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2023-12-15 6:03 pm
The drive from Bangalore to Kerala was a snoozefest; there was nothing exciting to see. So, this time, we were up for a coastal joyride to Pune!
At 4:40 pm, after a hearty mug of Kerala tea, we zipped towards the GOEC charger at LULU MALL, Kochi. It was pristine, with helpful attendants always around. Just ₹340 got us from 56% to a full 100%. While charging, we dashed to Dhe Puttu, run by celebrity Dileep, to try the mutton kizhi puttu and chicken biryani puttu. Totally worth it!
Moving along the coastal route, we had countless chargers at our disposal. We couldn’t fly like before due to road construction. Near Kozhikode, we stumbled upon a spot famous for its South Indian halwa, a South Indian-style jelly cake.
A quick stop for Kerala chai kept us going until we hit the GO EC CHARGER IN Kannur G Mall. Another 100% charge at just ₹558!
Oh, those seamless GOEC chargers with their RFID magic! No app hassle, no cost for the RFID card. Jio BP Pulse, please take notes!
From Kannur, we headed to the Zeon charger at Manipal Inn, Udupi.
No queue, thankfully! Savored a scrumptious banana bun with masala curry and coconut, Udupi’s staple. The bill? A mere ₹215 for two! Charged 80% at ₹605 before setting off.
The coastal roads past Udupi were stunning! The warm, humid climate just begged for a sea splash (lol). Near Kundapura, a quick stop at a friend's for a power nap and a lip-smacking non-veg lunch was a must. Then, at Hotel Sagar Residency, voila! Spotted a Jio BP charger. Quick charge, Mtn Dew, and some office hustle!
At 5 a.m., we departed from Ankola, heading towards Belagavi. I knew already that the roads were pretty inclined and also very bad, so I had prepared my mind earlier. I departed with 82% battery, and till Yellapur, the roads were pretty bad.
As seen in the above picture, after Yellapur, there's a left turn (marked in red) that maps will recommend, but my brother-in-law warned of its unsafety—locals throwing eggs at windshields and other potential risks. Instead, opt for the green, straighter route, albeit longer by 45 km, but believe me, after Yelapur, this route to Hubli is phenomenal. Consequently, instead of reaching the Jio BP charger in Chikkalagudda, my vehicle hit 10% SOC at Gajraj Palace in Kittur. Taking the longer route ruined my plugshare planning, but no worries, safety first.
The chargezone charger at Kittur was spotless, well-maintained, and I even took advantage of the auto-charge feature—smooth and efficient! But the contrasting experience was at the hotel; there was no breakfast available, and surprisingly, a bustling bar was in full swing at 11 AM! Yes, you heard that right—11 in the morning! We didn't stick around for long, as the place seemed unsafe. After topping up to 60%, we pushed towards Viraj Junction, right before the Kollapur Toll.
On the Mumbai-Bangalore route, diversions due to roadwork were as constant as the rumors of a future expressway. Despite the annoyance, the promise of a better road ahead made it bearable! On one such diversion, between Kittur and Viraj Junction, a loud, startling pop echoed from the rear left tire. Panic set in as I cautiously pulled over to the left side.
A huge bolt had pierced the tire. To my amazement, right in front of me was a tire puncture shop—quite the coincidence (if you know what I mean).
Despite the shop being deserted, a quick call brought help in just 10 minutes. The mechanic swiftly jacked up the car and removed the tire, only to reveal a surprising sight: a colossal bolt, seven and a half inches long, with a diameter of 5 mm, wedged into the tire. Repairing it wasn’t an option; we had to resort to patchwork, which ate up another 40 minutes of our journey. Paid a whopping Rs. 550 for the patchwork.
It’s funny how unexpected turns become part of the tapestry of a memorable trip, right?
Anyway, we headed towards Viraj Junction. Upon arriving, it was truly impressive—a well-organized setup with a perfectly located charger inside the food plaza. The e-fill charger was a breeze. I topped up to a hundred percent and multitasked by having a meal at McDonald’s while wrapping up some pending office work. The total cost was around ₹950.
Zooming at high speeds and brimming with excitement to head back, we hit the highway with a full top-up. The stretch from Kolhapur to PCMC, Pune, felt like a thrilling rollercoaster ride—entirely downhill and easily the highlight of our journey. I had the pedal to the metal in sports mode, cruising at 100–120 km/h and clocking in at 119 wh/km efficiency. I finally reached PCMC home at 9 p.m.
Now, what are the lessons from this adventure?
Firstly, I learned a crucial tip from the EV guru himself, Mr. Asheesh Arora, our EV doctor: never stop your car from charging before hitting the 100% mark multiple times, especially when fast charging multiple times. That's a surefire way to trigger an HV alert! As I couldn’t afford slow charges, he advised a full top-up at every FC pitstop.
Secondly, after clocking 26k km, the ‘Official’ and oh-so-comfortable range of my car settles at a neat 300 km (Nexon EV MAX). No more, no less.
This journey was an absolute gem in my life's adventures.
Sure, I know many of you seasoned EV travelers have clocked longer trips, but for me, this one was a real standout. Tata Motors, kudos for creating this "magnificent beast!"
TRIP STATS:-
CHARGING COST
ROUTE MAP:-
CHARGINGS STOP WHERE I CHARGED MY CAR:
The expense breakdown for the entire journey (Pune-Kerala, Kerala-Pune) stands as follows:
- Pune to Kerala travel cost: ₹4314
- Charging expenses in Kerala: ₹1077
- Kerala to Pune return journey: ₹3179
- Toll charges: ₹3200
- Total distance covered: 3670 kilometers
At a rate of ₹2.3 per kilometer (inclusive of tolls at ₹3.3/km), it's noteworthy that despite zipping along the highway at rapid speeds, the cost of ₹2.3/km for an EV remains quite reasonable.
This topic was modified 1 year ago by Nihal Zakir Hussain
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