Quick Overview
- Owners report 150–160 km real-world range even under full load
- Monthly fuel savings range between ₹15,000–20,000
- Zero maintenance issues reported over thousands of kilometres
Mahindra’s new electric light commercial vehicle, the ZEO, is steadily carving a niche for itself among small business owners and last-mile delivery operators. While electric cargo vehicles are still gaining ground in India, the ZEO seems to be ticking a few crucial boxes—particularly in range, running costs, and reliability.
We caught up with a few early adopters of the ZEO platform, and their stories reveal a consistent pattern: low costs, minimal hassle, and surprisingly robust daily usability.
150–160 km Real-World Range, No Range Anxiety
Magenta Mobility, a fleet operator based in Turbhe, Navi Mumbai, has deployed several ZEOs across city routes. Maxon Lewis, a senior representative from the company, confirms that the vehicle delivers 150 to 160 kilometres of real-world range, even when fully loaded and operating in mixed traffic.
“Our biggest concern was uptime,” says Lewis. “The ZEO has proven to be reliable day in and day out. There’s no oil change, no engine trouble—just plug in and drive. For us, electricity is the new oil.”
Diesel Out, Savings In
Bharat Talreja, who runs a bakery distribution setup, made the shift from diesel to electric after mounting expenses and operational issues. With the ZEO now handling daily deliveries, he reports monthly fuel savings of ₹15,000–₹20,000, thanks to the vehicle’s energy efficiency and low cost per kilometre.
“With diesel, I never knew how much mileage I was getting, and there was always some leak, repair, or theft issue. Now it’s predictable, and the running cost is a fraction,” Talreja explains.
Built for the City
With a 30 kW motor, 114 Nm of torque, and a choice between two battery packs—18.4 kWh and 21.3 kWh—the ZEO is well-tailored for urban freight movement. Features like regenerative braking, CCS2 fast charging, and a tight 4.3-metre turning radius add to its practicality. A 7-year battery warranty rounds off the value equation.
Final Thoughts
It’s still early days for the ZEO, but owner feedback paints a clear picture: this electric LCV is less about futuristic tech and more about dependable, cost-efficient daily duty. For many small businesses, that’s exactly what they need.