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Challenging the myth that MG Comet EV is strictly for urban use

20th March 2024, 10:33 by Rahul Nagaraj

Everyone categorically mentioned that the EV cannot & should not be taken on the highway.

BHPian ALTIMAed recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Since I took delivery of my MG Comet (11th Nov 23), I have been doing an average of 80 km daily. Time-wise, it's one and a half hours to the office and sometimes up to 2 hours the return journey, thanks to the notorious traffic jam at the Delhi-Haryana border. Time-wise, I am in the car for 3 hours and 45 mins, daily. The longest distance covered is 62 kms from my residence to my Uncle’s place in Greater Noida (with 4 adults).

With all the information that I have been able to get, each of them categorically mentioned that the Comet is strictly for “URBAN” use and cannot / should not be taken on the highways. Well, after the recent TBHP NCR meet at Murthal (a one-way distance of 61 kms) from my residence, somehow I felt this myth could be challenged. Our Distinguished BHPian SS Traveller drove my car to the venue, and on the return, I took over the wheel. Due to traffic, the average speed was really low, but it did give me a certain level of confidence that I could give it a taste of the highway.

26th Jan (Friday) is a holiday, 27th Jan (Saturday, I could apply for leave) 28th Sunday (weekly off), what better opportunity could I ask for? With prior permission, I got the green signal to leave the office at 2 PM on 25th Jan (Thursday). Put out feelers for a ‘partner in crime’ but all and sundry thought I was crazy to drive the Comet from Gurgaon to Ajmer and back. So yours truly was left with no option other than to do it alone. Reality is, I wanted to face, first-hand the concerns of range anxiety / charging problems / planning my charging stoppages – clubbing them with washroom and meals/night halts, and so on.

Ever since I purchased my Comet, I have maintained an extensive log and have concluded that for every 1 hour of charging, the range increases by 36 kms (this was a major contributor towards my stoppages/charging times).

Sharing two pictures

Odometer reading at the commencement of the trip
Charging 'Puchku' till 100%

Planned to depart at 2 PM

For the uninformed, Comet only supports AC slow charging. MG has provided a portable charger which can be plugged into any 15 amp socket (provided the socket is connected to a 15 amp MCB and required earthing provided – more on this later – 220V x 15A = 3300 W (3.3 KW). Even if one connects to an AC 7.5 KW charger, charging shall happen at 3.3 KW, with no change in charging time. I have got a 20-meter extension cord made, just to tackle the situation of a socket is far from the car.

Now to answer, of all the towns/places to visit, why Ajmer – well Ajmer is my mother’s hometown. My grandmother had her residence / my mother was schooled there / my parents got married there and I have been visiting Ajmer since 1974 (as a 5-year-old kid). Additionally, I have done my schooling at Ajmer, the same being for my sister – the pair of us have tons of childhood memories associated with Ajmer. With my grandmother being there, even after passing out from school, I have been to Ajmer many times, my last visit being 3 years ago, just for a couple of hours.

25th January as the clock struck 2 PM, I commenced my journey.

Mentally I had made two decisions:

Not to drive above 70 kmph
After covering 100 kms, keep an eye open for chargers.

(Before the trip, I tried using PlugShare to mark my trip, but I could not get the required information for some reason. After returning back, when I opened the app on my laptop, the information required was easily found – my really bad luck).

So I had to rely on the information provided by Tata Power Ez charge and Statiq which to a certain extent did help. It was a no-brainer for me to take the Old Delhi Jaipur Highway (not the expressway) as the availability of chargers/food joints/help in case of running out of charge, getting help would be easier than getting stuck on the expressway.

Getting out of Gurgaon and by the time I crossed Manesar, 2 hours were gone. Peacefully was driving at 70 km/h with very short bursts of 75 km/h while overtaking. Close to Behror, a flyover was being constructed which led to a massive traffic jam. Crawling with traffic for about 30 mins, I decided to take a tea break, diverted to a petrol pump and enquired if I they had a 15A socket to charge my car, politely they denied, it but said there was a charger a km ahead. I pushed on, yes there was a charger but a DC fast charger. Really wonder why these DC fast chargers do not have a 15A AC socket (it's so easy to provide, which shall be God’s sent to poor souls like me). Anyway, chugged along again getting into a huge traffic jam due to flyover construction. As I was between stopping to a standstill and crawling, I spotted a hoarding of a resort (forgetting the name) 1 km ahead. Decided to stop there. Turned in towards the resort, and asked the security guy if they had a charger, he responded negatively. Parked the car, went inside and spoke to the manager. He allowed me to use a 15A socket but informed me that they had a power cut, and lights were working on solar – but told me, the regular power supply should be restored soon. I had a cuppa of tea and some pakoras, but unfortunately, electricity was not restored. I decided to proceed further to check my luck.

The next stop was 4 kms later, at Rajdhani Tourist Motel, Kotputli. Stoppage/charging time 8.06 PM to 10.13 PM (2 hours and 7 mins). Requested the Manager, if I could use a 15A socket to charge my car, he graciously agreed (Thank God – though short-lived). Hooked up the portable charger, and was pretty happy with myself that the procedure of ‘requesting’ was working. Having skipped lunch, just surviving on pakoras (eating light on purpose), I visited the washroom at their restaurant, after which had some snacks and watched their TV to kill time. Regularly monitor the charging percentage and range on the Ismart app installed on my phone. After charging for 2 hours, (the time being 10.15 PM – this late thanks to the horrendous traffic jam due to the construction of flyovers), the battery percentage reached 68% translating to a displayed range of 136 kms. I made up my mind to proceed further. Came to the restaurant’s reception counter and asked them how much I paid for charging. The manager (who allowed me to charge) was called, he came and told me Rs 300/- (a red flag, but accepted due to my mistake of not asking in the beginning as to what shall be the charging amount). I had already calculated the number of units that my car took in, hence asked him, Sir on what basis have you arrived at Rs 300/- he became extremely aggressive telling me that I was ungrateful for the fact that he allowed me to charge my vehicle (yes he did oblige and yes I was desperate to charge my car, but the cost needed to be justified). He then said, if you do not want to pay, then just leave. I said, Sir please give me the scanner, I shall pay the amount. Instead of giving me the scanner which is used to pay the restaurant/room dues, he gave me his personal phone on the screen which was his personal number. So it is up to one and all to decide what he might have done with the remittance.

Proceeding further, 29 kms ahead was Highway King, Shahpura. Plugshare showed that a charger is installed, available and working (but my folly was I did not check the type of charger). The highway was clear, must comment on the headlamp beam throw of the Comet, high beam and low beam are really good and illuminate the road ahead clearly and well (what to be kept in mind, is my speed being restricted to 70 km/h). In no time I reached Highway King and spotted the chargers. Two of them were installed both DC fast chargers. One Tata Nexon was being charged. I got off the car, to check if they might have a 15A socket, unfortunately not. I went inside the restaurant and met the Manager, and told him about my problem. He was extremely helpful. He told me the adjoining petrol pump belonged to them and they have a 15A socket.

He accompanied me to the pump and told his staff to direct me to the socket. Attached are pictures below.