Two-wheelers are the most preferred mode of transport opted for by millions in India owing to their convenience, affordability, and easy maneuverability in traffic congestion. However, recent surges in fuel prices concerning diminishing non-renewable resources and rising environmental concerns have made electric vehicles gain importance and popularity. Ever since its inception, EVs have been selling around like hotcakes (October 2022 witnessed a two-fold jump in sales). This ever-increasing demand is a result of the cutting-edge technology utilized towards EVs, the long-term affordability due to low maintenance costs, zero carbon footprints, and government subsidies along with some others are enabling EVs to look highly efficient over their ICE counterparts to the Indian consumers.
In other words, electric vehicles have become the number one choice among consumers as they offer an amazing two-wheeler experience, and at the same time are financially savvy in the long run.
a. Low fuel cost & Flexi charging options
As the name suggests, EVs are battery-powered and need to be charged with electricity. Hence, fuel cost is zero, plus on a full charge, they can be ridden for 75-150 Kms before their battery runs out. Additionally, the battery swapping/detachable battery ie can now be leased, which further cuts down the cost.
Furthermore, the charging options offered by EVs are much more flexible when compared to ICE vehicles, which means, customers are left with a number of choices for charging their vehicle – ultra-fast/super-fast charging at a designated EV station in just 5 minutes or overnight home charging or otherwise portable/ detachable batteries. Additionally, EV stations are easy to locate in every nook and corner, and are operational 24/7, unlike petrol stations, wherein you have to wait in line in order to refuel your vehicle and worry about fuel refilling at odd hours.
b. Lower maintenance costs
Electric vehicles relatively have lower maintenance costs even after continuous usage for many years on grounds of fewer moving parts, which is usually around 20-25 when compared to its ICE counterparts having over 2000 of them that need to be attended to at regular intervals.
The maintenance costs can be better explained, for example.
The minimum annual expenditure for servicing a petrol bike would normally be around Rs 6000 per year, therefore the accumulated cost of servicing a bike for 3 years would come to around Rs 18000. On the contrary, the only cost incurred towards maintaining an electric vehicle would be the battery cost, i.e., for battery replacement, which would normally take place every 3-6 years depending upon the usage pattern. Optimum utilization of the state of charge can further extend the battery life.
c. Noiseless rides
Despite the comfort level of electric vehicles being distinct from person to person, in general, electric vehicles are considered to be your best friend, especially if you are a daily commuter, as they offer a seamless riding experience around the city. To begin with, unlike ICE vehicles, which need the pistons to grind inside the engine to produce power, EVs only have one moving part: the electric motor, which runs quietly. Simply put, you can take your vehicle even early in the morning or late at night without bothering your neighbours as there is no exhaust noise, reducing the chance of any sort of noise pollution.
Riders often complain about the vibrations coming from petrol-run vehicles while riding or stopping at red lights. You won’t experience vibrations, also you won’t burn yourself from the hot exhaust pipe as it’s completely non-existent.
d. Enhanced comfort & riding experience
EVs that are now made available in the market are well equipped with best-in-class & novel features, such as anti-theft alarms, AI-enabled riding behaviour statistics, and speedometer aspects in BattRE, an IoT-enabled scooter, 7-inch TFT touchscreen, navigation, riding & reverse parking modes in OLA electric, a 7-inch dashboard for calls, navigation etc in Ather, park assist feature in TVS iQube, etc are some of the interesting features to look out for. Also, certain electric brands beat their ICE counterparts when it comes to performance, ie, picking up peak power and torque.
Summing up, the riding experience offered by some electric vehicles is top-notch and contributes positively not only to the environment but also to the riders. In other words, EVs diminish the chance of air pollution by reducing carbon footprints and noise pollution through their silent functioning capability in the absence of engines. From affordability and lower operating costs to improved riding experience via better performance, every function offered by EVs is so invaluable, allowing you to consider EVs on your next two-wheeler purchase.
