Cars that I have in my mind are the Mahindra BE 6, MG Comet EV, Tata Punch EV, Nexon EV, and BYD Atto 3.

BHPian Auto_guy_101 recently shared this with other enthusiasts:

Dear BHPians,

I'm looking at adding a second car to my garage, and an EV at that. I couldn't find a more apt thread to seek advice on the EVs as most of the threads I noticed were for specific models of EVs.

Firstly, I currently own a Kushaq DSG that is sitting at 18k Kms in just 14 months of ownership. Most of my miles are highway miles though. While the thought of a second vehicle, suited for city duties, has been on my mind for a while and I had initially considered the Jimny, I can't bring myself to call that a financially good deal.

The EV bug hit me when I saw the specs on the BE 6 and I was sold on that car. I'm going to structure my needs into my usage pattern, followed by the cars I've shortlisted and the reason for thinking of buying one now.

Usage Pattern:

I make a 500 km one way trip almost every month and this is all highway. On top of that, I try to add a shorter joyride to the outskirts of Bangalore every 2 months or so. While I don't have a daily commute, when in Bangalore, I do 7-15 km one way everyday and I make a 25 km one way trip almost every weekend I'm in my hometown. I'm mostly going to remain the primary if not sole driver.

Vehicles I have in mind: (all prices OTR Kochi)

1. BE 6e (400+ km, 21-28L)

This is the car that started it. I felt like it would be an Indian Tesla and I didn't mind the design. However, a couple of things hold me back. One is the rear seat, which will be a pain for my aging grandma, and the second is the pricing. I will be shelling out 21L on pack one, then some 1-2 L for the charging and additional electrical work needed at home.

Mahindra has made sure I'll also be waiting a fair bit and that wait could also include price hikes and tax changes. The Pack 2, with a 79 kWh battery, would have been ideal, but prices are yet to come. The cherry (or rather rotten cherry) on top is the high insurance cost of EVs. Apart from all this, the size of the vehicle will make it slightly cumbersome to park at home and use in the city.

2. Comet (180 km, 8-10 L)

I have mixed reactions to this car. While I'm taking a TD this week, my showroom visit left me impressed on the touch and feel of the car. My only concerns are the driving position and the rear passenger comfort (grandma may not be able to climb out easily). All said and done, for 8-10L, I feel this is a worthy car. My only gripe being the size, range, and dynamics will leave it as a purely city car and the odo might not run up so much.

3. Punch.ev (200-270km, 11-16.5L)

This car ticks most of my boxes. Despite the size, it was very comfortable to sit in. I was even able to get into the rear in a not so knees up position with the driving seat set to my position (I prefer it being a little relaxed). I even get a fairly usable boot here. My only downside is the pricing. The mid range with power windows is 12.5 and the LR starts at 14.5, which seems a bit steep for the car.

4. Nexon.ev (270-350 km, 15.5L+)

Sales person said the Nexon now starts with the Creative 45 KWh at 15.5L. While I have test driven the previous gen and liked it, the added advantage here is the usable range, making it capable of long distances is the highlight. I could take this car on alternate months to Bangalore as the charging infra is decent. I could run up 15000 kms a year on this easily, though it would result in my Kushaq sitting idle. Only downsides are whether I will actually drive it enough and the higher insurance costs.

5. Atto 3 - the surprise entrant (380-450km, 27L+)

Other than the pricing, I loved everything about this car. Even if I had an option to get this at 27L before buying my Kushaq, I'd have bought it, but they cut the prices after my purchase. Should a rate cut bring this to say 22L (BE 6 prices), this is the car I'd get. Yes, size is a small issue, but for this car, it's a worthy compromise.

Why Now?

I feel the tax cuts might be taken off the EVs. The Creta and e-Vitara will just make the space more interesting. I'm anyway waiting upto March 2025 to take a call on whether to buy and which one to. Should any of the above cars be discounted, I'll swoop in.

Please help me decide. Thanks in advance!

Here's what BHPian bijims replied:

Firstly, get a thorough test drive of all these cars (especially the BE 6) before making a decision, secondly, is a second car a necessity?

I don't understand the reasoning and why the Kushaq, which is smaller than 2 out of the 5 cars on your list can't handle city duties, sure mileage may be an issue, but besides that, is there any particular reason you need a second car, or are you unhappy with your purchase?

If that's the case and an EV is a necessity, then for short trips, the Comet is a good buy considering the size (I have personal experience with the car and you can take it on the smallest of roads and park it anywhere), the 150 to 180 km of range is more than enough for city duties.

The next option would be the Nexon EV which we also have in our family, a good car but considering the newer launches in this space, the BE 6 seems to provide much better value and is the option I would recommend over anything else.

The Pack 3 with 79 kWh battery costs 30 lakhs OTR and should be good for both the city and the highway, the Pack 2 would get the 59 kWh battery only and the Pack 3 will also get a 59 kWh model after March.

The Atto 3 Dynamic (49.92 kWh) at 27.65 lakhs OTR is a great option and worth considering too, but a bit pricey considering the other options.

Here's what BHPian electric_eel replied:

If you are going to use it only as a second car, why not go for one of the smaller ones instead of the giants like BE6e. It will save you money and would be much more convenient to use on the narrow roads of Kerala.

It is another matter that people who have bought EVs thinking that it is a toy often switch over completely. Suddenly their Highway stars become expensive garage queens.

Here's what BHPian mathewanil replied:

From an owner of a Kushaq and a Citroen EV this is my take:

You have to decide if you really need the two cars?

If yes, the Kushaq, which can give a mileage between 15 to 19 km/ l on the highway, will be your go-to car for long drives. It is reliable, niggle free, fantastic to drive and will save you time on your 500 km trip.

