The Tata Harrier.ev is slowly becoming a preferred choice amongst Indian buyers looking to transition from petrol and diesel SUVs to EVs. With his recent ownership experience, Dr. Jagpalinder Singh has shared insights into his decision to switch from his Skoda Kushaq petrol automatic to the Tata Harrier.ev. The Skoda Kushaq had given him over 20,000 km of good mileage before he switched to the Harrier.ev, although Singh was a big fan of the Kushaq’s driving dynamics and overall build quality, fuel expenses and mediocre fuel economy prompted him to think about an electric vehicle.
His decision was also influenced by a desire to explore newer tech and the benefits of an EV powertrain, and a test drive of the Harrier.ev was enough for Singh to be convinced by the instant torque the electric motor delivered, noise levels, low running cost and the overall build of the Harrier. As the first-time EV buyer, one of the biggest concerns was the range anxiety that comes with the territory, but Singh’s experience of owning the Harrier has been a good one.
One of the biggest concerns for first-time EV buyers is range anxiety and Singh’s ownership experience suggests that keeping at least 20% charge in the battery would allow for a stress-free usage. Singh usually keeps his battery charge higher than 20% (he has gone as low as 17-18% on some occasions), and for him, 300 km of range is a comfortable buffer before his battery state of charge (SOC) hits that level. With his Solar power setup, he also benefits from being able to utilise the energy generated at his home to charge the Harrier.ev, which in turn reduces the overall cost of ownership.
An interesting aspect of Singh’s ownership experience is his choice of the 65 kWh version over the 75 kWh version. From his experience, the extra 50-60 km of range promised by the 75 kWh battery was not worth spending an additional ₹2.5-3 lakh on the bigger battery.
Since the Harrier.ev is not his only vehicle, he can utilise his second vehicle for longer journeys or if he needs to carry more people. Singh also mentioned that home charging of the 65 kWh battery takes around 5-6 hours, and for him, charging the 75 kWh battery would be an additional 1-2 hours of waiting for a marginal gain in range, which did not make sense from an economic standpoint
The transition from a petrol powered SUV to an EV was another big factor in Singh’s choice of the Harrier.ev. Unlike turbocharged internal combustion engines, the instant torque delivery of the electric motor made driving the Harrier.ev a breeze. Another aspect of EV ownership that Singh has benefitted from is the cabin refinement.
Compared to a petrol or diesel engine, the reduced noise levels of the electric motor result in a much more relaxing driving experience, and according to Singh, long drives are not as taxing on the driver as they would be on an ICE vehicle. Reduced maintenance as well as the regenerative braking system of the Harrier.ev also contribute towards lower running costs.
The minimalist approach to the cabin of the Harrier.ev was also a big attraction for Singh. While most competitors offer numerous screens and an overwhelming amount of tech, Singh preferred the less-is-more philosophy of the Harrier’s cabin, which allowed him to focus on the road ahead.
It was a place where he thought technology enhanced the driving experience rather than distracting the driver with unnecessary infotainment screens. For Singh, an EV did not need to feel like a smartphone with an abundance of screens and features.
Singh informed us that he bought his Harrier.ev Adventure S for roughly ₹22 lakh, and believes it to be a good value-for-money proposition. The combination of an electric powertrain, the comfort and practicality of an SUV as well as Tata’s reputation in the Indian market made the Harrier.ev the ideal choice for him.
Ownership experience has taught Singh that the battery capacity and variant are not as important when considering an EV, and that how often one can utilise home charging and how much range one would require on a daily basis are far more important factors. For someone who is mostly driving around in the city and has access to home charging, the additional cost of the 75 kWh battery is not worth an additional 50-60 km of range.
Although Singh has been nothing but positive about his ownership experience of the Harrier.ev, he also mentioned a feature that he feels could use some improvement. The gear selector switch of the Harrier.ev does not offer the tactile feedback that he was used to from conventional gear shifters.
According to Singh, especially when reversing in tight parking spaces, it is not always easy to determine whether the car has engaged in Reverse. Similarly, he mentioned that when switching from Reverse to Drive, the car sometimes did not engage in Drive and remained in Neutral.
As a first-time EV owner, such annoyances would seem to be an additional learning curve, but they are things that a software update or a hardware modification can ideally address in the near future.
Interestingly, the transition to an EV was not an easy sell to his family members, primarily because they thought that an electric vehicle would be an unconventional choice of transportation. This changed as they got more familiar with the car, and the convenience of the EV ownership along with the comfort and quietness of the Harrier.ev won them over.
For Singh, his experience has been yet another reaffirmation that many apprehensions that people have about EVs can only be addressed by test-driving one. From his time spent driving the Harrier.ev, he believes that an electric vehicle is the right choice of transportation for many urban buyers who want the flexibility of an SUV without the hassles of a conventional powertrain.
While the Harrier.ev certainly has its limitations, Singh’s ownership experience showcases how an EV can fit into the daily life of an average Indian buyer looking to transition from diesel or petrol to an electric powertrain. For such a buyer, who does not make long-haul journeys on a regular basis and can utilise home charging, the 65 kWh version can be a good choice.
As more Indian buyers transition from ICE cars to EVs, ownership experiences such as Singh’s would provide a valuable insight into the kind of benefits that EV ownership can bring to the everyday buyer.