Electrical automobiles have skyrocketed in significance over the previous decade, notably in mild of world points like local weather change and air pollution. EVs require no fossil fuels to run, and subsequently emit zero dangerous pollution into the environment. To advertise the adoption of EVs, September 9 was designated ‘World EV Day’ six years in the past by sustainability-focused firms Inexperienced.TV and ABB Group, and is recognised worldwide.
On the sixth iteration of World EV Day, let’s check out a few of Autocar India’s most notable achievements within the all-electric mobility house.
1. Mercedes Benz EQC clear vitality charging
Hydro, wind and photo voltaic vitality had been the one technique of charging we used
In 2021, we set out on a journey in the Mercedes-Benz EQC to discover how really “inexperienced” EVs could be when powered by renewable vitality solely; at current, coal is the first supply of vitality manufacturing. We departed from the Mercedes-Benz facility in Chakan with a full cost, heading to Tata Energy’s Khopoli hydroelectric plant, Agaswadi wind farm and Mulshi photo voltaic farm.
Alongside the way in which, we investigated clear energy sources – hydro, wind and photo voltaic – that would sustainably gasoline EVs in India. Whereas the EQC couldn’t be charged instantly from the hydro grid because it mixes with the principle grid, we had been in a position to cost the SUV through a 15A plug at Tata Energy. Nonetheless, we did faucet charging energy instantly from wind generators and photo voltaic panels for the EQC. In the end, this journey confirmed us that our EVs may quickly be really emissions-free – not simply on the tailpipe, however throughout your entire energy chain.
2. Inexperienced Mumbai Drive 2021
30 EVs quietly trundling via the Sanjay Gandhi Nationwide Park
We achieved a uncommon feat by bringing collectively each EV that was on sale in India on the time and driving them throughout Mumbai and thru the protected Sanjay Gandhi Nationwide Park in Borivali. 30 EVs had been a part of the drive, together with the Hyundai Kona, Tata Nexon EV, MG ZS EV, Mercedes-Benz EQC, Jaguar i-Tempo, Audi e-tron GT, and even a Tesla Mannequin X.
The Green Mumbai Drive was flagged off from the Mahalakshmi Racecourse by Aditya Thackeray, MoS for Tourism, Setting and Protocol, and Jeet Adani, director of Adani Electrical energy. Notable auto trade executives like Santosh Iyer (Mercedes-Benz India), Balbir Singh Dhillon (Audi India), Rohit Suri (JLR India), and Amit Suri (Volvo India) had been additionally a part of the occasion.
3. Debuting EVs in two totally different nationwide parks
Tata Nexon EV in Satpura Tiger Reserve, Audi e-tron in Gir Nationwide Park
In 2021, we had been the primary to drive an electrical automobile (particularly, the Tata Nexon EV) into Madhya Pradesh’s Satpura Tiger Reserve. The roughly 140km drive from Bhopal to Forsyth Lodge was accomplished with round 30km of vary remaining, regardless of beginning with the battery at 92 p.c. With no fast-charging infrastructure close by, the Nexon EV needed to be charged in a single day utilizing a 15A socket. In the course of the safari, the torquey and compact EV carried out effectively on steep inclines and slim forest trails, and its silent operation allowed it to strategy wildlife like sambars, gaurs, wild pigs, and even a leopard with out the noise of an idling engine – no tiger, although.
Then, in 2022, we had been but once more the primary to drive an EV into Gujarat’s Gir Nationwide Park, this time in an Audi e-tron. Reaching our lodging induced a substantial amount of vary anxiousness on account of defective chargers alongside the way in which, however we managed to get there with round 20 p.c of cost remaining. As soon as we reached, the e-tron was a superb companion to tour the park with, serving to us spot wildlife like chital, crocodiles, lions, and extra.
4. Porsche Taycan Kashmir to Kanyakumari street journey
Almost 4,500km in a efficiency EV
2022 noticed us take one in every of our most bold roadtrips up to now: 4,467km from Kashmir to Kanyakumari in a Porsche Taycan. Regardless of challenges like landslides in Jammu, flooded roads in Punjab, and energy outages at sure charging spots, the Taycan dealt with the journey with ease. On probably the most environment friendly legs, the Porsche EV delivered 7.1km/kWh, figuring out to an indicated vary of 475km.
Consolation mode was the default setting, however we did have numerous enjoyable in some stretches courtesy of the Taycan’s Sport Plus drive mode. As much as 225kW of quick charging bolstered comfort, and complete charging bills tallied as much as simply Rs 15,422 – cheaper than gasoline for an equal petrol automobile. Extra than simply distance, the journey proved that combining sports activities car-like efficiency with electrical effectivity works completely in real-world circumstances, and that the Taycan is extra sturdy than you could suppose.
5. Pininfarina Battista India high velocity file
1900hp, quad-motor hypercar achieved a 358.03kph high velocity
Again in early 2023, we set a brand new Indian top-speed file with the 1,900hp Pininfarina Battista electric hypercar on the NATRAX high-speed oval close to Indore. Reaching a formidable v-max of 358.03kph, the Battista blitzed previous the earlier file of 332.20kph, which was additionally set by us in 2016 in an Audi R8 V10 Plus.