Any EV from Comet to Punch will take care of your everyday city drives.

If there is no necessity for two cars, you can then consider disposing of the Kushaq and pick up an EV with a 70 KW battery if it’s within your budget and if you have an easy access to a power supply for AC “ fast” charging (7.2 to 11 KW). The magic number 7 is what you multiply with battery capacity to get the actual range of the car. (Here 70 Kw x 7 = 490 Km of range)

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

Other electric vehicles that have been included in this comparison are the BYD Atto 3, Mahindra BE6 and MG ZS EV.

BHPian Ripcord09 recently shared this with other enthusiasts:

Mahindra XEV 9e

What you'll like:

• Bold & futuristic styling. Has strong road presence and stands out from the crowd
• Spacious interiors with comfy seats and fine ergonomics
• Powerful motor sends 282 BHP to the rear wheels (0-100 km/h in 6.8 seconds)!
• Sorted suspension offers good road manners & high-speed stability
• 79 kWh battery pack should comfortably offer 450 - 500 km real-world range. This is enough even for road-tripping with the family
• Lifetime warranty on the battery is a big assurance for EV owners
• 663-litre boot and the 150-litre frunk mean you can carry a lot of luggage
• An endless list of features with some very unique ones like 3 high-quality screens, augmented reality integrated head-up display, infinity roof with interactive lights, 16-speaker Harman Kardon system with Dolby Atmos, selfie camera, UV filtration glass, auto-park with remote car control and way more
• Safety tech includes Level 2+ ADAS, 7 airbags, fatigue alert system, all-wheel disc brakes, ESP, front parking sensors, 360-degree camera, hill hold, hill descent, TPMS, etc.

What you won't:

• Rearward visibility is horrible. Tall headrests and coupe styling seriously hamper rear view for the driver
• Some cabin plastics don't feel premium in an otherwise loaded SUV. Excessive piano black in the cabin isn't to my tastes and makes it very difficult to keep scratch-free
• This car is extremely complex - we have concerns over niggles & bugs in a freshly baked Mahindra, especially the early batches
• Mahindra's after-sales service is a hit or miss. Remains a gamble. Wondering how many of them will be able to handle such a complicated car too
• The usual EV challenges (charging infrastructure, setting up home charging etc.)
• Missing features like a full-size spare tyre (you get a skinny 135 mm space saver which will cap your cruising speed to 80 km/h), cooled glovebox and no physical buttons for HVAC controls
• While we love the styling, it is definitely not to everyone's liking. Has already divided the opinions of BHPians

Review Link

BYD Atto 3

What you'll like:

• A proper electric car that's built on a dedicated EV platform (and not an IC-engine convert)
• Well-rounded product that looks good, has a nice cabin and good space too
• Punchy motor offers fast performance. 0-100 km/h time of 7.3 seconds is enjoyable!!
• Selectable regenerative braking and drive modes allow you to extract maximum performance or efficiency, as needed
• ~400-km range is adequate for urban commuting as well as the usual road-tripping with family
• 8-year / 1,60,000 km battery warranty, 8-year / 1,50,000 km warranty on motor, 6 years roadside assistance, and more
• Features such as the vehicle-to-load function (AC power for appliances), 12.8-inch touchscreen, panoramic sunroof, adaptive cruise control, NFC key card, etc.
• 5-star Euro NCAP rating. Safety kit includes 7 airbags, level 2 ADAS features, a 360-degree camera, ESP etc.

What you won't:

• Expensive! The Atto 3 is premium priced at 35 - 37 lakhs OTR
• Funky interior design may not be to everyone's liking
• Comfort-oriented suspension setup offers nothing for the enthusiasts
• Missing features such as ventilated seats, rain-sensing wipers, connected car tech, spare wheel (!!!!!), wireless Android Auto / Apple CarPlay…
• 8-speaker sound system is ordinary for the price
• BYD's dealership & service network is currently very small

Review Link

Mahindra BE 6

What you'll like:

• Looks like something that’s straight out of the future. Has a very unique design inside out. Surely a head-turner
• Powerful motor sends 282 BHP to the rear wheels (0-100 km/h in 6.7 seconds)!
• Low centre of gravity, stiff suspension and connected steering offer a great handling package
• 79 kWh battery pack should comfortably offer 450 - 500 km real-world range. This is enough even for road-tripping with the family
• Lifetime warranty on the battery is a big assurance for EV owners
• 455-litre boot and the 45-litre frunk are good enough for family holiday luggage
• Fully loaded with a bunch of unique features like interactive rear LED strip, augmented reality integrated head-up display, infinity roof with interactive lights, 16-speaker Harman Kardon system with Dolby Atmos, selfie camera, UV filtration glass, auto-park with remote car control and many more
• Safety features include Level 2+ ADAS, 7 airbags, fatigue alert system, all-wheel disc brakes, ESP, front parking sensors, 360-degree camera, hill hold, hill descent, TPMS, etc.

