EV-Wala exists because buying an electric vehicle in India is confusing. Brochures inflate range. YouTube reviewers get free cars. Dealers push variants on commission. I wanted a publisher that just shows the numbers — and explains where they come from.

This page documents how I do that. If I ever drift from these rules, email me and call it out.

⚖️ 1. The independence principle

• Zero money from manufacturers. No paid reviews. No sponsored verdicts. No “featured placement” in my comparison tables.
• No free cars. When I drive a vehicle for a review, I rent it at retail prices or borrow from owners I know personally.
• Ads are labeled. I run AdSense and may run affiliate links to EV accessories on Amazon. These are clearly separate from editorial. An ad never influences a recommendation.
• I model myself on Wirecutter and Consumer Reports — two publishers that built lasting trust by keeping editorial and revenue strictly separated.

🔬 2. Where my specs come from

The spec database behind every EV page is built in three layers.

Layer 1 — Official manufacturer sources

• Tata.com, Mahindra Electric Auto, MG India, Hyundai India, BYD India, Kia India, and direct OEM press kits
• MSRP, ARAI range, battery kWh, motor specs — pulled as published
• Pricing refreshed weekly (ex-showroom figures shift often in India)

Layer 2 — Independent cross-checks

• CarDekho, CarWale, and Autocar Professional India for variant-level pricing
• ARAI public test reports where available
• BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards) charging specifications

Layer 3 — Real-world adjustments

• My “real-world range” estimate = ARAI × 0.75 (the rough industry consensus on how much actual driving conditions trim ideal-test numbers in India)
• I mark adjustments clearly — brochure number vs. real-world estimate, always shown side by side
• Charging times are calculated against Indian grid voltages: 220V single-phase for home, 415V 3-phase for commercial

📊 3. How I calculate “real cost”

My Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) model uses these variables:

• Purchase price — ex-showroom + RTO + insurance + standard accessories
• Charging cost — local electricity rate × kWh × annual km ÷ real-world range
• Maintenance — ₹3,000–8,000/year per official OEM service schedules
• Insurance — 1.5–3% of declared value, declining each year
• Depreciation — 12–15% Year 1, 8–10% Year 2 onwards
• Resale — informed by used-EV listing data from Cars24 and Spinny

I show the math openly. Every calculator on /tools/ uses the same model — TCO, charging cost, range, and break-even vs. petrol.

☑️ 4. How I pick “best of” lists

For lists like “Best EVs Under ₹15L” or “Best Electric Scooters”:

1. I start with every model in the price/category bracket from my database — no shortlist tricks.
2. I score on five axes: real-world range, charging support, build quality (NCAP / safety), service network reach, and 5-year ownership cost.
3. The weight of each axis is published on the list itself (e.g., range 30%, ownership cost 25%, charging 20%, safety 15%, service 10%).
4. I rarely crown a single “winner.” Instead I pick best for a use-case — best for city commute, best for highway, best for family of four.

❌ 5. When I get it wrong

• Corrections are published at the top of any updated article, dated and explained
• Every page carries a “last updated” line — that’s the audit trail
• If a verdict materially changes (recall, price drop, software issue), I re-publish the verdict rather than silently editing the old one
• Reader feedback goes to hello@gaganthakur.com — I aim to respond within 48 hours

💰 6. Why no paid reviews

The math is simple. A single sponsored verdict could pay ₹10,000–50,000. The cost? Reader trust — and once trust is lost it doesn’t come back.

Wirecutter built a multi-hundred-million-dollar business on this rule. Consumer Reports has held it for 80+ years. I’d rather grow slower with intact credibility than fast with compromised editorial.

👤 7. Who’s behind EV-Wala

• Founder: Gagan Thakur — 15-year software engineer, long-time automotive enthusiast, India-based
• Editorial: Small and independent. Articles publish under an “Gagan Thakur” byline by default; named contributors are disclosed at the end of any article they wrote
• I don’t fake scale. If a stat sounds inflated, it’s because I haven’t earned it yet — and I won’t claim it until I do
• Contact: hello@gaganthakur.com — read by a human, not a CRM

📈 8. Transparency stats

Last updated: June 2026 · About EV-Wala · Tools