Mahindra BE 6: Mahindra’s all-new BE 6 electric SUV is making waves in the Indian market. Supported by robust demand, it has already propelled Mahindra to the third position in the electric SUV segment. Priced in the range of Rs.19.65 lakh to Rs.27.65 lakh (ex-showroom), the BE 6 comes with two battery options, but the recent real-world range test of its 79kWh variant tells a different story than the company’s claimed figures.
Battery and Power Performance
Mahindra has the BE 6 in two battery packs of 59kWh and 79kWh. Both come with a rear-mounted electric motor developing 380Nm of torque. Yet, the 79kWh gets 286hp of power from it, and the 59kWh gets 231hp of power. As per ARAI ratings, the 59kWh car provides a range of 535km, while the 79kWh gets 682km from a full charge.
City Test Results: Lower Efficiency in Real World
In an urban test cycle, Mahindra BE 6 was maintained in its most efficient ‘Range’ drive mode. Regenerative braking was at level 3 in the city. Under these test conditions, it produced an efficiency of 5.55km/kWh. This corresponds to an urban range of 439km in real-world driving. The lower range was caused by stop-and-go traffic, the car’s heavy 2115kg curb weight, and hot ambient temperatures of around 40°C, all of which had a significant effect on energy consumption.
Highway Performance Slightly Improved
In highway tests, regenerative braking was lowered to level 1. With this configuration, the BE 6 exhibited slightly improved efficiency of 5.81km/kWh, with its highway range coming out at 459km. Despite the advantageous conditions on highways, it still lagged behind the claimed range by a significant amount.
Real Efficiency vs Claimed Range
With both city and highway conditions combined, the BE 6 equipped with a 79kWh battery posted an overall efficiency of 5.68km/kWh. This translates to a real-world range of only 449km—233km short of the 682km as claimed. Although the actual figure may differ depending on road conditions, this points to one big disparity between the brand’s claim and reality.
Driving Conditions Affect Real Range
It’s obvious that the BE 6 is better suited for open roads than in city traffic. Extreme temperatures and dense traffic significantly affected its efficiency in cities. Purchasers should note that ideal weather is a must to approach the top range limit. Otherwise, be prepared to see a drastic downfall.