What you won't:

• Uncomfortable rear seat experience. High floor, difficult ingress and egress and limited headroom (due to the sloping roofline)
• Stiff suspension setup means you feel the bad roads. Ride is liveable, but not for someone looking for a comfortable suspension
• Concept car-like styling may not be to everyone’s liking. Will surely divide opinions
• Rearward visibility is poor, as is the case with most Coupe-SUVs
• Some cabin plastics don't feel premium in an otherwise loaded SUV. Excessive piano black in the cabin isn't to my tastes and makes it very difficult to keep scratch-free
• This car is extremely complex - we have concerns over niggles & bugs in a freshly baked Mahindra, especially the early batches
• Mahindra's after-sales service is a hit or miss. Remains a gamble. Wondering how many of them will be able to handle such a complicated car too
• Missing features like a full-size spare tyre (you get a skinny 135 mm space saver which will cap your cruising speed to 80 km/h), cooled glovebox, rear sunshade and no physical buttons for HVAC controls

Review Link

Hyundai Creta Electric

What you'll like:

• Superbly engineered all-rounder that delivers a satisfying experience
• User-friendly interiors with sufficient space & good quality parts. Great interior upgrades over the Petrol / Diesel Creta
• 168 BHP motor is enjoyable to drive. 0-100 km/h in 7.9 seconds!
• Unladen ground clearance of 200 mm is perfect for Indian roads
• Sorted road manners & handling
• Zero emissions, cheap “fuel” costs, no gears, light controls make it an ideal city car
• Safety package includes ADAS Level 2, hill descent control, 6 airbags, ESP, all-wheel disc brakes, auto-hold, TPMS etc.
• Impressive kit (ventilated & electrically adjustable front seats, boss mode, reclining rear seats, memory function for driver seat, digital key, fully digital instruments, 360-degree camera, panoramic sunroof, rear window sunshades, adjustable regen, Bose sound system, V2L charging, in-car payment for charging & loads more)
• Hyundai's wide dealer & service network

What you won't:

• Smaller battery packs and shorter range compared to rivals such as the Tata Curvv & Mahindra BE 6
• EV-specific tyres limit the car's handling and braking capabilities
• Firmer suspension isn't as compliant as the regular Creta's
• Back seat's width makes it better for 2 adults and a kid, rather than 3 adults
• A few misses (e.g. wireless Android Auto & Apple Carplay, illuminated window buttons!!!)
• 433-litre boot is lesser than the Tata Curvv (500 litres)
• The usual EV challenges (charging infrastructure, highway range anxiety etc.)
• Although not bad, rear seat under-thigh support is lesser than the ICE Creta, and you do sit in a bit of a knees-up position. Taller people will have an issue with under-thigh support

Review Link

Tata Curvv.EV

What you'll like:

• Coupe SUV styling is unique & a great differentiator. Grabs attention on the road
• A good overall package that’s priced competitively against rivals like the ZS EV, XUV400 & Nexon EV Long Range
• 165 BHP motor is very enjoyable. 400 km real-world range is sufficient for city + highway driving
• Sorted road manners & high speed stability
• Zero emissions, cheap “fuel” costs, no gears, light controls make it an ideal city car
• 500-litre boot is accommodating enough for family holiday luggage
• Long list of features includes flush door handles, powered tailgate with gesture activation, 9-speaker JBL audio system (sounds really nice!), panoramic sunroof, V2L & V2V charging, Arcade.ev app suite, recline adjustment for rear seats and more
• Loaded with safety tech like level 2 ADAS, 6 airbags, all-wheel disc brakes, acoustic vehicle alert system for pedestrians, ESP, front parking sensors, 360-degree view camera, TPMS, hill hold assist & hill descent control

What you won't:

• Rear seat is uncomfortable for tall passengers - high floor, difficult ingress & egress and limited headroom (due to the coupe styling)
• Suspension has a firm edge to it due to 18-inch wheels (top variant). Ride is liveable, but you do feel the bad roads. 17” wheel lower variants could ride better
• Build quality and fit & finish – while being satisfactory - have room for improvement
• Rearward visibility is poor, as is the case with most Coupe-SUVs
• A few missing features like telescopic adjustment for the steering wheel, cupholders for front passengers, a rear sunshade…
• The usual EV challenges (charging infrastructure, range anxiety etc.)
• Tata's after-sales service quality is a hit or miss. Remains a gamble
• It's a brand-new Tata launch, so the probability of niggles is high, especially in the initial batches

Review Link

MG ZS EV

What you'll like:

• A well-built car with good interiors
• Fast performance and excellent mid-range. 0-100 km/h run of 8.5 seconds is enjoyable
• Selectable regenerative braking and drive modes help you extract maximum performance or efficiency, as needed
• Range is adequate for urban commuting as well as road-trips to nearby destinations
• 5 year / unlimited km warranty, 5 labour-free services & 8 year / 150,000 km battery warranty
• Features such as the panoramic sunroof, cruise control, Bluetooth key, connected car tech & more
• International model got a 5-star Euro NCAP rating. Safety kit includes 6 airbags, blind spot monitoring, ESP, HSA, TPMS etc.

What you won't:

• The very similar & arguably more practical MG Astor is 8 - 12 lakhs cheaper
• Firm ride quality means you always feel the road, especially with the recommended 41 PSI tyre pressure
• Missing features such as ventilated seats, auto-dimming IRVM, steering reach adjustment, ADAS tech (which Astor gets), wireless Android Auto / CarPlay…
• Size & interior quality are more comparable to a Creta than other 28-30 lakh rupee cars
• The rear seat is better suited to 2 adults & a kid, not 3 adults
• 6-speaker sound system is ordinary for the price. Subwoofer conspicuous by its absence

Review Link

Here's what BHPian bijims replied:

Mahindra has hit it out of the park with the BE 6 and XEV 9E, they have features, dimensions and even battery packs that are a step above the competition! The XEV 9E in terms of size is a huge vehicle as compared to the rest of the cars in this comparison, and looking at the bookings it seems to be a hit as well, whatever the case, my choice goes for the XEV 9E or BE 6E (both in Pack 3 i.e. 79 kWh)

Here's what BHPian Sensible_Speed replied:

I would like to wait for the e-Vitara. It seems to most sensible of the lot to me. Creta EV may have been my second choice. The only reason I chose the e-Vitara over the Creta EV is it seems new and interesting.

