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What are the pros and cons of electric two wheelers?

By Finserv MARKETS - Nov 26,2019
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Currently, 15 of the 20 most polluting cities in the world are in India.1 While the national capital gears up for another toxic winter plagued by pollutants in the air, it is not just the environmentalists alone who are worried about the increasing pollution in our country and the world. The government, with its increasing focus on getting rid of plastic, for example, is trying to clean up the environment. In this scenario, electric two wheelers are an obvious further step.

Pros and Cons of Electric Bike
60-65% of the total petrol in India is consumed by two-wheelers. In the event of the global economic slowdown, cutting down non-renewable fuel imports is also a priority for the government. Hence, they have been trying their best to give a boost to the slowly emerging electric two wheeler market. As opposed to a regular scooter or motorcycle, an electric two wheeler has multiple advantages and disadvantages.


Environment friendly

The biggest selling point for electric two wheelers is that they are environment friendly. They do not burn fossil fuels, nor do they produce smoke, curbing air pollution in the process. This, however, is under debate as the electricity required for charging these is scooters is going to be mostly produced by firing of coal, which is the largest source of electricity in the country. Unless the government comes up cleaner sources of electricity, this may not be the best eco-friendly alternative. That being said, it still wins because of the non-emission of polluting gases.

Running cost

This is how electric scooters counter the concern of buying cost. The amount of distance an electric two wheeler can run in one rupee is much more than that of a petrol operated two wheeler.


The government of India, under FAME (Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric Vehicles) 2, has announced an outlay of ₹10,000 crore for three years till 2022. An amount of ₹8,596 crore has been sanctioned for incentives, of which ₹1,000 crore has been earmarked for setting up charging stations for electric vehicles in India.

In 2018, 1.26 lakh electric two-wheelers were sold in India.3 With at least 4 major scooter manufacturers and at least a dozen startups ready to roll out newer models of electric two wheelers, we can only expect better prices owing to competition and subsidies.


Electric scooters are relatively simple and have fewer parts. This makes them compact and easy to park, for one. The light weight also makes it easy for a driver, since heavier the vehicle, the more difficult it is to drive it. The low weight and compact structure also makes it possible to bring your scooter indoors during the rains.



Electric two wheelers are generally more expensive than those that run on petrol. Its accessories also cost higher. The short life of the battery adds to the cost. Currently, a high-end electric scooter in India could cost around Rs. 90,000. This is a steep rise from the Rs. 50,000-60,000 you might spend on a petrol-operated scooter. However, you can rest assured that you won’t have the added burden of hefty costs to shoulder for two wheeler insurance. You can avail economical rates for bike insurance on Finserv MARKETS. With a smooth, hassle-free and quick online process, you can get bike insurance for your brand new bike.

Battery Life

Electric batteries need to be replaced once they are damaged or once they no longer give a good range. Batteries usually last for a year, and cost Rs.13,000-20,000, depending on the rating, brand, quality, and warranties.


The range of an electric scooter is the distance that it will cover in a single charge. The range decreases with the life of the battery. The average range of the top electric scooter models in India is 100 kms. It takes a good 5 hours to recharge the battery, so it might not be a great option for long distance travel.

Repair and maintenance

At least initially, repairs are going to be an issue with not many repair centres or spare parts dealers available for this new mode of transport.

However, it would just be a matter of time before we have ample facilities for servicing electric two wheelers. Additionally, the easy availability of two wheeler insurance. such as Bajaj Allianz Two Wheeler Insurance, available on Finserv MARKETS will only boost the confidence of buyers in electric scooters. The two-wheeler insurance available on Finserv MARKETS comes with value added benefits like cashless facility at 4000+ garages across India and round the clock bike roadside assistance.



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