Plug in or tank up

Electric vehicles aren’t just the future, EVs are the present — a bold statement from Ultraviolette’s top bosses while revealing their new Tesseract scooter recently. It got me thinking about an important question many commuters continue to grapple with: should you buy an electric scooter or stick to a traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) one?

In the past few years, electric mobility in India has evolved rapidly. Besides tech disruptors like Ather, Ola and now Ultraviolette, industry stalwarts Bajaj, TVS and Hero have also thrown their hat into the ring. High fuel prices, worsening urban congestion, and the government’s push toward cleaner transportation have led to a surge in electric scooter options. Yet, the ICE scooter is still a strong favourite. It remains the default choice for millions, especially outside metro cities.

Price, the priority

Consider one of the more affordable e-scooters as an example, the TVS iQube. Its base variant in Delhi costs around Rs 1 lakh on-road, after Central and state subsidies. Still the most popular, the Honda Activa 6G, on the other hand, costs roughly Rs 10,000 less. The price difference has reduced with more ‘entry-level’ e-scooters being launched in the past couple of years, making EVs even more tempting for prospective buyers.

EVs are currently more expensive than petrol scooters because the technology is relatively new and sales volumes are still quite low. The major reason though is that lithium-ion batteries cost a lot! The battery pack itself can be a third of the overall cost of the vehicle. The real question is, how do they stack up in the long run?

At nearly Rs 100 per litre of petrol and a real-world mileage of 45 km/l, ICE scooters cost about Rs 2 per km to run.

Meanwhile, EVs, with per-unit electricity rates of Rs 8 in urban areas, cost roughly 25 paise per km. That means if you ride about 20 km a day, you’re saving Rs 35 daily with an EV. In a year, you save the cost difference between the two in our example. If fuel prices continue climbing, the savings only accelerate.

Taking care of it

Maintenance is another big win for EVs. No engine oil, fewer moving parts, and minimal wear and tear translate into lesser garage visits. But remember, battery replacement (after 4-6 years) could cost a substantial amount of the scooter’s original cost. That’s something to factor into long-term ownership costs. Today’s electric scooters offer anywhere between 100 and 250 km of range per charge. That covers the daily grind comfortably. But if you regularly ride long distances or live where the charging infrastructure is staggered, ICE wins.

Charging is getting easier, with more cities offering public chargers and many models now supporting fast charging. But let’s be honest — plugging in for 4 hours isn’t the same as a 5-minute petrol top-up. If your lifestyle demands absolute flexibility, ICE still has the edge. Apartments could also pose a challenge for charging, although removable battery option (like on the Vida V2) is a workaround. Traditional scooters have a huge advantage in after-sales support. Local mechanics know them inside out. Parts are easily available. Electric scooter networks, while improving, still lag, especially outside big cities.

Lasting choice

Longevity is also an open question with EVs. Most batteries last roughly 4-6 years. After that, performance drops, and resale value can take a hit. ICE scooters, with minimal upkeep, routinely last a decade or more.

It is not uncommon to find 20-year-old petrol scooters puttering around city streets without any hassle. The technology has been around for decades. While EVs are getting better at handling Indian road and weather conditions, their long-term durability across geographies is still being tested — accentuated by the fact that EV tech is galloping and an e-scooter you buy today will most likely be outdated a decade later.

EV scooters thrive in cities. They’re perfect for short hops, are clean, quiet, and cheaper to run. But ICE scooters remain the more flexible machines. Want to do a Chandigarh to Shimla run without planning your route around charging stations? Stick to ICE! If you have only one vehicle, the versatility of an ICE scooter might still make sense. While the EV revolution is well and truly underway, ICE scooters make a strong case in 2025 — especially if reliability, reach, and long-term serviceability are your top concerns.

The future is electric, but the present still has ample room for both.

• You ride mostly in the city.
• You have access to home or public charging.
• You care about long-term cost savings and environmental impact.
• You’re comfortable with new tech and slightly more involved ownership.

• You ride long distances or live in smaller towns.
• You rely on local mechanics.
• You value plug-and-play ownership with minimal surprises.
• You want a scooter that can go the distance — literally and figuratively.

— The writer is an automotive journalist