Here's what BHPian darkgamer replied:

I've test driven Atto 3, BE6, XEV 9E, Curvv EV and ZS EV (basically all except Creta EV). Finalized the BE6 among them because it was the most fun to drive and felt the most unique.

The only other car that has matched(or exceeded) the fun-to-drive factor of the BE6 is the BYD Seal. I'd have bought it if it wasn't for the low ground clearance v/s mini mountain speed breakers in Bengaluru. Yet to drive the Sealion, but will try to do it this weekend.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

The Atto 3 facelift is said to be equipped with BYD's "God's Eye C" driving assistance system.

Chinese carmaker BYD has revealed the updated version of the Atto 3. The electric SUV gets styling updates and enhanced features.

The 2025 edition of the BYD Atto 3 borrows styling cues from the smaller Atto 2. The changes made to the EV include a redesigned bumper with a trapezoidal air dam, a new roof spoiler and full-width LED taillights. It also gets new 2-tone, aero-optimized alloy wheels.

The Atto 3 facelift is said to be equipped with BYD's "God's Eye C" driving assistance system. The enhanced ADAS uses a three-camera module, four surround-view cameras, five long-range cameras, five mm-wave radars, 12 ultrasonic radars, and 29 sensors.

The Atto 3 facelift remains mechanically unchanged. In India, the EV is available with two battery options: 49.9 kWh offering 345 km of range and 60.5 kWh with a maximum range of 420 km.

The cost is Rs.5800. Very reasonable for the ease, usage & aesthetics.

BHPian sushanthys recently shared this with other enthusiasts:

This is a post regarding installation of a BYD dashcam in our BYD Atto 3 premium variant car.

Now, BYD introduced a facelift for Atto3 in July 2024. Prior to the facelift, Atto 3 came as a single fully loaded variant. This car had an inbuilt dashcam. A very handy feature to have in any car.

Post facelift, there were 3 variants – Dynamic (with a 50 kw battery), Premium (with a 60 kw battery) and Superior (with a 60 kw battery and ADAS). None of these have an in built dashcam.

Anyway, my wife bought a BYD Atto3 White Premium variant car in October 2024. The car has so far been a pleasure to own and drive.

I had bought some accessories from topbyd.com after we got the car. They have all been of very good quality. I have written about them in detail in the BYD Atto 3 review thread.

My purchase also included the BYD dashcam. Before I committed, I had checked in youtube regarding the installation of the dashcam. The videos were all about other models of BYD such as Seal and Sealion.

https://youtu.be/Hfo5QhQFJoM?si=jEmoL1WNgtk0LXmg

The installation appeared simple enough. The gist of the matter is that there is a connecting cable for the dashcam in the plastic panel anterior to the IRVM. There is also a dedicated space for the dashcam to slot in. You remove the panel, release the cable, connect to the dashcam and slot the dashcam in place. A DIY job which is not at all difficult to do.

You can appreciate the small circular aperture at the 4 o’ clock position of the picture. That is the place where the camera slots in.

Once the dashcam arrived (the parts are shipped from Hong Kong, takes around 2-3 weeks to arrive), the package looked like this.

The camera is quite small and looks sort of cute. There is provision for a cable connector at the back. A pry tool was also included along with the package to assist with opening the panel.
One Sunday morning, we opened the black IRVM panel & checked. Now there were whispers that the facelifted models did not have a dashcam cable inside. But I was unable to verify this, prior to the purchase. And sure enough, on opening the panel, the connecting cable was nowhere to be found.

I contacted topbyd.com. They replied that the newer models do not come with the connecting cable. They advised me to purchase the connecting cable separately (costs around Rs.2900) and get it fixed at a competent shop or as a DIY project. I was not sure about this. There is a youtube video which shows how to get this done and the DIY job is actually not that hard. But you had to route the cable through the A Pillar in front of the airbag, which was not ideal.

https://youtu.be/baLi6deTyiY?si=srOGLfRWoedbWKwK

I checked for other dashcam options but was not happy with whatever I saw. So kept the dashcam project in the backburner for the moment.

Last week, I took the Atto3 to Kochi for the car’s first service (the first service is at 5000 km and then every 20,000 km/1 year thereafter). They finished everything in 2-3 hours. A Pleasant experience.

I took delivery of the car and was driving it out when I remembered about the dashcam. To the security guy’s bemusement, I reversed all the way back to the reception. I checked with my service manager whether they did the cable installation for the dashcam.

The service manager said “But Sir, the connecting cable is there in your car”. He explained that the cable is sort of hidden under the roofing panel but can be taken out. He had never done it for a premium variant car but had done it for Dynamic variants so was very confident that the cable will be there.

The service technician was called and they went to work immediately. The steps went like this.

• Remove the black plastic panel ahead of the IRVM (comes out in 2 separate segments)
• Unscrew the IRVM
• Unclip the lower part of the cabin lights panel
• Remove the 2 screws connecting the Cabin lights panel to the roof
• Remove the cabin lights panel
• Remove the medial clip of the sun visor on the driver’s side
• Loosen the roof liner

The auto IRVM and cabin light connections are present here. Take care to carefully detach them during the work.

You can see a thick cable running across the roof. This contains the connection for the sunroof & the sunroof shade. It also contains the cable for the dashcam. The cable is fixed to the roof tightly with a clip (blue arrow) and it has to be released first. The cable has to be pulled out slightly. The 3 cables are bound together by a tape and the tape has to be unwound. The dashcam connecting pin is well buried and the tape should be cut precisely over the pin to avoid cutting other wires (I was helping the technician and forgot to take pictures of releasing the cable)

The work took around 20-30 minutes. It can be done as a DIY project if you are competent & confident and has the right tools. But I would recommend that it be done by professionals. It is not an easy job by any means.

