Range Anxiety: Myth or Reality in India?

[aditya.singh]

As electric vehicles (EVs) gain traction in India, one of the most common concerns for potential buyers is range anxiety—the fear of running out of battery before reaching a charging station. But with the growing EV infrastructure and advancements in battery technology, is range anxiety still a real issue or has it become more of a myth?
Let’s break it down and see how different EV models perform in real-world conditions, and explore whether range anxiety should still be a worry for Indian EV drivers.

What is Range Anxiety?
Range anxiety refers to the fear or worry that your EV might run out of charge before you can find a charging station. It’s something many drivers new to EVs experience, especially if they’ve been used to the convenience of quick refueling with petrol or diesel. For those making the switch to EVs, it’s the most talked-about concern—and often a dealbreaker.

EV Ranges: What Do Manufacturers Claim?
Different EV models come with varying ranges, and manufacturers usually advertise their MIDC (Modified Indian Driving Cycle) range, which is the maximum distance an EV can travel on a full charge under ideal conditions. However, real-world results often differ due to traffic, road conditions, driving styles, and the use of AC or other features.
Here are a few examples of the claimed ranges of popular EVs in India:
Tata Nexon EV Max: Up to 453 km
MG ZS EV: Up to 461 km
Hyundai Kona Electric: Up to 452 km
Ola S1 Pro: Up to 181 km
Tata Punch EV: Up to 421 km (Long Range variant)
These numbers are impressive on paper, but how do they stack up in real-world driving?

Real-World Range: A Different Story?
In reality, the actual range of an EV can be significantly lower than the advertised figure. Factors like stop-and-go traffic, road inclines, heavy use of air conditioning, and regenerative braking all play a role in reducing the actual distance an EV can travel on a single charge.
For instance:
City driving with lots of starts and stops can lower efficiency, but regenerative braking can help recover some energy.
Highway driving may be more efficient but the absence of frequent braking means less energy recovery from regen, impacting overall range.
From user experiences, the real-world range of popular EVs in India tends to fall between 80-90% of the claimed range. That means a vehicle with a claimed range of 400 km could realistically give you about 320-360 km on a single charge.

Range Anxiety: A Bigger Issue for Long-Distance Trips?
For everyday city commutes, range anxiety is often less of a concern. Most urban EV drivers find that the average daily driving distance is well within their EV’s range, with plenty of room left for evening top-ups at home or at a charging station.
However, long-distance road trips are where range anxiety becomes more relevant. While EV owners have successfully completed journeys between major cities, it often involves careful planning, including:
Mapping charging stations in advance
Sticking to recommended driving speeds for better efficiency
Opting for eco driving modes to stretch the range further
Strategic charging stops to avoid running too low on power
Drivers who plan their routes well, taking into account charging stops, report having no major issues even on long trips. But those who take on unplanned or spontaneous road trips may feel the pinch of limited charging infrastructure, especially in rural or less developed areas.

Charging Infrastructure in India: Still Developing
One of the primary contributors to range anxiety is the availability of charging stations. While cities like Delhi, Mumbai, and Bangalore are seeing a growing number of public chargers, the story is different in smaller towns and remote areas.
Key challenges include:
Lack of fast chargers along highways
Limited options for overnight charging in rural or semi-urban areas
Underdeveloped charging networks in parts of northern and eastern India
That being said, initiatives like Tata Power EZ Charge, Statiq, and TelioEV are expanding their networks, with a focus on highway charging to make long trips easier. The situation is improving steadily, but for now, long-distance trips still require careful planning.

User Experiences: Real Stories from the Road
Many EV owners in India are overcoming range anxiety by sharing their experiences. For example:
One Tata Nexon EV Max owner successfully completed a trip from Delhi to Jaipur, covering about 260 km with just one charging stop. The trip was smooth, with around 40% charge remaining on arrival.
An MG ZS EV driver shared that while their city range was about 350 km, they managed a highway trip from Mumbai to Goa (around 600 km) with strategic stops at DC fast chargers along the way.
EV owners also report that range anxiety tends to fade over time as they become more familiar with their vehicle's battery performance and how to manage charge levels effectively.

So, Is Range Anxiety a Myth or Reality?
In India, range anxiety is still a real concern for long-distance travel but much less so for daily city driving. As the charging infrastructure grows and more fast chargers are installed along highways, we may soon see range anxiety becoming more of a myth than a reality.
For now, with a bit of planning and the right tools (like apps to find charging stations), most EV owners find that range anxiety is manageable, and long trips are possible without much hassle.

What’s Your Experience?
We’d love to hear from you! Have you experienced range anxiety while driving your EV? How do you manage long trips, and what charging solutions do you use? Share your stories, tips, and tricks in the comments below!
Let’s get the conversation going and help future EV owners overcome range anxiety!