The Battista top-speed run additionally ended up establishing new world information for a manufacturing automobile: 0-300kph in 10.49 seconds and a quarter-mile time of 8.55 seconds, all verified by the Federation of Motor Sports activities Golf equipment of India (FMSCI).
6. Hero Vida V1 Professional longest distance in 24 hours file
The e-scooter travelled simply shy of a whopping 1,800km
We teamed up with Hero MotoCorp in 2023 to set a brand new Guinness World Record for the longest distance travelled by an e-scooter in 24 hours. Utilizing the Vida V1 Professional with easy-to-swap detachable batteries, we lined a whopping 1,780km at Hero’s Centre of Innovation and Know-how close to Jaipur.
The endurance problem relied on swift battery swaps and flawless coordination, with the pit crew attaining 38 battery adjustments in below 20 seconds – fairly spectacular contemplating the intense warmth, rider fatigue, and complexity concerned. Furthermore, the Vida V1 Pro ran flawlessly all through, dealing with the gruelling circumstances with ease and sustaining efficiency persistently.
7. Volvo EC40 Jaisalmer to Mawsynram street journey
From India’s driest area to its wettest
In 2024, we took the Volvo EC40 (previously often called the C40 Recharge) on a roughly 3,000km road trip from Jaisalmer in Rajasthan – one in every of India’s driest areas – to Mawsynram in Meghalaya, extensively recognised because the nation’s wettest. The route included a detour to Ghaziabad’s Volvo Reverse Venture, a former dumping floor the place round 10,000 timber had been planted as a part of the corporate’s reforestation initiative.
Charging was carried out primarily in a single day with DC quick chargers additionally used alongside the route, and the EC40 posed no points through the journey. Mockingly, we encountered heavy rain and waterlogging in Jaisalmer however surprisingly little rainfall in Mawsynram.
8. Mercedes Benz EQS sedan longest distance world file
949km travelled on a single cost
Although we’ve racked up numerous Guinness World Data over time, eking out the longest journey travelled by an EV on a single charge in the Mercedes-Benz EQS 580 sedan stays one in every of our greatest, particularly because it coincided with our twenty fifth anniversary in 2024, too.
Setting off from Bangalore on a full cost, the EQS 580 lined a distance of 949km when it reached its vacation spot in Navi Mumbai, beating the earlier Guinness World Report for a similar by 32.26km. Impressively, the 949km real-world vary exceeds EQS 580’s claimed vary of 817km by simply over 16 p.c. It’s additionally value mentioning that the two-day journey was accomplished below arduous circumstances like heavy rainfall, numerous visitors, damaged roads, and even a flat tyre.
9. Porsche Taycan BIC EV lap file
2:10.313 lap time makes the Taycan the quickest EV round BIC thus far
On the Buddh Worldwide Circuit in Higher Noida, we lapped a Porsche Taycan Turbo S and clocked a time of two:10.313 minutes – the first-ever EV lap file across the 5.125km monitor. Regardless of its relatively portly kerb weight of two,370kg, the Taycan delivered unexpectedly sharp performance at BIC because of 761hp and 1,050Nm, a low centre of gravity (aided by the heavy 93.4 kWh battery), exact steering, and very good stability.
Upon hitting the apex and pinning the throttle, the Taycan belied physics the way in which it propelled out of corners with explosive velocity, and regardless of weighing 845kg extra, the EV achieved almost the identical high velocity because the 911 GT3 RS on the finish of BIC’s most important straight.
10. Ultraviolette F99 India high velocity file
258kph round NATRAX and a 100-200kph run of 6.2 seconds
One in every of our more moderen information entailed setting a brand new benchmark for made-in-India two-wheelers by hitting a top speed of 258kph on the Ultraviolette F99 on the NATRAX oval. Designed round a 400V structure with a liquid-cooled powertrain, the purpose-built F99 packs 120hp and an astounding 972Nm (measured on the rear wheel).
The F99’s customized trellis body, solid carbon-fibre bodywork, Brembo brakes, and Ohlins suspension helped the bike stay steady at excessive speeds, culminating in a clear file run captured through precision V-Field knowledge. It additionally achieved a blistering 0-200kph run in below 10 seconds and 100-200kph in simply 6.2 seconds, smashing earlier Indian bike velocity information.
11. Mercedes Benz EQS SUV temperature change file
From the sweltering warmth of Rajasthan to the sub-zero chill of Ladakh
Our 2025 Guinness World Report noticed us attaining the greatest temperature change endured by a production EV. We completed this utilizing the Mercedes-Benz EQS 450 SUV, driving from the scorching warmth of 47.5 deg-C in Rajasthan to the below-freezing chill of -3.7 deg-C in Ladakh, for a formidable general temperature swing of 51.2 deg-C.
The journey examined the boundaries of the EQS 450 SUV, particularly its 122kWh battery’s thermal administration system. Regardless of excessive variations in temperature, the local weather management and battery methods saved the EQS 450 SUV performing easily and safely.