The technician released the dashcam cable and screwed everything back together. He reconnected everything. He left the black panel uncovered since it would make it easier for me to connect the dashcam. The last part was just plug and play and I was confident I could do it by myself (the dashcam was at my home). I made sure that the sunroof and the cabin lights were working before driving back to Kottayam.

So today morning, finished the job, with my wife’s help. The cable has to be connected to the camera with the correct alignment of pins (you will hear a satisfying click).

The camera is slotted into its designated place (there is a small plastic cap covering the camera aperture which the technician had removed). Again, you will hear a satisfying click when the camera is fitted correctly. There is a clip on the roof of the panel where you can snugly hitch the wire.

Once the camera is in place, start the car. Once the touchscreen is on, you will have to reboot it. Once it restarts, it will recognise the dashcam and will reboot once more.

Once the screen restarts again, you can see the dashcam application. You can open it and check the settings.

The image quality is good. You have the option to select the time loop for each recording. Option to record a particular event is also there.

Once you are sure that everything is working, fix the black panel back. It comes in 2 segments and both have to be fitted separately. It took some tinkering but was easy enough at the end. The whole process took around 15 minutes.

The dashcam needs a microSD card. BYD recommends a max capacity of 128 GB. I will have to get one sometime this week. The microSD card slot is situated low down in the dashboard at the lower storage area.

Advantages of the BYD dashcam

• Ease of installation(camera). No separate need of cables, hardwiring.
• Well integrated with very good aesthetics. The dashcam is virtually invisible, post installation. Despite taking multiple snaps, I could not get a picture in which the dashcam was visible from outside.
• The image quality is good (HD).
• Ease of usage. Can be operated directly via touchscreen. No need for mobile apps.
• The cost is Rs.5800. Very reasonable for the ease, usage & aesthetics.

Continue reading BHPian sushanthys' review of the BYD dashcam install for more insights and information.

To check for the feasibility of spare tyre, I placed our MG ZS EV spare tyre in the boot for reference.

BHPian sushanthys recently shared this with other enthusiasts:

Hi guys.

Received our White Premium Atto 3 on 11/10/24( 3 months after booking).

The BYD eMax7 launch event at Kochi was scheduled on 11/10/24. BYD had scheduled delivery of a batch of Atto 3s as part of the event.We arrived late for the event and hence received our car at around 8.30 PM! A photo session, handing over of keys and signing of documents.And that was that.

The car had 35 km on the odo.Only issue was that the touchscreen was erratic.It wouldn't start along with the car and had to be started separately. BYD people said that it is a software bug and the software has to be reinstalled. Other than this issue, the car worked fine.They picked it up today, reinstalled the software and returned the car today evening.The touchscreen is working fine now.

The car has a request sensor only on the driver side. Its not there on the passenger side. Come on, BYD! My Ignis which cost 8 lakhs has it on both sides. Should not have done it on such a premium car.

The car came with a 7.2 kw Relux charger. Since we already had a 7.2 kw charger at our home, sold the unit to one of my colleagues who was in need of a charger.
Will have to buy a 3.3 kw charging cable for the car.

This is the first instance where:

• We bought a car without going to the showroom. The test drive car was brought to our home. Everything was done online or by phone calls. The car was handed over at Hotel Crowne Plaza. Still haven't been to Kochi BYD Showroom.
• No folder was given to keep the manual/documents.

Tll date, with every car purchase, we had got increasingly premium folders.Nothing this time. Not that it matters much; Just an observation.

They gave us a complimentary ChargeMOD & Zeon RFID card & a Zeon voucher worth Rs 500.

Regarding accessories, we had taken only mud guards from the showroom( Rs.1850). We got Graphene coating done for 1 yr duration by Yasmark through the dealership(Rs.15,000). I got the mats online from a site called qpoindia. Came to Rs.3150( much more value for money than the dealership's quote of Rs.11,000).

Mats are of good quality.

Looked for more accesories online. There are a few sites which sell BYD accessories. I checked out topbyd.com. They are based at HongKong & UK.Shipping charges for orders beyond 50 USD is free.Customs charges are applicable.

Bought 4 accessories from topBYD:

• Rubber Ring seal for the charging port( prevents water & dust entry into the charging area)
• Boot Mat
• Atto3 sill plates
• Brushed Aluminium Performance Pedals

The total cost came to Rs.10,300. I placed the order at the end of September.The consignment reached Kochi RMS within one week but was stuck there for more than 10 days. The consignment was finally delivered one day after we got the car. It was delivered by our local post office. I paid a Customs duty of Rs.2660.

I installed all the accessories by myself. It was easy enough. The only issue was with the Brake performance pedal, which did not fit( the brake pedal is inverse trapezoidal but the one which I got was rectangular). Enclosing a few pics.

The boot space is good. To check for the feasibility of spare tyre, I placed our MG ZS EV spare tyre( 215/55/R17) in the boot for reference. It took up most of the space. During long drives, the only feasible option is to carry the tyre behind the driver's seat. Will have to explore other options for spare tyre. For those interested, you can get an alloy from BYD for 15k and a full size tyre from 10k onwards. The space saver which BYD can provide is a 17 inch tyre, so may not work well.

We travelled to Trivandrum two days after we got the car. Its a 340km round trip. Traffic was heavy in the return leg. We started with 100% SoC and came back home with 17% SoC( did not charge on the way). So, a realistic range of 400km is definitely available.

Happy with the car so far. That's it for now.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

I feel from a value for money perspective this variant of Atto 3 is better than the other two variants.

