Shirdi may not sound like the most obvious proving ground for a new electric car, but it makes perfect sense. It is a popular spiritual weekend escape from Mumbai, far enough to test range properly, and the route in the monsoon season is demanding. Rain lashes down in sheets, roads develop unexpected rivers, and the traffic forms queues that stretch for kilometres. It was exactly the sort of journey the Tata Curvv EV needed to attempt.
We began in Mumbai with the car showing 97 percent charge and a promised 357 kilometres of range. On board were four adults, one child, and a boot full of the sort of luggage that accumulates once children are involved. The Curvv swallowed it with little complaint, and off we went into grey skies and wet tarmac.
The drive to Shirdi is 252 kilometres, and with measured but not excessively slow progress, we arrived with 20 percent charge left. That equated to a further 73 kilometres in reserve. Importantly, there was no need for nervous glances at the battery display or clever tricks with the air conditioning. It was a straightforward drive at normal highway pace, with the regenerative braking proving particularly useful when traffic ground to a halt on the ghats. A charging stop brought us back to 97 percent, with the display now indicating 385 kilometres.
The return leg was even more instructive. Heavy rain arrived, and the required wipers needed to be on maximum speed and absolute concentration. The Curvv remained calm throughout. The ride quality dealt admirably with potholes hidden under puddles, and the cabin kept its occupants dry and comfortable. Even fully loaded, the car felt planted and secure, which made a great deal of difference when overtaking buses in reduced visibility. After 260.5 kilometres, we returned to Mumbai with 23 percent charge left, equal to 86 kilometres still available.
In total, the journey measured 512.5 kilometres. Charging costs amounted to ₹2,294, although the ChargeZone app returned a ₹200 cashback, bringing the effective spend to ₹2,094. That is comfortably less than the cost of a single tank of fuel in a comparable petrol car
