Electric Vehicles (EVs) are becoming popular in India, but for new owners, driving an EV feels like entering a completely new world. Based on my personal experience with the Tata Nexon EV 45 kWh, here are the most common mistakes new EV owners make—and how you can easily avoid them.
1. Delaying Charging Until the Last Minute
Mistake: Waiting until the battery drops below 10% before charging.
Solution: Start charging when your EV reaches 20–25%. This not only keeps your journey stress-free but also helps maintain battery health.
2. Using Fast Chargers All the Time
Mistake: Relying only on DC fast charging.
Solution: Fast charging is useful, but frequent use can affect battery life. Use AC slow charging at home, hotels, or overnight stays whenever possible.
3. Not Planning Road Trips Properly
Mistake: Hitting the road without checking charging stations.
Solution: Always plan your trip using apps like PlugShare or Tata Ira App. On my road trips from Agra to Rameshwaram, Kerala and Nepal pre-planning has saved me many times.
4. Ignoring Tyre Pressure
Mistake: Driving with under-inflated tyres can reduce range by 10–15%.
Solution: Check and maintain recommended tyre pressure before every trip for maximum efficiency.
5. Driving Like a Petrol/Diesel Car
Mistake: Aggressive acceleration and high-speed driving.
Solution: Drive your EV with smooth acceleration and regenerative braking. This gives you the best possible range.
6. Not Maintaining AC Temperature Wisely
Mistake: Many EV owners keep the AC at the lowest temperature (like 16–18°C) which drains the battery faster.
Solution: Keep your AC at 22–25°C with proper ventilation. This ensures comfort and also saves range on long trips.
7. Skipping Software Updates
Mistake: Ignoring over-the-air (OTA) updates.
Solution: Updates often improve range, charging speed, and add features. Always keep your EV’s software up to date.
8. Not Following Charging Etiquette
Mistake: Leaving your car parked at the charger after it’s fully charged.
Solution: Move your car once charging is complete so others can use the station without delay.
Final Thoughts
If you’re a new EV owner, avoiding these mistakes will make your experience smooth and stress-free. Driving an EV is not just about saving money—it’s a new lifestyle. With proper planning and care, it can be far better than owning a petrol or diesel car.
Hi
Harsh
This is in continuation of my last post on your site , I reached Lucknow easily yesterday and from grater noida I reached Agra in 43% battery .I had shortlisted three chargers one at Agra ring road which I skipped as my SOC was around 58%. I thought to charge at Agra toll plaza charger which was live but just I reached there it became faulted ,My next charger was 90Km away on Rest plaza and my SOC was 53%. I drove very cautiously and reached there at 36%SOC ,the fear was not range anxiety as I had enough battery but was of the charger in working condition .But luckily I reached there and charged 100% from 36% and moved ahead .In my entire trip of 1050 km I observed –
1.My car gave me range varying from 4.30Km/percent of charge to 4.81/percent of charge Best range was 4.81/ percent and worst was 4.30/percent giving me a variation range of 430 to 450km.
2.In heavy rain condition the range drops as in my case while going from Agra to Lucknow the wh/km went up from 105to 118 and in rain and then again lowered from 118 to 110 after rain stopped and road were clear from water.
3.I witnesses lowest wh/Km with AC was 97 and highest was 118 during the entire trip.
4.The only glitch I faced was the charging gun locking issue on 7.2 kw charger only and not on DC charger or 3.3 kw
5.The charging hub of Jio BP in Ansal Mall was excellent concept as I parked my car in the night for slow charging of 7.2 kw and picked up in the morning .The car was safe as it is a guarded place.
6.My car took 1hour and 6 min to get charged from 36% to 100% on 60Kw charger and 36% to 75% charged under 30Min as after 75% it slowed down due to another car connect on the second gun and cell balancing .
7.I maintain a habit of using 7.2 kw or slow charger whenever I get opportunity and DC charger only on the Move .
8.And last I found the cost of travel which no one beleaved of 1050 km was Rs 1237/- including cost of my home charging also .
All in all enjoyed the EV experience
Feel free to connect with me on 7318200444.
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