BHPian rkgi10 recently shared this with other enthusiasts:

Hi, Took delivery of Atto 3 Dynamic variant couple of days back. Have done approximately 300 km since. Would like to share my experience so if someone wants to buy this Variant can make an informed decision:

1. The 50kwh battery pack gives 320 to 370km in mix of heavy Mumbai traffic and some highway usage. I'm getting 14 kWh per 100 km, which translates to 357km. This is with AC at 24-25 degrees when outside temperature is around 36-37.

2. The Dynamic variant comes with 17 inch wheels instead of 18 inch in the other two. The ride comfort that I felt in during TD of the superior variant is still there. Couldn't notice any improvement or degradation in ride comfort.

3. The Dynamic variant doesn't have electric powered tailgate. Honestly not a big feature to miss out on unless you frequently load your boot.

4. Dynamic variant as per catalog and sales person should have only blue ambient light. But they have delivered multicolour rhythmic ambient lights on door pads. Just on the tweeter ring lights the color is fixed to a blue. This makes it such that only blue and purple shades will make sense otherwise the lights look out of sync.

5. The TD vehicle had Chaoyang tyres. They have delivered it with GoodYear tyres. The traction and grip till now seems fine/routine.

I feel from a value for money perspective this variant of Atto 3 is better than the other two variants. You don't really lose must have features except ADAS which should've been provided but then they would have a bunch of unhappy customers who bought the top variant at 36L on road.

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Various issues have been resolved in the facelift (BYD eMax 7). Toyota Innova is definitely going to have some competition now.

BHPian sushanthys recently shared this with other enthusiasts:

Having driven a BYD E6 for the last one month (I had booked a BYD Atto 3 and paid fully, but the car had got delayed; Hence BYD provided us with an E6 for our daily use), the car is very, very good.

• Classy & elegant look. It was a face-turner. So many people came to ask about the car
• Fantastic build quality; Built like a tank
• It's a big vehicle. I was driving an MPV for the first time but had no issues with it. Quite manoeuvrable for its size
• Very comfortable seats - front & back
• Spacious interiors; The back seat occupants were very impressed with the comfort & space
• Great steering wheel; Superb driving mechanics
• The older version's power was only 95 hp; But never felt it was underpowered. Overtaking was never a problem
• BYD battery is amazing. I was given 2 different cars over the course of one month. The second car had clocked 99k plus km. The range on charging to 100% was showing as 500km. And the predicted range was always correct.

• I have driven the car at 13% SOC and it drove well. No lag/turtle mode.
• The analogue dials are quite classy, in my opinion.
• The boot space was humungous. But with 7 seats now, that would be less.
• Touch screen was fantastic. No lag at all. Good interface.

The issues of power, halogen lamps etc have all been addressed in the facelift.

It's a fantastic car. The facelift has been priced very competitively. All the necessary bells & whistles have been included. Toyota Innova is definitely going to have some competition now.

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You can toggle between 10A and 16A charging speeds. The button is touch-based.

BHPian newenergy recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Product link here.

Today I received the Zevpoint charger and the quality is nice.

The packaging could have been a bit better or handled a bit better by Xpressbees.

The content was okay though. The case is included. Not sure if they include it in Amazon purchases, as per them this was free if bought from them directly.

You can toggle between 10A and 16A. The button is touch-based.

16A mode.

Specs at the back. Hope IP66 holds true.

Wire specifications.

Now all I need is Atto 3 to test it, which will take a bit more time

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It was evident that the electric vehicle's safety systems, such as the fuse or relay, failed to function correctly. I had to shut down the charging station by pressing the Emergency Stop Device (ESD) button.

Thanks to Thwalhath Abdul Rasheed for sending this information in. Heartfelt gratitude for sharing it with other enthusiasts via this Team-BHP share page!

I am writing to formally lodge a complaint and express my deep concern regarding a critical safety incident involving my BYD Atto 3. The incident occurred on July 25, 2024, in Madurai, Tamil Nadu while the vehicle was charging at a DC charging station. To my utmost shock and dismay, the car caught fire during the charging process.

Upon investigation, it was evident that the car's safety systems, such as the fuse or relay, failed to function correctly, resulting in the car catching fire. Alarmingly, the current flow was not interrupted during the incident. I had to personally shut down the charging station by pressing the Emergency Stop Device (ESD) button to prevent further damage.

I immediately reported the incident to BYD India and EVM Autokraft, Kochi. However, I was met with a disappointing response, as both parties denied the warranty for a month-old car.

As a professional working in the energy field with a solid understanding of electricity, I can confidently state that the arguments presented by EVM Autokraft, Kochi and BYD India lack merit. The denial of warranty under these conditions is both unjustifiable and indicative of poor business practices.

I urge BYD to take immediate action to address this matter by:

• Conducting a thorough investigation into the safety system failure of my vehicle.
• Providing a detailed explanation for the failure and the steps that will be taken to replace the car.
• Honouring the warranty and covering all damages and losses incurred due to this incident.
• Ensuring that such incidents are prevented in the future through improved safety measures and rigorous quality control.

Here's what BHPian Guna had to say about the matter:

Forget about the warranty, I am surprised that they didn't pick up the car immediately and provided a spare car until the investigation is over. For a brand who is trying to establish in India, they should take these seriously for their own benefit and should look at it as an isolated incident.

Here's what BHPian CentreOfGravity had to say about the matter:

This is quite serious. While EV fires aren't a new thing, this is the first time I've heard of a car catching fire while charging. BYD better run a thorough investigation of this incident and come up with a proper, believable report. If it's their mistake, they ought to own it up instead of playing the blame game. However, the possibility of this being caused due to a defect at the charging station cannot be completely ruled out either, can it?

I must also add, this appears to be a one-off incident. Thankfully nothing major has happened.

