Is An Electric Scooter Worth Buying?

Jul. 17, 2023

Electric scooters are a very efficient way to move through the city. You can avoid traffic jams, the cost is much smaller than for a car or motorcycle, and it's fun.

Zero emissions & environment

Shifting to electricity will definitely help in reducing our intake of toxic emissions, particularly of the harmful carbon and nitrous oxide variety. According to the Supreme Court-monitored EPCA, fossil fuel-run vehicles contribute as much as 40 percent of the total emission load in Delhi and roughly 30 percent in the region.

Low running cost

Before buying any vehicle, a large segment of Indian consumers looks at fuel prices and mileage. Every electric scooter, for example, takes up one to three units of electricity per charge (approx Rs 10 per unit of electricity). Even high-end two-wheelers don't consume more than 3.5 units per charge. For two-wheelers with a range as low as 50 km to ones with 150 km, you're shelling not more than Rs 30-35 per charge. This is a phenomenal difference as compared to IC engine vehicles. Include oil prices to the mix, and the cost issue is addressed.

They are not expensive and operation is (almost) free. You can get a decent scooter for your commute for $600–700. If you use it to replace your 5-mile commute by car to work every day, you will save around $250 in a year just on gas. That does not count parking, the cost of your car, etc.

Low Maintenance

Buying a vehicle is one thing, but maintaining is another ball game. The overall cost of ownership of the electric scooter over a period of five or six years is almost half of the cost of petrol-fueled vehicles. The running cost of a vehicle per km is just around 10-15 paisa. It reduces maintenance costs to almost zero because a petrol-run two-wheeler scooter has more than 2,000 moving parts, whereas an electric one has 20-25 moving parts. Thus, maintenance-related costs decrease. It is also lighter in weight as compared to a petrol/diesel scooter.

Convenient

We discussed the lightweight and practical aspects of a foldable scooter, but there is one more huge advantage. You can get to work without having broken a sweat. Comparing it to a traditional bike, you don't have to do any sort of peddling, which can make you change your shirt or worse.

Charge any time

You can charge any time, anywhere. With an electric vehicle, you don't have to visit the petrol station ever. You can charge it either at your office or residence and by morning your vehicle enjoys a full charge, you don't have to wait in line at petrol stations.