The Buyt Desk
Are you also thinking of buying an electric scooter or electric bike? It is very much a possibility as the two-wheeler market is filled with many electric scooters and bikes already and the number is still growing. We recently saw Ola bringing their latest S1 and S1 pro and it has received a fantastic response. Earlier we saw mainstream manufacturers like Bajaj and TVS bringing their electric scooters like the Chetak and iCube. New ventures like Ather and Revolt have also tried their hands in this segment. Then there are players like Hero Electric and Okinawa who have been present in this market for a relatively long period of time. Now the question is which one to choose? Relevant question no doubt but this article is about the decision making process and not the product.
We have compiled a list of pointers which we need to keep in mind if we are looking at buying an electric scooter.
Charging Network
When and where are you going to charge the scooter? Do you have a plug point next to the parking or you are living on a ground floor house that will make charging convenient. Search for the charging points next to your house or office, in case you are thinking of using it as an office commute. There are many third-party charging stations coming up and governments encouraging private citizens to get the chargers installed for cars as well, but you still need to check how convenient and close those charging points are. You have to remember that you are buying the vehicle for your convenience.
Battery Range and Daily Commute
Don’t always rely on the EV battery range given by the manufacturer as they could be misleading. There is a clear understanding in the petrol/diesel car or two-wheeler buyers that the tested fuel efficiency figures will not match the real-life figures however if you are getting in the EV game for the first time you have to remember that as well. The battery range could depend upon your weight, the routes you take, the speed you do and the way you accelerate. Take all of these variables into consideration while deciding as your daily commute has to be well within the printed range. One practical tip would be to log your commute for a week or two which can give you a more precise picture of your travel pattern and distance. At times we overestimate our commute. Battery range up to 80 km per charge would be okay for your daily requirements. Few new products from Bajaj, Ola, Ather and TVS etc are claiming higher range than that.
Charging Time and Battery
One of the most crucial aspects especially in electric cars or EVS and equally crucial for electric two-wheelers. The range and the charging time will help you decide if the EV scooter is actually going to be convenient or a bother. Don’t forget to check the battery charging options. Is there a detachable battery that you could carry to your house and charge overnight, is there any battery swapping mechanism by the manufacturer or does it need a specific charger, connector or power output?
Tax Benefits and Subsidies
We all know that the Indian government under FAME II and the state governments under their EV plans are gearing up for electric transportation. Many states including Delhi and Gujrat have announced their EV plans, which gives subsidies to private buyers too. So, before you finalise your EV buy, please check and calculate what kind of EV policies your state has announced regarding Tax on EV, registration fees or road tax and what benefit, subsidies you are going to get on your electric two-wheeler.
The quality and the speed
There have been few cases where there was a significant difference between the claimed and the actual top speed of an EV on the road. So, try and take a test ride before buying. The top speed of 80 or 90 KMPH is not what is required on a daily basis but it could also mean that the EV two-wheeler would not be stressed at the speed of 50 or 60 kmph. There is another twist and that is the speed limit of 25kmph. The electric two-wheelers with a top speed of below 25kmph do not need to be registered.
Importance of Battery
In an electric vehicle, the most important and expensive part would be the battery pack (maybe the heaviest too). Increase the battery size, increase the range and thus increase the price of electric two-wheeler as well, the equation is this simple. This also means that you need to make sure what kind of warranty are you getting on the battery. How many chargings the manufacturer is promising. That is a big cost in any electric vehicle so you need to understand whether this is a value proposition for you or not. Go through the terms and conditions of the battery warranty, with great attention.
Maintenance and Cost
The first thing any expert will tell you about an Electric vehicle- less number of parts equals less stress on maintenance. Well, it is correct mostly but comparing just the engine and spare parts could be misleading. While fewer parts would mean less headache but what if there isn’t a reliable service network. This is one of the biggest issues with electric scooters or bikes- operators with limited or non-existent service networks. There have been cases when companies have entered this market selling Chinese imports, without having sufficient service networks. So, always check the warranty(motor, battery etc), service backup and the network.
