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PluginIndia Electric Vehicles

The EV owner always gets help!

26/7/2014

12 Comments

 
By Kamlesh Mallick
I just felt like taking a day off my crazy schedule.  I decided to take my Mahindra e2o electric car for a spin to the mountains near Pune city. I decided to go to Lavasa, around 58 km from home. My plan was to just walk in the rain, do nothing, stare at the mist covered mountains, enjoy good food and also check out the Segway rides, launched recently. The concern at the back of my mind was this - I needed to cover 120 km (2 way) on an electric car that goes 100 km.  And that too the route involved climbing steep hills - a big battery drainer.  I did the same trip one year back, i barely made it back! (The magic of Regen!)  This year, i wanted to plug in the car to ensure i was comfortable getting back.
But this time, what i found out was that, businesses and people, generally go out of their way to ensure EVs are plugged in and you return safely home. All you need to do is ask!

As Lavasa has no 240V, 15Amp sockets in their parking slots, I contacted the the company that offers the Segway tours - EcoMantra (http://ecomantra.com/). I figured that they would encourage eco friendly transport and arrange a socket for me. Their contact person Mr Ravi Goel was enthusiastic to help and informed me that there was a 15Amp socket in his office's kitchen and charging was not going to be a problem!  
So i left Pune and enjoyed the scenic drive to Lavasa!
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EVA and mist covered mountains
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Smell the mountain air and listen to the silence!
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Getting near
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Reach Lavasa with 40 km worth of energy left!! The crazy hill really drained the batteries. I need to plug-in!!!

Finding that socket!!
My first business was to contact the EcoMantra guys and find that socket!!!   I met Mr Jai from Ecomantra who took me to the office which was on the first floor.   The 15Amp socket was available, but i needed an extension chord that goes down to the basement.  I had a 15 meter extension chord that went to the basement.  But i was just 5 meters short!!!!  No way!! 
We checked if there was an electric shop to buy an extension chord but they were shut.  Curses!

So what followed was frantic walks, by Jai (from EcoMantra and me) to every waterfront apartment building basements to find that elusive 15Amp socket!
Picture
Small socket. Not the big one we need
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Ok the other building's meter room
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5 Amp!!! Darn!!!
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This socket looked like 15Amp, but the label put me off!!!
I was about to give up, when we decided to check out the kitchen of restaurants!!!
Usually the kitchens have 15Amp sockets for microwaves, dishwashers  etc.  So we decided to give it a shot.
Picture
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And sure enough there was one!!! This was the garbage yard!
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EVA - The Amp sucker!!!!
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And i felt soo good, when that green light came on!!!
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All is fine!! Jay from Eco Mantra observing

EV owners get help
So all in all i really had to slog my ass out to get that elusive 15Amp socket.  Jai from EcoMantra went out of his way to ensure i finally got the 15 Amp socket.  The restaurant owner was more than happy to let me plug-in.  This is the key thing.
If you are going somewhere and need to plugin your EV, do the following
  • Call in advance and ask the business or local contact if you could plugin.  Most people would help, especially if they see that you could help their business
  • Once you get there, if the business cannot help, feel free to ask other businesses nearby
  • Electric vehicle owners are people who think differently.  These are the people who are living the change for a better tomorrow and are setting an example. Most people recognise this and will help.  
    So don't feel shy.  Do ask, if you need help!
  • Always have a long extension wire!!  Trust me, it helps!

Once i got EVA plugged in, i was able to do all the things i wanted to do today!!!!
Walk in the rain, do nothing, stare at the mist covered mountains, enjoy good food and check out the Segway rides!
Picture
Picture
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Segway rides by EcoMantra at Lavasa

PluginIndia Impact!
Mr Ravi Goel from EcoMantra.com and we at PlugInIndia.com have asked the authorities at Lavasa to install 3 to 4 -15Amp sockets in the Lavasa parking lot.  And the authorities have contacted us and are looking at installing the infrastructure for the benefit of the EV community. This can benefit all Mumbai and Pune EV users. So stay tuned!!
Now this is how we bring bout change!  

Check out EcoMantra.com on thier activities apart from the Segway rides at Lavasa
12 Comments
Ramesh Bhel
27/7/2014 07:51:10 am

Is this work not of the Car company (Mahindra), to ensure that majority of the establishments put out a socket in their parking lot? Who in Mahindra is responsible for solving this problem of the customers? I guess nobody!