Here's what BHPian Turbanator had to say about the matter:

I don't understand how the charging gun is loose and the current continues to pass. There has to be a mechanism which ensures that the charge is passed only when the gun is inserted properly. It's not as if someone can plug any appliance and there can be looseness for whatever reasons. Or the quality of the plugs in the gun or the car can be the reason.

This kind of incident will go bad against this manufacturer more so when they are refusing a warranty. A very foolish step by the manufacturer/ dealer if true. Will be interesting to hear what does dealer or the company has to say- they will need to answer on the refusal of the claim.

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I already have an MG ZS EV and have now booked the BYD Atto 3 as my wife's Maruti Ignis will be out of commission for a while due to an unfortunate incident of waterlogging.

BHPian sushanthys recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Hi guys,

It’s been one and a half years since I bought my MG ZS EV. I had previously explained in detail about setting up EV charging infrastructure at your home. I will be continuing on that topic, in this article.

Ever since our MG ZS EV came home, our electricity bill has increased exponentially. Our consumption comes to 1000 – 1200 units per billing cycle, of which the car uses around 600-800 units (Our EV has consistently averaged around 2500 km/ month of driving). The electricity bill comes to around Rs.10,000 – 12,000, every 2 months. This is still way less than what it would cost to run an ICE car (Our Ignis needs around Rs. 10,000 worth of petrol, every month). So, while I was not too worried about the hefty electricity bills (it was more or less expected), I was always looking for options to reduce the expense.

Installing a solar plant is a good way to bring down your electricity bill. We finally got it done, this June. Our house being a bit on the older side, had enough rooftop space only for a 5Kw plant. This solar plant will generate around 20 Units/day, depending on the climate (less during monsoons & more during summers). That would mean a generation of approximately 600 units/month, which would completely cover the electricity expenses of our house & bring down the rest of the electricity bill to manageable limits (As you all know, the more units you consume, you go to a higher slab of consumption and the tariff per unit increases. As I am consuming more than 1000 units every billing cycle, I am currently being charged at Rs.8/unit).

The solar plant was commissioned by a VGuard dealer, near our home. While I was discussing the details with him, he mentioned that the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) had recently started providing domestic connections, solely for EV charging. The consumer will be charged at a flat rate of Rs.5.50/unit, regardless of the number of units used. This was a central government scheme, run by POWERGRID Corporation. He also mentioned that the scheme was not being advertised as of now and I will have to check with the KSEB office for details.

This was an interesting bit of information. I looked up the internet but could not find anything. I called up the KSEB Overseer whom I knew and asked him about the details. He confirmed what the dealer told me. The application process was the same as that of obtaining a new connection. I went to the KSEB Office, purchased a form for Rs.10 and went home. I wasn’t planning on applying immediately. The solar work was going on and I thought I would revert to this, once the plant was commissioned and after checking how the resultant electricity expenses came down to. But then, something happened.

At the end of June, my wife's car, a Suzuki Ignis, had to be sent to the workshop due to an unfortunate incident of waterlogging. The Ignis had clocked 90,000+ kms but was running well. We had been thinking about a new car to replace the Ignis but the planning had not reached the active stage yet. Both of our cars do a lot of running and 2 cars were a necessity at our home. Since the Ignis would be out of commission for at least a month, we needed a new car all of a sudden.

The next one week was spent in a whirlwind phase of test-driving. We drove literally every car under Rs.25 lakhs. And every car felt sluggish & underpowered (The only car which we both agreed to be even worth considering was the Maruti Fronx). After driving an EV, my wife simply could not accept going back to an ICE car. I had to agree (We test drove the top-spec Hyundai Creta Turbo Petrol DCT, Suzuki Grand Vitara and Honda Elevate but none of them were a match for our MG ZS EV).

We went to the Tata showroom to test drive the Nexon EV, but it was not available. The salesperson promised to call when the test drive car became ready, but he never called us back (We had checked with them 2 months back regarding the Punch EV test drive and they never got back to us then, either). Tata should improve their dealership experience (This was in direct contrast to Toyota when we went to check the Taisor. They did not have the car but kept in contact every day till the test drive car became available).

Somehow, Mahindra was not considered. MG ZS EV was readily available but we wanted to try another EV. It was at this time that BYD announced the facelift of Atto3. The Premium Variant fit all our needs and the price had come down by around 4.5 lakhs (ADAS Features were not available, at this price point but we were OK with that). We contacted BYD and they came from Kochi with their test drive car. We both drove it. We both liked it. Booked the car. For an EV, the range is important and so we went for the Premium variant with the 60 kW battery.

So suddenly, we were going to have a 2 EV garage. And since both EVs would be with us for the next few years, that meant their charging needs required a long-term solution. The solar panels were up & running by then. I felt the KSEB connection for dedicated EV charging would be a worthwhile long-term investment. Decided to proceed with it.

On checking with KSEB, they asked me to install all the necessary equipment and then apply for the connection. Our electrician took some time to come but as usual, did a very good job. The cost of the equipment and his services came to approximately Rs.15k.

The things specifically needed were:

1. 3 phase connection
2. Service wire – 16 Sq mm Aluminium (If you use the usual 10 Sq mm Copper cable, there is a risk of fire while using the 7.2 Kw charger)
3. HRC 63A fuses (Avoid the 32A Porcelain fuses, again due to risk of fire)
4. 10 Sq mm Copper wires to connect the Fuses to the Energy Meter
5. Adequate earthing (10 Sq mm Copper Earthing Cable)

These upgrades were required in view of the 7.2 Kw AC Fast charger. Since there would be 2 EVs in our garage, a 7.2 Kw charger makes sense (Our house already had it). If you are not planning to install the Fast charger, items 2 & 3 are not necessary. But if you do it the proper way, you are future-proofing your charging infrastructure and can avoid hassles later on.

