BHPian Eyeevfan recently shared this with other enthusiasts:Five years with an EVJune 2020 was the month when I took the monumental decision of shifting to an EV from a diesel XUV 500. In these 5 years, I have spent time driving these 3 vehicles:Jun 2020 – ZS EV 2020, Exclusive variantSep 2022 – ZS EV 2022, Exclusive VariantDec 2024 – Ioniq 5From day 1, these have been my primary vehicles, used for daily trips, long-distance drives, job-related relocation to other cities with luggage, et,c and I have done a number of highway trips, both long and short:1. MGZS EV 2020New Delhi – Chandigarh a number of timesChandigarh – ShimlaChandigarh – KasauliChandigarh – Kufri2. MG ZS EV 2022Chandigarh – ShimlaChandigarh – JaipurJaipur – Chandigarh via DelhiJaipur – DelhiJaipur – SariskaJaipur – LucknowJaipur – Pune via Udaipur and SuratPune – Kaas plateau3. Hyundai Ioniq 5Pune – BhigwanPune – ShirdiPune – AlibaugPune – MumbaiDuring my first trip from Delhi to Chandigarh in Aug 2020, I remember having range anxiety, but I managed to reach Chandigarh with 21 % charge remaining, which was phenomenal for the ZS 2020. The surprising part was the existence of charging infrastructure on that route even in 2020, which helped in reducing my fears to some extent. After that, there was no looking back and there have been no regrets. I have gradually got used to a relaxed and comfortable noiseless, vibrationless drive, and it is the new norm for me now. I have seen the charging infrastructure improve substantially over the years with the entry of a number of players in the market. However, even after 5 years with an EV, the biggest gripe remains a lack of a unified charging solution, even though Plugshare and MGs eHub do help. I remember reading an article in 2022 that EESL was working on a unified Charging app and it was to be launched in Aug/Sep 2022, but three years hence, there is still no app in sight. The other problem area, in my opinion, is the highway visibility of EV chargers and their siting. The govt needs to come out with a dedicated EV charger symbol, like the petrol pump symbol, and ensure visibility with adequate highway signage. Siting is too random, with the choice of site depending on the EV charging company. Chargers at petrol pumps again seems like an ill thought-out decision, especially if there is no rest area or food court alongside. New expressways, like the Trans-Haryana Expressway or Agra Agra-Lucknow Expressway, have very few chargers.Charging patternMy routine has been to charge the vehicle once a week or ten days with the home charger or a 15Amp plug point. Even on highway trips, other than the highway lunch/Tea halts with fast charging, my default method has been overnight charging with the 15-amp plug point at my destination.Problems facedDefective chargers occasionallyBurnt 15 Amp plug pointsBurnt 5 Amp points when using an adaptorMinor vehicle niggles, managed within warrantyDefective delta home charger – replaced under warrantyUltimately, choosing an EV is a decision which depends on a number of factors like upfront cost, availability of parking with scope of charger installation, daily usage and kms driven, etc. The debates on running cost, battery health, replacement costs, resale value, charging infrastructure, etc., etc. will go on and on. I, personally, do not have any regrets about my switchover from ICE to EV and am unlikely to revert to an ICE vehicle. Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.
