing a new vehicle together. Rather, she believes that EV makers can work together to take the auto industry forward.

She also said that the Chinese car market was the ‘homeland for innovation’ and that the government will support foreign companies looking to expand into China, even amid rising differences with the European Union and the U.S.

The European Union has slapped tariffs on BYD and other Chinese EV makers and is pushing for Chinese companies to transfer intellectual property to European businesses in exchange for subsidies. On the other hand, the Chinese government is actively encouraging local companies to limit their investments in foreign manufacturers.

The European Commission says that China’s growth in the European market is due to a range of subsidies throughout the production process. These include discounted lithium and battery supplies from state-owned enterprises, tax breaks, favourable financing from state-controlled banks, and even cheap land to build factories. Despite these issues, BYD is pushing its plans for factories in Hungary and Turkey.

Li said she wasn’t worried about being shut out of the U.S. market either. BYD seems to have the confidence to grow further and beat the internal combustion engine sooner or later.

Source: Carscoops

So a total of ₹ 171,000 or less than ₹ 9 per km - with insurance accounting for 50%. I could have claimed insurance for the dent but decided against it.

BHPian Hayek recently shared this with other enthusiasts:

Time really flies - and I must save EVs really end up munching the kilometres. It is just over 15 months since I bought the Ioniq 5 and the car crossed 19,500 km - with the result that a second service was due.

Hyundai does not do much in these services - just cleaning the brake discs, the sun roof guide rails, an optional wheel alignment and balancing, and an interior cleaning. Total damages were ~₹6500.

So what have I spent over these 19500 kms:

1) about 3300 units of electricity which cost ₹ 33,000.
2) ₹ 81,000 for insurance
3) ₹14,500 for 2 services plus a wheel hub cap that fell off or was stolen
4) ₹ 8,000 for one round of quality detailing
5) ₹30,000 to get a dent repaired
6) ₹ 4,500 as electricity fixed charges

So a total of ₹ 171,000 or less than ₹ 9 per km - with insurance accounting for 50%. I could have claimed insurance for the dent but decided against it.

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And other observation is, like any other EV's range is only an estimate and changes drastically.

BHPian abacusv recently shared this with other enthusiasts:

Wanted to share another test drive I took specifically to verify range. The vehicle was still the beta version of it and not the production ready vehicle.

When I started the test drive the charge was just 19% and range was 47km. This was a shock. This means the range would be just 243km. This is extremely low. I wasnt sure I will be able to test drive to my satisfaction but yet we tried.

For almost 10km on the road, the range and battery % did not reduce. Then later on slowly reduce. I drove 31km two and fro and the battery charge dropped till 12% without and features getting shut. AC was full on, power was same. I tried boost mode and it worked as well at 13% unlike other cars where sports/boost mode will disabled and AC will disabled. Nothing of that sort happened at 12% of charge left.

And other observation is. Like any other EV's range is only an estimate and changes drastically. For 47km at 19% charge left, a 31km drive should burn 12% of battery but it just burnt 7%. And Km stood at 34km almost double range it displayed earlier. So the range now is 287 which way less still.
Positive side of it
1. After driving 10km I almost lost the charge anxiety. I wanted to drive 15km stretch and both me and SA were happy to see it cover and there as no worry for us return back. And we returned with almost another 30km drive left to make.
2. No features were shut for upto 12% at least may be below 10% it will.
3. AC worked well

Surprisingly every video there is, no on intentionally have posted about charge. Like many posted, every other car that is launched has specific range test videos. No one has posted real world range test video even though they have tested it for a day.

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Currently the vehicle is giving a range of 110-115 kms depending on the driving conditions with A/C.

BHPian 123.rishabh recently shared this with other enthusiasts:

Updating the thread after a long time !
Second Major Service was done at 20000 kms in February 2024.
Apart from the regular services like
1. Gearoil Change
2. A/C Filter Change &
3. Battery Air Filter Change,
4. The cell balancing of the main battery was done since it is recommended at 5 years since the date of manufacture (which was end of 2018).

The battery was found to be in a good shape and the car was returned after service with a bill of 11000 Rupees.

There was an issue with the Key ring illumination system and it was changed under warranty. While changing it, the technicians at Mahindra damaged my immobilizer module and had to replace the whole Key and lock set to make it work again. (All was done under warranty).

Coming to February 2025, the vehicle has covered 23800 kms (3800 kms since the last year), Although the service interval is 20,000 kms or 2 years, I still sent it for a general inspection and washing to M&M Service.
The car is doing well and came back with a bill of 1350 Rs. & the next service is due at 40,000 Kms / February 2026.

Currently the vehicle is giving a range of 110-115 kms depending on the driving conditions with A/C.

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