Even though electric vehicles (EVs) are currently a huge trend throughout the Indian auto industry, many potential customers are still hesitant to make the switch, therefore it will be some time until EV volumes catch up with those of petrol and diesel cars. This reluctance is largely due to the restricted range of EVs, which prevents them from being used for long-distance outstation journeys and limits their use to city borders.
To dispel that notion, Autocar India recently drove an EV, a Porsche Taycan, 4,466 kilometres from Kashmir to Kanyakumari. That was not only feasible with a little preparation, but also simple and enjoyable. While there are several factors which enabled this, the key issue was how to charge the car frequently along the journey. Moreover, this is true for all EVs.
Based on their experience, here are eight suggestions to keep your electric vehicle (EV) comfortably charged and reduce range anxiety while travelling in India.
1. Prepare your route
It may seem obvious to suggest this on a long trip, but it counts more more with an EV. Determine how long it will take you to get there merely by driving by planning out your exact route using a tool like Google Maps or MapMyIndia. This should provide you with a sense of the number of breaks you’ll like to get along the road for food or simply to rest, and if it’s a long road, how many days you’ll require and whether you can stay the night. Choose your lodgings, lunch destinations, and picnic locations in advance according on your preferences and those of your passengers.
2. Download applications for charging
After completing that step, you can now consider where and when you’ll charge your car. Tata Power is brand-neutral and currently has the largest network of public charging in the nation, so downloading and registering for that app is a good starting point. Beyond that, though, we advise downloading PlugShare, a user-generated app which not only lists all the outlets in the nation but also includes advice from people who have actually used them. They even let you know whether a restaurant is close by. Also, you will probably need to install that app in order to utilise a charging from a new brand.
3. Have a backup charger
Despite the fact that many public charging stations have been installed across the nation by automakers, major corporations, small start-ups, and even oil firms, not every one of them are yet operational. As a result, prepare a backup charger that is close by and on your path for each planned charging stop. But, considering how patchy our present charging network is, close by can mean going on to the following major city or town, so take that into consideration. Also, the majority of stations only offer one or two charges, so if there is a line already, you may need to go on to the next location
4. Understand how long it takes to charge your EV
Although it might seem obvious, new EV owners frequently are unaware of how much time charging takes contrasted to fueling. Depending on your level of charge, even if you have a 25kW DC charger—which is what the most of them are—you may need at least an hour to fully recharge. To get at least a rough sense of how long you’ll have to wait, it’s critical to verify the reported charging time for your EV in the owner’s manual or via the Autocar India website. Naturally, if you’re in line behind another automobile, the wait time will extend further.
5. If you don’t have to, don’t charge in full
You might not need to charge all the way up to 100% if your location is nearby. Remember that the rate of charging, regardless of the car or charger, bogs down at the finish, typically after the 80 percent point, making the wait for the final 20 percent disproportionately longer. If the predicted range for your EV is comfortably greater than the travel time to your destination, think about cutting short the charging process and sparing yourself some time. The person in line after them will also be appreciative. Of course, you can top it off if you’d just like having a full battery for subsequent use.
6. Set up a digital wallet or credit card
A credit card or digital wallet is required in India to use public charging stations. While paying with cash for fuel is still legal, almost all public chargers now use a manufacturer-specific app. However, in order to utilise these apps, a digital wallet must typically be topped up. This can be done via a credit card, bank transfer, or some other digital wallet like PayTM or Google Pay. Don’t worry about the calculations; everything you don’t use gets transferred back to your balance. The charging software will typically ask you to enter how much units, kilowatts, or rupees worth you’d like to recharge in your session.
7. Have an extension cord with you
Although by no means necessary, this can be useful at times. When your battery is nearly low and you simply can’t find a commercial charger when travelling, your only option is occasionally to recharge it using a 15A wall outlet. Keep in mind that this is the slowest method for recharging any EV, and a full charge may take up to a day. So, this should only be used as a last resort and only when you have time to spare, such as during an overnight trip. Also, the cable that comes with the automobile might not reach and this plug connection might not be in a handy place. There are businesses that specialise in producing extension cords for EVs, and the one Autocar people brought along for the Taycan drive had a 15A plug and a sturdy 25-meter-long 3-core wire. In case the source doesn’t have it, theirs even allowed them to construct their own earthing.
8. Be leisurely
The best course of action is to recognise that long trips in an EV would take more time than they would in a fuel or diesel vehicle. Don’t give yourself a strict deadline; if it can’t be completed in a day, extend it to two. Don’t be put off by the fact that sometimes the available charger will be conveniently positioned at your overnight stay and other times it will be in the middle of your drive. Taking it slow also applies to your driving; since EVs lack gears, they are typically less efficient on highways than in cities, and the faster you drive, the faster the battery will deplete.
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