After completing the installation, my electrician gave me the necessary paperwork. (He was also preparing the documents for an EV Charging connection for the first time). I submitted it at the KSEB office and paid a fee of Rs.60. I got an SMS saying that the inspection would be completed within one week.

Nothing happened in the next week. Followed it up with the office. They finally did an inspection after 9 days. After another 4 days, they sanctioned the connection. The connected load was 8.5 kw (It included the 7.2 Kw AC Fast Charger and the 16A charging plug).

I paid a total amount of Rs.14,478 at the office (Cash. Still no POS machine/UPI facility). The KSEB Officials came after 6 days and completed the installation process.

Post installation, I got an SMS saying that my connection process is complete. My connection was categorised as LT – 10 (the usual 3-phase domestic connection is LT-1/three). I searched ‘LT – 10’ online and finally managed to get the details regarding domestic connection for EV Charging, which I have given below.

So, that’s it about the upgradation of charging infrastructure at my home. This is how it is going to stay unless I upgrade the AC fast charger to a higher spec. I may link this new connection to the existing solar grid in future but that may take a while.

I spent nearly 30k in upgrading my charging equipment. There will be those who will be wondering if this was actually necessary. After all, the solar grid would actually reduce my electricity bills, without the need to go through this whole rigmarole.

I would like to explain the reasons why I felt this was a good option.

First

During this summer, electricity consumption was at a record high. It got to the point where KSEB actually issued a public statement asking EV owners not to charge their cars at home at night. It was not enforced but in subsequent summers, the situation may change.

I pointed out before that we were interested in the Maruti Fronx. When I told the NEXA guys that we would be going for a BYD, the senior executive was not exactly happy. He wanted to discourage me by talking about range anxiety and other EV shortcomings. He also claimed that charging EVs at night causes grid issues & affects the electricity supply to the public. I understood that he was disappointed but it was news to me that people had a negative view about EV charging and its effect on voltage & supply grid issues and blamed it for power outages. I knew it was nonsense but Public Perception is a different thing. People have no issues operating multiple ACs at home during peak load hours but frown upon EV charging at night.

When you take a domestic connection for EV charging, none of these things matter. If anybody objects, we can always say that a dedicated connection has been taken for a very specific purpose. Peace of mind is important!

Second

In the past one year, KSEB has started applying different tariff rates for different times during the day. During peak load times (6PM to 11PM), they have raised the rates for customers whose usage exceeds a certain limit (250 units) every billing cycle (or per month, not sure). The month before our solar plant was installed, the meter reader person said that our electricity meter would have to be changed to a TOD (Time of Day) meter, due to increased consumption at night. TOD Meters divide the day into various slots and charge higher rates at peak load periods & low tariff rates at other times. Since EV owners cannot avoid overnight charging, their electricity bills will go up even more.

When you take the LT-10 connection, this issue is not there as it is a flat tariff (Rs.5.50/unit), regardless of your usage at whatever time of the day.

Third

So far, the government has been supportive of EVs with reduced Road Tax and other freebies. But as the number of EVs goes up exponentially and the Electricity Grid starts feeling the pinch, the situation may change. As of now, no curbs have been imposed on home EV charging. But just like EV manufacturers have started charging hefty sums for Charging cables & AC Fast Chargers (they used to come free with the car), things will be different in future. EV owners may be compulsorily asked to install solar plants or take dedicated EV charging connections (May be conjecture on my part but it doesn’t sound too far-fetched). We will have to wait & see.

Fourth

Regarding the extra cost of the new connection, this is a one-time expense. I will not have to spend anything extra for maintenance. If my calculation is right, even with 2 EVs, my electricity bill should be around 1000 -2000 rupees less than the present billing cycle. If you have only one EV, the savings will be even more. I should break even within 2 years and after that, the savings will keep on adding up. So, it is a win-win situation, whichever way I look at it.

Fifth

It is high time we did our bit for Mother Earth. I cannot control the source of electricity which I use, but I surely have control over reducing my Carbon emissions. With 2 EVs, I am doing my part in helping the environment. It may not be much, but it is something.

Disadvantages

• Cost. 30k is not a small amount.
• The hassle of running around for the connection. The electricity department was in no hurry whatsoever to take the necessary steps.
• Our house was built at a time when solar energy was a novelty and the concept of EV/EV Charging was unheard of. There was no provision for adding all the extra equipment as such. Thankfully, we had just enough space to accommodate everything, without it being an eyesore. It will not be possible for everyone. It may or may not be an issue for Apartment owners who want to take an individual LT-10 connection for their EVs.
• We installed our solar plant under the subsidy scheme (Rs.78,000 will be refunded once all the formalities are over). This subsidy is only applicable to domestic connections. If you are planning to install a solar plant for the LT-10 connection, you will have to opt for a non-subsidy scheme. However, you can link your LT-10 connection to an existing solar plant, taken for a domestic connection.
• If you look at the LT-10 tariff calculation for my connection, I will have to pay a fixed charge of Rs.1700 every 2 months (if my calculation is correct; I have not received the electricity bill yet for the new connection) which is definitely on the higher side. For my domestic LT-1/three connection, Fixed Charges come to around Rs.400-500.

That’s it for now. The purpose of this article is to let EV Owners know that they have another option available for EV charging.

I wanted to finish my article by including a picture of our 2 EV garage. But our Ignis is still in the workshop, the MG ZS EV had to be sent to the service centre for 2 weeks for a rear wheel suspension issue and the BYD Atto 3 has not arrived yet.

Life can be strange, at times!

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.