The 2026 Tata Punch EV gets changes to its styling, tweaks to the powertrain and bigger battery options. Interestingly, its starting price is now Rs. 1.65 lakh lower than before and the price range spans Rs. 9.7 lakh and Rs. 12.8 lakh (ex-showroom). We put the Tata Punch EV with the 40kWh battery through our real-world efficiency test to see how it performs.
- 80 percent recharge takes 27 minutes on a 180kW DC fast charger
- Punch EV 40kWh variant weighs 1,365kg
- Gets four regen modes; no single pedal driving
Tata Punch EV real-world range and charging explained
The Punch EV currently is available with either a 30kWh or a 40kWh battery pack, up from 25kWh and 35kWh, respectively. We tested the Punch EV with the 40kWh battery pack, which is powered by a PMSM motor producing 129hp and 154Nm. The Punch EV offers three driving modes - Eco, City and Sport. For our tests, we used the Eco driving mode with the regen level set to L3 in the city and L1 on the highway.
In the city, the Tata Punch EV returned an efficiency of 7.92km/kWh extrapolating to a range of 317km. On the highway, the efficiency dropped to 7.29km/kWh translating to a range of 291km. With an overall efficiency of 7.61km/kWh, the Tata Punch EV can deliver a real-world range of 304km on a full charge.
Tata claims that the DC fast capability of the Punch EV has gone up to 65kW from 50kW in the previous model. That said, we charged the car using a 180kW DC fast charger and noted peak charging speeds around 67.3kW. However, the charging speed dropped after 50 percent state of charge, before rapidly dropping after 90 percent. In terms of charging times, the Punch EV took 27 minutes to charge from 20-80 percent, and took another 31 minutes to reach 100 percent.
Autocar India’s range testing
Before our real-world range tests, the battery of our test car was fully charged, and we maintained tyre pressures in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations. The car was driven on a weekday in Mumbai city and on the adjoining state highway in a fixed loop, and we maintained the set average speeds. At the end of each cycle, we calculated the range based on the percentage charge consumed.
Throughout our tests, the climate control was set to 22deg C in a full-auto setting, and other electricals, such as the audio system, indicators and ventilated front seats, were used when required, just as a regular user would. We take pride in our testing data, which isn’t merely consistent but also gives users an accurate indication of what they can expect in the real world.
Uday Singh
Glenn Noronha
Dipan Sur
