12,500 Kilometres on an E-Scooter: One Rider's Mission to Drive India's EV Conversation

As much of India grapples with scorching summer temperatures, touching 45°C and beyond, Mangaluru-based rider Girish Shet is undertaking an ambitious journey across the country on a VIDA VX2 electric scooter, using the road as a platform to talk about climate change, sustainable mobility and the growing potential of electric vehicles.

What began in Bengaluru on April 12 has turned into one of India's longest solo electric scooter expeditions. Having already covered over 9,000 kilometres across 16 states, Shet is expected to complete nearly 12,500 kilometres by the time he reaches Delhi on June 3.

But the ride is about more than setting records. At a time when concerns around charging infrastructure, battery performance and range anxiety continue to shape perceptions of electric vehicles, Shet hopes his journey will challenge some of those assumptions. Travelling through cities, villages and remote stretches in peak summer conditions, he wants to demonstrate that EVs are capable of handling long-distance travel far beyond urban commutes.

The journey is part of a larger mission that began several years ago. In 2020, what started as a personal ride titled "Reclaiming My Life" evolved into a deeper engagement with issues of sustainability and climate awareness. Realising that many people remained hesitant about adopting electric mobility, Shet began using endurance rides to showcase its practical possibilities.

In 2022, he completed the Kanyakumari-to-Khardung La expedition on an electric scooter, covering more than 4,300 kilometres and drawing attention to the emerging EV ecosystem in India. His latest ride takes that effort much further.

Over the past five weeks, charging stops at roadside eateries and fuel stations have often become opportunities for conversation. Curious truck drivers, local residents and fellow travellers have stopped to ask questions about charging, battery life and the realities of riding an electric vehicle across the country. Those interactions, Shet says, are as important as the kilometres covered.

The expedition has not been without challenges. Power outages delayed charging in parts of Odisha, food shortages affected some highway stops, and travelling in extreme heat has tested both rider and machine. A recent accident near Jabalpur left Shet with multiple injuries and a swollen shoulder, but after medical treatment he resumed the journey the following day, crediting his riding gear with preventing more serious harm.

Along the way, the ride has become a vehicle for broader conversations about climate change and individual responsibility. At every stop, Shet has spoken about reducing dependence on fossil fuels and the role cleaner modes of transport can play in addressing environmental challenges.

As India pushes towards greater EV adoption and expands its charging network, journeys like this offer a real-world look at how electric mobility is evolving. The expedition is also being submitted to the Asia Book of Records as a contender for one of the longest rides undertaken on an electric scooter in the country.

A former media and marketing professional who has worked with organisations such as Nokia, BIG FM and The Indian Express, Shet says riding has gradually transformed from a hobby into a purpose-driven pursuit.

"Climate change is no longer something we can talk about as a future problem," he says. "We're already living through its effects. If this journey encourages even a few people to rethink how they travel and the choices they make every day, it will have been worth it."