Electric vehicle (EV) buyers are increasingly choosing variants with larger battery packs, signalling a growing preference for longer range over marginal cost savings. Data from leading manufacturers like Tata Motors and Mahindra & Mahindra shows that consumers are willing to pay a little extra to eliminate range anxiety. Even first-time EV buyers are opting for longer-range variants.
Vivek Srivatsa, chief commercial officer at Tata Passenger Electric Mobility, told FE that the response to the newly-launched Harrier EV is a clear indication of this shift. The SUV, which starts at Rs 21.49 lakh for the Adventure variant with a 65-kWh battery, has received more than 10,000 bookings. But, notably, the majority of these bookings are for the top-end trims powered by the 75-kWh battery pack. These are priced from Rs 28.99 lakh onwards and offer a real-world range of over 500 km. In contrast, the 65-kWh version offers a sub-400 km range.
Srivatsa pointed out that the price difference between the two battery packs isn’t a dealbreaker as just Rs 1 lakh separates the Fearless Plus 65-kWh variant (Rs 23.99 lakh) and the 75-kWh version (Rs 24.99 lakh). Given the substantial gain in range, most buyers see value in upgrading. What’s also significant is that a majority of Harrier EV bookings have come from customers buying their very first EV.
Automakers expand bigger battery variants to meet demand
A similar trend is playing out at Mahindra and Mahindra. When it began deliveries of the BE 6 and XEV 9e in March 2025, both models were offered with two battery pack options—59 kWh and 79 kWh. While the smaller pack offers under 400 km of range, the larger one delivers between 550 and 600 km. Unsurprisingly, the bigger battery has dominated bookings. Company sources said that more than 75% of all reservations have been for the Pack 3 variant, which comes exclusively with the 79-kWh battery.
The response prompted M&M to expand availability of the larger battery pack. In July, it made the 79-kWh unit available in the mid-range Pack 2 trim as well, recognising that customers prioritise range over other features. Rajesh Jejurikar, in a recent media interview, said, “Range is really important over many of the other features that we are offering,” underlining the company’s focus on catering to this demand.
Even mass-market offerings are seeing this shift. The MG Windsor EV, already a top seller since its September 2024 launch with a 38-kWh battery, got a massive boost in May 2025 when a 52.9-kWh version was introduced.
The new variant, which offers a claimed range of 449 km versus 332 km for the smaller one, saw more than 8,000 bookings in the first 24 hours. The price gap between the two is around Rs 2 lakh, but for most buyers, the enhanced usability justifies the premium.
A new EV mindset
Tata Motors’ Srivatsa said that the customer mindset of spend once, worry less, is driving similar demand across the company’s EV portfolio. In the newly-launched Curvv EV, for instance, 75% of buyers are opting for the 55-kWh variant, with only a quarter choosing the 45-kWh version. In the case of the Punch EV, 80% of customers are choosing the 35-kWh battery over the 25-kWh option.
The best example is the Nexon EV. Once offered with two battery sizes, its sales have now tilted so heavily toward the 45-kWh variant that Tata Motors is contemplating phasing out the smaller 30-kWh version altogether. “More than 95% sales are coming from the 45-kWh variant,” Srivatsa said.
