Introduction
The way of transportation is undergoing a significant shift, mainly in the two-wheeler segment. Currently, the market is dominated by petrol-powered scooters, but the market now witnessing a rapid surge in electric scooters. Hence electric scooter vs petrol scooter will be a hotspot topic soon.
In this blog, we will delve into the comparison of electric scooter vs petrol scooter. Furthermore, showcasing the key differences between the cost, performance, environmental impact, and many more.
By understanding the pros and cons – petrol scooter vs electric scooter. You can make a better decision choosing the best scooter based on need and like.
Electric Scooter vs Petrol Scooter Running Cost
Let’s look at the running cost (operational cost) of electric and petrol scooters. meanwhile, you may wonder purchase price of a petrol scooter is lower significantly than an electric one.
But the purchase price is just the initial amount. At this time, it is even more important to consider the money paid after purchasing scooters. Which is called the Total Cost of Ownership (TOC).
The TOC is just the initial expense plus the operational expense of the vehicle. In short will include fuel, maintenance, and insurance. tax etc.
Electric Scooter vs Petrol scooter - Taxation
Tax benefits for electric scooters
- Generally, many states in India offer considerable reductions in registration fees for electric scooters.
- Surprisingly, several states have road tax exemptions on electric scooters. Mean no need to pay additional taxes to the government for electric scooters. Making electric scooters more affordable to own in the long run.
- The Central Government Incentive through the FAME scheme offers incentives to electric automakers. Hence indirectly benefit buyers through lower prices.
- Also, some states offer direct subsidies to buyers of electric scooters, further reducing the overall cost.
Section 80EEB of Income Tax Act provides electric vehicle Tax Exemption, benefits, and deductions.
Current tax structure for petrol scooter
- Petrol scooter owner required to pay registration fees based on state regulations. Which further adds up the cost.
- Additionally, there is a road tax imposed on petrol scooters. Which varies based on engine capacity and state specific tax rules.
- Excise duty is included in the ex-showroom price of the scooter. Further increase the petrol scooters price. For more clearness, excise duty comes under central government taxation.
Cost of Recharging vs Refilling
Let’s compare the popular electric scooter model Ola S1 Pro with the Honda Activa 6g, in the context of an electric scooter vs a petrol scooter.
Ola S1 Pro costs you Rs 93,288
Honda Activa 6g costs you Rs 80,385
With Assumption
- Average Electricity Cost – Rs 8 per unit
- Average Petrol price – 100 per liter
- Daily travel distance – 30 km
The company claimed that Ola S1X has a range of 125 km per full charge with a battery capacity of 3kWh. Hence the estimated charging cost for 30 km will be around Rs 5.67.
Meanwhile, Honda Activa 6g gives an average mileage of 60 km/liter. hence for 30 km of traveling, you end up sending around Rs 50 for petrol. Surprisingly, this is 8 times more than the electricity cost for Ola S1X.
Similarly, if we calculate the same for 5 years
- Electricity cost for Ola S1X will be approx Rs. 10300.
- Petrol cost for Honda Activa will be approx Rs 91,200.
In conclusion, the electric scooter offers better cost savings compared to the petrol scooter. While the initial purchase price of an electric scooter may higher. But the long-term savings of fuel can easily offset this investment.
Time for Recharger vs Refueling
General Electric scooter takes hours to charge. Which is not looking convenient for me. I guess there are fast-charging options available, but it degrades the battery life through repetitive use.
Meanwhile, refilling the petrol scooter fuel tank takes just minutes. Which saves plenty of time, especially during emergencies.
Petrol Scooter vs Electric Scooter - Maintenance
The petrol scooters are made of complex parts. With many moving parts, hence it requires oiling. Most petrol scooters may have maintenance costs of around Rs 5500 per annum. Hence for 5 years, you have to pay Rs. 27000.
Since the petrol scooter has lots of parts like engine, gearbox, transmission, etc. There will be a chance of failure and requires replacement or repair. Which further increases the cost of maintenance.
Let’s see about electric scooter maintenance cost. The electric scooter isn’t made up of complex parts and has fewer moving parts. Hence there will be less chance of repair or replacement.
After the warranty period say 3 years, you may end up facing some issues related to the scooter’s battery.
Hence repair or replacement of battery and other related parts is needed. It may cost you more than Rs 10,000 on average. but with proper battery charging habits and occasionally calibration, you can extend the life of the battery.
If it comes to improvement, Software updates provide an advantage for electric scooters over petrol scooters.
- Performance enhancements
- New Features
- Bug fixes
- Security improvements
unlike petrol scooter which required physical hardware modification for improvements. The electric scooter can continuously be upgraded and refined through software updates. Hence no need for any manual modification from the electric scooter owner.
Electric Scooter vs Petrol Scooter - Infrastructure
The electric scooter charging infrastructure is at the initial stage. Especially for India. Therefore, charging stations are limited in number. Currently, the electric scooter is not suitable for long-distance travel. Secondly, range anxiety is a concern among Indian electric scooter owners.
on the other hand, you can find petrol stations everywhere in a few kilometers, which easier to refuel your petrol scooter.
Electric vs Petrol Scooter - Performance Comparison
Acceleration
The electric scooter offers an insane acceleration compared to the petrol scooter due to the instant torque. This makes them ideal for urban traffic.
meanwhile, the petrol scooter also accelerates well but is slightly delayed due to the revs of the engine. The power delivery is smoother but not as much as instantaneous as an electric scooter.
Top speed
Generally, the petrol scooter has an edge over the top speed. They can reach higher speeds making them suitable for longer-distance travels.
Despite, there are advances in technologies that have led to increased top speed in electric scooters. But still, electric scooters can’t compete with petrol scooters.
Range
Petrol scooter typically offers a larger range than electric scooters due to the availability of fuel stations. Though, making them suitable for longer journey travels.
Electric scooters have improved a lot in range. despite this, the lack of battery capacity and charging stations makes them less suitable for long-distance travel.
Petrol vs Electric Scooter - Riding Experience
The electric scooter offers a smoother, quieter, and responsive ride. With the insane torque, you can feel the acceleration in an electric scooter.
Additionally, the electric scooter models are equipped with digital displays, smartphone connectivity, and rider assistance systems which further enhance the overall riding experience.
Meanwhile, petrol scooters offer a traditional feel with vibration and engine sound. I think some people find electric scooters less engaging or less indicative of vehicle performance due to the lack of a traditional motor scooter feel.
Conclusion
In conclusion, I have provided the key difference between electric scooters vs petrol scooters. Both are better in their way. But the choice of choosing them is in your hands.
If you are a short-medium distance traveler, wanting a peaceful ride with no sound, with less operational cost, and having enough time to charge then go for an electric scooter. Also read Best Electric Scooter Under 1 Lakh, if you are planning to buy an electric scooter.
Secondly, if you are a long-distance traveler, who likes to travel with higher speed and need the feel of traditional motorcycle vibration and sound. Go for traditional scooters.
FAQ
1. Is an electric scooter cost-effective?
cost of charging an electric scooter is significantly cheaper than petrol.
2. What is the cost of a battery in an electric scooter?
Typically, electric scooter battery replacement costs range from ₹20,000 to ₹25,000 in India
3. What is the electric scooter battery lifespan?
With proper maintenance, the lifespan of an electric scooter battery is around 800-1000 charge cycles in the Indian
4. What damages EV batteries?
Charging too often damages electric scooter batteries. Don’t charge it every day unless you need to use it.
5. What is the disadvantage of electric scooter?
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