Or will they just make cars and keep complaining that Government don't give subsidy and so their cars do not sell!

No wonder they are not making great sales.

They have to take a leaf out from the EcoMantra guys who apparently went out of their way and solved the problem.

Reply
Kamlesh
27/7/2014 12:15:26 pm

Hi Mr Bhel,

Globally the world over, EV car companies are installing DC Quickcharging stations. That is their responsibility. As a business or a home cant install the Level 3 chargers.

Installing Level 2 15Amp charging stations usually wont be costly for businesses and can be a good value add for them.

Think of it like a Starbucks offering free wifi. Its a similar value add by offering charging sockets.
The EV numbers are still low, as of now in India but this will be something that Businesses might soon have to think in the future

Thanks,
Kamlesh

Reply
Farah Halim
29/7/2014 07:51:26 am

"E2O users are courageous" - thats was my mantra and my motto.. Remember! Kamlesh you displayed the same. I am very happy you asked for those installations of 15 AMP plugs in the parking lot... It's a pro-active step. Will help users around.

We were also thinking of putting up charging points at the shop... once we set the grounds right...

Reply
Kamlesh
30/7/2014 10:24:57 am

Thanks Farah.

Its all about setting a new trend :)

Do share your experiences if you install a charge point at your shop :)

Reply
Sudarshan Gophane
31/7/2014 03:18:28 am

Hi Kamlesh,

It is also a good idea to have a small 'converter', which converts small socket to big socket. It is easily availble in the market and doen't cost much.

Rgds,
Sudarshan.

Reply
Kamlesh
31/7/2014 03:30:58 am

Hi Sudarshan,

Errr.. Am aware of the converter. But all it does is fits the plug into the socket. But our charger needs 15Amps. If the socket does not provide the right amperage, the car wont charge. Right?

Thanks,
Kamlesh

Reply
Taborri Bruhl link
3/8/2014 10:30:02 am

Kamlesh,
I enjoyed your account! I took a very similar day last month and wrote about it at http://sustainableus.org/2014/07/10/a-sort-of-minimalism-day/ . Although we now have quite a few more chargers than we did a year ago, I still have days like the one you described. It's good to know that there are people halfway around the world trying to do better by the planet. Together we can all make it happen! -t

Reply
Kamlesh
3/8/2014 11:56:21 am

Hi Taborri – loved your tour and photos!

Its all about showing the world that u can have fun days outside the city too, with your electric vehicle!

And DC quick charging stations will really help. We still are waiting for the first station. But the company who makes these EV's has promised few.

These travelogues really help showcase EVs in much better light.

I love your website too. Keep the good work going.

Reply
Vihaj
30/11/2017 06:35:24 pm

Hi Kamlesh,

I really appreciate the great work that you are doing which helps all EV users here. One question, do you have any contact in Lavasa where we can charge our car? Appreciate if you could share one, it would be really helpful!

Reply
Alhad Sabadra
19/7/2018 07:01:37 pm

Yeah , and in our area , people are afraid to plugin the car , so 9.9 out of ten say NO. So iMAHINDRA should release few ads and aware people about helping needy car owners.

Reply
Alhad Sabadra
19/7/2018 06:25:26 pm

I am from Dhule and dared buy e2o plus P8 model on 31st May 2017. Even though I am the FIRST in my city and Khandesh area , where most of the people MOCK at foolishness ( according to them) of buying such a car. But I was hurt and dismayed when MAHINDRA either ignore my complaints or solve it very late AS IF THEIR RECH DEOARTMENT DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO ! I am cursing myself for such a big investment and such a big loss of my time , energy and HAPPINESS . I am always scared while driving now , thanks to some employees of MAHINDRA , who said that any part can get damaged anytime because it is ELECTRONIC , and I experienced it thrice , worrying when the car will get repaired IMPATIENTLY. This is third time in a year that the car is IDLE , every time more than a week they took to diagnose and one more week to arrange someone AFTER LITS IF REQUESTS AND PHONE CALLS

Reply
PlugInCaroo
15/6/2019 03:27:21 pm

We would suggest you to use a voltage stabilizers for the charging bay to saving the battery and charge controller from unexpected voltage surges and power fluctuations and sometimes even from voltage spikes and surges due to lightning.
Electronic parts are affected only by these while mechanical parts of petrol cars are bound to fail by many reasons in spite of regular maintenance and service.

Reply

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