Electric vehicles have skyrocketed in significance over the past decade, particularly in light of global issues like climate change and pollution. EVs require no fossil fuels to run, and therefore emit zero harmful pollutants into the atmosphere. To promote the adoption of EVs, September 9 was designated as ‘World EV Day’ six years ago by sustainability-focused companies Green.TV and ABB Group, and is recognised worldwide.
On the sixth iteration of World EV Day, let’s take a look at some of Autocar India’s most notable achievements in the all-electric mobility space.
1. Mercedes-Benz EQC clean energy charging
Hydro, wind and solar energy were the only means of charging we used
In 2021, we set out on a journey in the Mercedes-Benz EQC to explore how truly "green" EVs can be when powered by renewable energy only; at present, coal is the primary source of energy production. We departed from the Mercedes-Benz facility in Chakan with a full charge, heading to Tata Power’s Khopoli hydroelectric plant, Agaswadi wind farm and Mulshi solar farm.
Along the way, we investigated clean power sources – hydro, wind and solar – that could sustainably fuel EVs in India. While the EQC couldn’t be charged directly from the hydro grid since it mixes with the main grid, we were able to charge the SUV via a 15A plug at Tata Power. However, we did tap charging power directly from wind turbines and solar panels for the EQC. Ultimately, this trip showed us that our EVs could soon be truly emissions-free – not just at the tailpipe, but across the entire power chain.
2. Green Mumbai Drive 2021
30 EVs quietly trundling through the Sanjay Gandhi National Park
We achieved a rare feat by bringing together every EV that was on sale in India at the time and driving them across Mumbai and through the protected Sanjay Gandhi National Park in Borivali. 30 EVs were part of the drive, including the Hyundai Kona, Tata Nexon EV, MG ZS EV, Mercedes-Benz EQC, Jaguar i-Pace, Audi e-tron GT, and even a Tesla Model X.
The Green Mumbai Drive was flagged off from the Mahalakshmi Racecourse by Aditya Thackeray, MoS for Tourism, Environment and Protocol, and Jeet Adani, director of Adani Electricity. Notable auto industry executives like Santosh Iyer (Mercedes-Benz India), Balbir Singh Dhillon (Audi India), Rohit Suri (JLR India), and Amit Suri (Volvo India) were also part of the event.
3. Debuting EVs in two different national parks
Tata Nexon EV in Satpura Tiger Reserve, Audi e-tron in Gir National Park
In 2021, we were the first to drive an electric car (specifically, the Tata Nexon EV) into Madhya Pradesh's Satpura Tiger Reserve. The roughly 140km drive from Bhopal to Forsyth Lodge was completed with around 30km of range remaining, despite starting with the battery at 92 percent. With no fast-charging infrastructure nearby, the Nexon EV had to be charged overnight using a 15A socket. During the safari, the torquey and compact EV performed well on steep inclines and narrow forest trails, and its silent operation allowed it to approach wildlife like sambars, gaurs, wild pigs, and even a leopard without the noise of an idling engine – no tiger, though.
Then, in 2022, we were yet again the first to drive an EV into Gujarat's Gir National Park, this time in an Audi e-tron. Reaching our accommodation induced a great deal of range anxiety due to faulty chargers along the way, but we managed to get there with around 20 percent of charge remaining. Once we reached, the e-tron was an excellent companion to tour the park with, helping us spot wildlife like chital, crocodiles, lions, and more.
4. Porsche Taycan Kashmir to Kanyakumari road trip
Nearly 4,500km in a performance EV
2022 saw us take one of our most ambitious road trips to date: 4,467km from Kashmir to Kanyakumari in a Porsche Taycan. Despite challenges like landslides in Jammu, flooded roads in Punjab, and power outages at certain charging spots, the Taycan handled the journey with ease. On one of the most efficient legs, the Porsche EV delivered 7.1km/kWh, working out to an indicated range of 475km.
Comfort mode was the default setting, but we did have lots of fun in some stretches courtesy of the Taycan’s Sport Plus drive mode. Up to 225kW of fast charging bolstered convenience, and total charging expenses tallied up to just Rs 15,422 – cheaper than fuel for an equivalent petrol car. More than just distance, the trip proved that combining sports car-like performance with electric efficiency works perfectly in real-world conditions, and that the Taycan is more durable than you may think.
5. Pininfarina Battista India top speed record
1,900hp, quad-motor hypercar achieved a 358.03kph top speed
Back in early 2023, we set a new Indian top-speed record with the 1,900hp Pininfarina Battista electric hypercar at the NATRAX high-speed oval near Indore. Achieving an impressive v-max of 358.03kph, the Battista blitzed past the previous record of 332.20kph, which was also set by us in 2016 in an Audi R8 V10 Plus.
