When considering buying electric scooters in India, the first thing that comes to your mind is: how much do electric scooters cost? How much money can I save using an electric scooter? Is an e-scooter cheaper than a petrol-powered scooter? These are the common questions that people generally want to be clear about. In this guide, we will break down the cost of an electric scooter in India and how much money you can save using e-scooters.
On average, an electric scooter in India starts from Rs. 55000. You can expect to pay anywhere from Rs. 60,000 to Rs. 150,000 for a decent electric scooter. The cost of electric scooters mostly depends on the model, range, features, and specifications. Some of the most affordable options include Vegh Electric Scooters – click here to learn more.
Reduced Fuel Cost
As we already know, refuelling electric scooters has become the heaviest expense when you buy an electric scooter. On average, if you refuel your petrol scooter tank in India, you have to pay around Rs. 500 to 700, depending on the current fuel prices in your state. However, the most significant cost-saving advantage of having an e-scooter is you don’t have to pay anything for fuel. You just need to charge the battery of your e-scooter at home for very low electricity costs.
Most e-scooter owners report that fully charging their electric scooter costs them around Rs.10 to 15, saving up to Rs. 285-490 per fill-up compared to a petrol scooter!! Refuelling your petrol scooter once a week adds up to savings of over Rs. 10,000-15,000 annually just on fuel costs.
Save Money on Maintenance Costs
Petrol scooters require high maintenance, so you need to change their oil changes, tune-ups, replace spare parts, etc., within certain time intervals. And this costs anywhere between Rs.500-1,500 every 3-6 months. However, this depends upon the scooter’s condition and usage.
The plus point with e-scooters is that they have fewer moving parts requiring less maintenance than fuel-powered scooters. If you have an electric scooter, you need to spend around Rs.1000-3000 annually on basic maintenance like brake pad replacement and battery checkups. This means you can save Rs. 2,000-6,000 over petrol scooter maintenance costs yearly.
Compared to petrol scooters, the insurance rate of e-scooters is quite low. The main reason behind it is that insurance companies see EVs as lower risk because they don’t have combustion engines and catch fire less easily in case of an accident.
Average insurance cost of electric scooter – Rs. 2,000-4,000
Average insurance cost of petrol scooter – Rs. 3,000-6,000
Over the lifetime of owning an electric scooter in India, insurance savings could amount to Rs. 6,000-12,000 or more.
To promote eco-friendly e-vehicles, the Government of India offers substantial purchase subsidies. You can save up to Rs. 15000 on high-speed scooters and Rs.10000 on low-speed scooters – thanks to the FAME II subsidy for electric two-wheelers in India, which brings down the upfront cost significantly.
Even some state governments like Delhi, Gujrat, Maharashtra, etc., provide additional Rs.5000 to 10,000 subsidies. With total subsidies of Rs. 20,000-25,000, you can calculate how much you can save using an electric scooter in India.
Final Cost Savings Analysis
For the analysis, let’s assume an average annual usage of 5000 km and a 5-year ownership period. With fuel savings of Rs. 10,000-15,000, maintenance savings of Rs. 6,000, insurance savings of Rs. 6,000-12,000, and upfront subsidy of Rs. 20,000-25,000, total estimated savings would be around Rs. 1,00,000 over 5 years for an electric scooter user compared to petrol-powered scooter.
Even after accounting for the electric scooters’ higher interest costs due to their higher upfront price, you will save a minimum of Rs. 50,000-70,000 over 5 years by switching to electric. Pretty significant savings, wouldn’t you say?!!
When you buy an electric scooter in India, you will benefit from long-term financial advantages compared to a traditional petrol scooter. With fuel and maintenance costs being a huge monthly burden, opting for an electric scooter can reduce your daily commuting expenses. And combined with attractive government schemes and subsidies, electric scooters are emerging as the most cost-effective means of transportation.
