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Mahindra XEV 9S Completes West-to-East EV Drive

Setting Out to Challenge EV Assumptions

At 9:27am, under the quiet watch of history at the Hussainiwala Border, we rolled out with a near-full battery and a question that has hovered over India’s electric mobility shift for years: Can an EV really match — or beat — the pace of a conventional petrol or diesel car over long distances? By 10:16pm the question had its answer — firm, data-backed and impossible to ignore — when we reached the eastern edge at the Banbasa Border. This wasn’t just a cross-country drive.

It was a statement.

The Plan Behind the Record Drive

Our weapon of choice was the Mahindra XEV 9e The goal was ambitious in execution: drive from India’s western to eastern border and do it faster than what Google Maps estimates for an internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle. We started with 96 per cent battery. No backup car, no gimmicks — just planning, confidence and a willingness to challenge assumptions.

The initial stretch set the tone.

Smooth highways, steady cruising and efficient energy management allowed us to cover 226km before our first stop at Patran, Punjab. We arrived with 34 per cent battery remaining — comfortably above panic levels yet perfectly timed for a strategic recharge.

The charger session lasted 58 minutes, taking the battery from 34 to 93 per cent. Back on the road, the XEV 9S settled into a rhythm. This wasn’t cautious driving — it was confident, calculated cruising.

Charging Strategy That Kept the Journey Moving

By the time we reached Gajraula, Uttar Pradesh at the 546km mark, the battery stood at 14 per cent. Again, well within planned margins. The second charging stop was even quicker — just 47 minutes to go from 14 to 97 per cent. Two stops. Less than two hours of total charging. And we were well on track.

Crossing the Finish Line Ahead of ICE

With range anxiety effectively out of the picture, the focus shifted entirely to time on the final leg. The roads opened, the pace remained consistent, and the SUV’s technology played a crucial role. ADAS features reduced fatigue during long highway stretches. The powerful LED headlights turned night driving into non-event. Inside, the triple-screen layout kept our cameraperson engaged. At 10:16pm, we crossed into Banbasa.

Total distance: 764 km

Total driving time: 10 hours 11 minutes

Average speed: 75 kmph

And most importantly — we beat Google Maps’ projected time for an ICE vehicle.