Electric scooter vs petrol scooter

 Within the last few years, there has been a tremendous change in the motorcycle technology. In the wake of pollution and cost, people have been looking for environment cum budget friendly options to commute and the electric vehicles have showed up with the great timing. There has been major increase in the price of petrol scooters and rise in petrol prices, so when it comes to choosing a scooter, which one would you prefer among the two options- electric scooters or petrol scooter?

Here’s a quick comparison to help you with the decision.

Performance:

Electric and gasoline powered scooters of the same size and weight are roughly comparable in performance. E-scooters are much faster with smoother acceleration, since they develop full torque immediately, and without a clutch the torque is instantly available. It is not that petrol scooters are slow but electric ones just have more instant pull which makes them easier to operate. Electric bikes for sale have become a hot topic and the market has options of the best bikes for the buyers to choose from.

Fuel cost:

There is no fuel cost associated with electric scooters the very reason electric bikes for sale have climbed up high recently. These e scooters are environment friendly, whereas the fuel operated scooters are heavier on the pockets, for instance, the price of 1 litre of petrol was ₹83.71 in New Delhi on January 1, 2021. A year later, it increased 14% to ₹95.41. That is higher than the rate of inflation. An electric scooter will offer the same mileage as a petrol scooter at 15% of the cost of one litre of fuel. So, in the electric scooter vs petrol scooter debate, E-scooters take the win as they’re more economical over the long-term. However, the access to gas stations is much easier as they are more in number when compared to electric recharge stations making the petrol scooters dominant.

Cost:

Electric scooters are more expensive than petrol scooters but the cost has gone down due to subsidies given by the Central Government. That being said, petrol scooters are cheaper for now, but fuel prices add to the misery. However, the longevity needs to also be looked at since a petrol scooter can go on for many years while an electric scooter might have its battery life limited to approximately 4 years, after which replacing the battery might be required. Top electric scooters however might come a little expensive, but with a lot of manufacturers in the scene the price is to go down. 

Noise:

Electric vehicles are far quieter than gasoline powered ones, so silent they may sneak up on unwary pedestrians. Some are equipped to emit artificial noise. Popular Mechanics called the comparative quiet of electric scooters the greatest difference between them and their gasoline counterparts, and a safety bonus because the rider can hear danger approaching. Whether a loud motorcycle is more noticeable and thus safer than a quiet one is contested. With all its safety prospect being considered the electric bike dealerships across the country have witnessed a high sale margin in the recent times.

Maintenance:

Both electric and petrol scooters come with their respective challenges, as far as running and maintaining them is concerned. Low Maintenance cost, no more air filters, fuel filter engine oils with very minimal health checks every one year makes e-scooters more reliable. Additionally, the brake pad maintenance is very less in e- scooters thanks to regenerative braking. Electric scooters just require regular battery charging and frequent cleaning, besides that there is no major maintenance involved. With only a battery, a motor, and a black box to keep you moving, electric bikes and scooters are a breeze to maintain compared to the traditional ones, with all the lubricating and adjusting and tuning you have to do.

Range:

If you need a two-wheeler to cover short distances, then ideally, you should choose electric scooters. With the availability of limited charging stations, the covering of the long distances on the e-scooters can be a little tricky however with the swappable battery option provided by Gemopai this puzzle can be solved easily. The newer electric scooter models are now accessible with the self-charging solutions that imply long distances far into the future. There are no restrictions on the operation usage of petrol scooters. As long as you tend to get friendly roads and terrains, the access to the petrol stations or carrying of petrol along with you can let you take the scooter out of the ride anywhere.

Refuel time:

Most electric bikes and scooters are powered by rechargeable lithium-ion batteries and even with special equipment, charging a battery takes significantly longer than filling a gasoline tank, which can make electric vehicles less flexible than petrol scooters. With the maximum number of accessory chargers, it takes over an hour to charge a Zero S ZF6.5's 6.5kWh battery to 95% capacity. This refuels time also increases with battery capacity; the Zero S ZF13.0 (which has a 13.0kWh battery) takes over 2 hours to charge to 95% capacity using the maximum number of accessory chargers. While this may not pose an issue to commuting in an electric vehicle with overnight charging, as well as option with the swappable battery option of Gemopai.

Government promotion and incentives:

In January 2013, the Indian government announced an excellent initiative to provide subsidies for hybrid and electric vehicles. The plan will have subsidies up to ₹ 1,50,000 (Approximately US$2,200) for cars and ₹ 50,000 on two wheelers. India aimed to have seven million electric vehicles on the road by 2020. Thus, the manufacturers and electric bike dealerships have now been nudged with the profit possibilities and thus the future of mobility does appear electrified.

What to buy?

If you live in the bigger cities and have access to charging at your home/office and require daily commute options for short distances, then an electric scooter is the perfect option. They are more eco-friendly and cheaper to run. They have less moving parts so should be more reliable. Power delivery is instant at any speed, and smooth. The range is decent, it is smooth, fast and easy to use. Plus of course, they are cheaper to run with petrol prices being so high. By all means, electric scooters have efficiency to provide more mileage than petrol bikes.