Road-tripping with an EV in India: Top 4 Problems To Expect

Despite frequent and hopeful announcements in the public, reality states that EV infrastructure still has a long way to go

The EV market in India has grown impressively in the last two-to-three years. Buyers today have a broader choice of mass-market EVs to choose from, many of them with a claimed range of over 300km, and charging stations are still scarce but no longer as rare. While manufacturers of EVs and charging points roll out glamourous statements of how EVs are ready replacements for internal combustion vehicles, the reality states that there is much to be done.

One of our editorial colleagues went on a road-trip earlier this year and based on his experiences, these are some of the realistic concerns that still position EVs as stressful alternatives to a regular petrol or diesel powered car.

What was the car and where was it driven?

First, let us establish the context of the experience for utmost transparency. The vehicle in question was a nearly two-year old Hyundai Kona Electric. It was the first long-range EV in India with an ARAI-certified range of 452km when new. It has a 39.2kWh battery pack powering an electric motor rated at 136PS and 395Nm.

The trip was made in the summer, from Bengaluru to a tourist spot in a nearby hill station. While these conditions are not ideal for optimal performance of EVs, they are among the better environmental circumstances commonly found in the country. The car was loaded with four occupants and luggage during the drive.

1. You always have less range than what the car says

Like most active range estimation displays in the multi-information display, they’re not to be trusted in EVs either. The system is programmed to be overly optimistic, especially when it’s started up for the first time that day. While newer EVs, especially at the higher end of the price range, are offering more accurate range estimation algorithm factoring in likely driving conditions, your realistic range will always fall short.

For example, the Kona EV was fully charged overnight using a wallbox charger overnight and indicated 345km of range at the time of starting up. The city-section of the drive was to be completed in the early hours of the morning to avoid traffic. However, it wasn’t long before the range began to drop faster than it should have, forcing the driver to be conservative with the energy just a little over halfway into the 290km journey.

With an uphill stretch for the final 50-odd kilometres, the Kona Electric reached its destination with 1% charge left, after having tried various high-economy tactics such as no air con and driving at slow speeds behind a large vehicle for better aerodynamic efficiencies.

2. Charging on the way is not always an option

It is understandable that the limited availability of EV charging stations forces EV users to plan their routes accordingly. This has always been a change forced on the user by the nature of the powertrain compared to ICE vehicles, and will continue to do so for the near future.

On the route taken, there were no clear indications for where one might find a suitable charging station unlike the signs that indicate fuel stations. Also, if you happen to have poor network and are in an unfamiliar area, it becomes even harder to locate that charge point you found via some app on your phone. Furthermore, the station that has a charger with a high enough capacity might be well out of your way. Thus, the extra distance you’ll cover in deviating and returning to your route, negates the advantage of a quick stop for a little extra range.

• Electric Charging Stations in India

Therefore, unlike an ICE where a fuel stop can be a spur of the moment decision, you always need to plan ahead for your recharge stops. And if you’re travelling with people, not everyone is going to be thrilled that your green car needs an hour or so to top up the range without suitable refreshments in close proximity. A decent tea or coffee shop with packed snacks at every major charging station, like you’d find at any major fuel pump, would really help the EV experience.

3. The charger at your destination may not work either

The property at the destination where the editorial member was staying the night was chosen for the fact that they offered an EV charge point in the parking area. Once reached, the Kona was parked up directly in front of said charger and the 2.8kW portable charger cable was used to plug it in.

While the display of the charge point was illuminated, the interface was not user friendly and did not offer clear directions for use. After a short period of fiddling with the charge point, plugging in and out the cable, it was concluded that the charger was not functional. In the end, a 15A socket was the only available solution to top up the Kona’s battery.

4. Untrained staff, while well-meaning, is unhelpful

When the staff running the hotel property was contacted for help with the charge point, they had little to offer. All they knew was that people are supposed to plug it in, install an app for payment, and everything else should work. Once it was pointed out that the charger was not functioning, they were at a loss for words and the one person who might be of help was not available. In the end, they politely apologised for the inconvenience and were helpful with using the 15A charging option.

While this may seem a rare circumstance at an out-of-city hill resort, you’re quite likely to run into this problem when using an EV for a road trip. Most chargers, especially in parking bays, are unmanned and offer little guidance to new users other than how to pay for a service that might not even be working. So when you do need assistance, you’re not likely to find it.

Related: You Can Now Charge Up Your EV At Any Indian Hotels-owned Property As A Guest

Is an EV worth the trouble in the end?

Yes. Everytime a new technology is being adopted, there are issues that will need resolving before the entire process feels as smooth as it does for the outgoing technology. Given that governments and therefore carmakers across the world have committed themselves to a future of electric mobility, there is some reward in being an early adopter. While you do have to deal with all the teething issues with switching to EVs, you get the benefits of lower charge rates and price incentives. There is also some solace in the knowledge that you tried to do your part in reducing your carbon footprint before it was mandatory.

• Electric Cars in India

An EV may still not be the right car for everyone, not even in metropolitan areas, but it is worth considering now, and not when it is your only option. The more people that use EVs, the more significance given by related businesses and government agencies to speed up the development of the infrastructure. While mass-market EVs will remain focussed on primarily intra-city use, we’re excited for a future of affordable and anxiety-free EV experiences.