The Battista top-speed run also ended up establishing new world records for a production car: 0-300kph in 10.49 seconds and a quarter-mile time of 8.55 seconds, all verified by the Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India (FMSCI).
6. Hero Vida V1 Pro longest distance in 24 hours record
The e-scooter travelled just shy of a whopping 1,800km
We teamed up with Hero MotoCorp in 2023 to set a new Guinness World Record for the longest distance travelled by an e-scooter in 24 hours. Using the Vida V1 Pro with easy-to-swap removable batteries, we covered a whopping 1,780km at Hero’s Centre of Innovation and Technology near Jaipur.
The endurance challenge relied on swift battery swaps and flawless coordination, with the pit crew achieving 38 battery changes in under 20 seconds – quite impressive considering the extreme heat, rider fatigue, and complexity involved. Moreover, the Vida V1 Pro ran flawlessly throughout, handling the gruelling conditions with ease and maintaining performance consistently.
7. Volvo EC40 Jaisalmer to Mawsynram road trip
From India's driest region to its wettest
In 2024, we took the Volvo EC40 (formerly known as the C40 Recharge) on a roughly 3,000km road trip from Jaisalmer in Rajasthan – one of India’s driest locations – to Mawsynram in Meghalaya, widely recognised as the country’s wettest. The route included a detour to Ghaziabad’s Volvo Reverse Project, a former dumping ground where around 10,000 trees had been planted as part of the company’s reforestation initiative.
Charging was carried out mainly overnight with DC fast chargers also used along the route, and the EC40 posed no issues during the journey. Ironically, we encountered heavy rain and waterlogging in Jaisalmer but surprisingly little rainfall in Mawsynram.
8. Mercedes-Benz EQS sedan longest distance world record
949km travelled on a single charge
Though we’ve racked up quite a lot of Guinness World Records over the years, eking out the longest journey travelled by an EV on a single charge in the Mercedes-Benz EQS 580 sedan remains one of our best, especially since it coincided with our 25th anniversary in 2024, too.
Setting off from Bangalore on a full charge, the EQS 580 covered a distance of 949km when it reached its destination in Navi Mumbai, beating the previous Guinness World Record for the same by 32.26km. Impressively, the 949km real-world range exceeds the EQS 580’s claimed range of 817km by just over 16 percent. It’s also worth mentioning that the two-day journey was completed under arduous conditions like heavy rainfall, lots of traffic, broken roads, and even a flat tyre.
9. Porsche Taycan BIC EV lap record
2:10.313 lap time makes the Taycan the fastest EV around BIC so far
At the Buddh International Circuit in Greater Noida, we lapped a Porsche Taycan Turbo S and clocked a time of 2:10.313 minutes – the first-ever EV lap record around the 5.125km track. Despite its rather portly kerb weight of 2,370kg, the Taycan delivered unexpectedly sharp performance at BIC thanks to 761hp and 1,050Nm, a low centre of gravity (aided by the heavy 93.4 kWh battery), precise steering, and superb balance.
Upon hitting the apex and pinning the throttle, the Taycan belied physics the way it propelled out of corners with explosive speed, and despite weighing 845kg more, the EV achieved nearly the same top speed as the 911 GT3 RS at the end of BIC’s main straight.
10. Ultraviolette F99 India top speed record
258kph around NATRAX and a 100-200kph run of 6.2 seconds
One of our more recent records entailed setting a new benchmark for made-in-India two-wheelers by hitting a top speed of 258kph on the Ultraviolette F99 at the NATRAX oval. Designed around a 400V architecture with a liquid-cooled powertrain, the purpose-built F99 packs 120hp and an astounding 972Nm (measured at the rear wheel).
The F99’s custom trellis frame, forged carbon-fibre bodywork, Brembo brakes, and Ohlins suspension helped the bike remain stable at high speeds, culminating in a clean record run captured via precision V-Box data. It also achieved a blistering 0-200kph run in under 10 seconds and 100-200kph in just 6.2 seconds, smashing previous Indian motorcycle speed records.
11. Mercedes Benz EQS SUV temperature change record
From the sweltering heat of Rajasthan to the sub-zero chill of Ladakh
Our 2025 Guinness World Record saw us achieve the greatest temperature change endured by a production EV. We accomplished this using the Mercedes-Benz EQS 450 SUV, driving from the scorching heat of 47.5 deg-C in Rajasthan to the below-freezing chill of -3.7 deg-C in Ladakh, for an impressive overall temperature swing of 51.2 deg-C.
The journey tested the limits of the EQS 450 SUV, especially its 122kWh battery’s thermal management system. Despite extreme variations in temperature, the climate control and battery systems kept the EQS 450 SUV performing smoothly and safely.