Mahindra BE 6 Owner Takes 1200 KM Trip To Himalayas: Talks About His Experience
Mahindra BE6 vs the Mountains: Did it Pass the 1,200 km Himalayan Test?
It wasn’t supposed to be easy. And it wasn’t. Driving an electric SUV from Delhi to the upper reaches of Himachal Pradesh and back, over 1,200 km in all, was never going to be a simple point A to B journey. But that’s exactly what makes it fascinating. Because what unfolded over the next five days was not just a test of the Mahindra BE6, but a real-world glimpse into the evolving promise and pain of long-distance EV travel in India.
Day 1: Delhi to Chandigarh – The Warm-Up
The Mahindra BE6 began its journey in the chaos of Delhi, quietly slipping through traffic, a silent and sleek presence in a sea of rumbling engines. With a claimed range of 450 km and a real-world expectation of around 350, the first leg to Chandigarh, roughly 250 km away, was a breeze.
The car cruised effortlessly on the highway. The adaptive cruise control worked well, lane keep was decently accurate, and the highway manners felt mature. One minor hiccup? The AC compressor made a strange whining sound when the fan speed was turned down, a small quirk in an otherwise refined drive.
Charging infrastructure, at least on this stretch, was not an issue. A quick top-up in Chandigarh was smooth and uneventful. The car had plenty left in reserve, but it’s always better to start a climb with a full tank or battery in this case.
Day 2: Chandigarh to Shoja – Into the Mountains
This was when things began to get interesting. The BE6 headed for Shoja, a beautiful but relatively remote village perched in the Himalayas. The roads started to wind and rise, and so did the tension.
Every incline consumed precious range. A 60 km stretch could drain nearly 100 km worth of battery in places. But this is where the BE6's regenerative braking system shone. On downhill stretches, range numbers started ticking back up, offering rare but welcome reassurance.
Somewhere along the way, as the SUV passed apple orchards, narrow bridges, and misty pine forests, it struck our protagonist that this was not a car just built for the city. The BE6 felt planted even on broken mountain roads, and the silent motor only amplified the beauty of the surroundings. The only real challenge was mental: calculating gradients, battery levels, and remaining distance like a human range calculator.
By the time the car rolled into Shoja after a 9 to 10 hour drive, the battery had dipped alarmingly low. But it made it. Just.
Day 3: Shoja to Jalori Pass – The Big Test
The drive to Jalori Pass was the highest point of the journey, literally and metaphorically. At over 10,000 feet, it’s a treacherous, narrow climb with rough surfaces and brutal switchbacks. Perfect for testing any vehicle’s limits. For an EV, it's a make or break moment
The BE6 clawed its way up, inch by inch, with the electric motor delivering consistent torque even on steep inclines. At one point, the range dipped to a nerve-wracking 19 km. There were no charging stations in sight. No fallback plan. But the climb was short, and gravity was on their side for the way back.
As the SUV crested the pass and began its descent, the magic of regen braking kicked in again. The vlogger watched, almost disbelieving, as the range crept up from 19 to 48 to 82 km, all without plugging in. It was EV alchemy in action and a rare moment of triumph.
Day 4: Shoja to Chandigarh – The Return
The journey downhill was smooth and battery-friendly. With minimal throttle input needed and regen working overtime, the BE6 was practically sipping energy. The plan was to return to Chandigarh and charge fully before heading back to Delhi the next day.
One issue encountered along the way was an unresponsive charging station that required a call to customer care and some patient waiting. A reminder that India’s EV infrastructure still has gaps, not massive ones, but ones that can trip you up if you're not prepared.
Day 5: Chandigarh to Delhi – Smooth Sailing
The final leg was straightforward. Range anxiety gave way to relaxed driving. With the BE6 now familiar and the route well-planned, it was a reminder that EVs are incredibly capable once you understand their rhythm.
There were reflections too. The Mahindra BE6 had not only completed the journey, but proved itself as a serious contender in the Indian EV space. It looked good, drove well, handled extreme conditions with maturity, and stayed composed through it all.
What This Journey Really Shows
This wasn’t just an EV making it to the mountains. It was proof that India’s EV ecosystem, while not perfect, is reaching a point where adventures like this are no longer reckless. They are just challenging.
The BE6 was the right companion. It didn’t make the trip effortless. But it made it possible. And in the world of electric cars, that’s a huge deal.
The road to Jalori Pass isn’t easy. But as this trip showed, it’s no longer out of bounds for electric dreams.