Electric or petrol scooter: which saves more money over 5 years
A five-year cost comparison shows electric scooters cost more upfront but can save owners money over time depending on daily usage
Buying a new scooter brings up one question first: petrol or electric. Petrol scooters cost less to begin with, but rising petrol prices add up over time. Electric scooters cost more upfront, but running costs are much lower. Working out the full five-year cost for both gives a clearer picture.
Start with the purchase price. A good 125cc petrol scooter costs around Rs 85,000 to Rs 95,000 in the market, while a good-quality electric scooter costs Rs 1.10 lakh to Rs 1.30 lakh. That means an electric scooter costs Rs 25,000 to Rs 35,000 more at the outset.
Next comes fuel and electricity costs. Assuming 30 kilometres of daily riding, that works out to about 900 kilometres a month. If a petrol scooter gives a mileage of 45 km per litre, it would need around 1,200 litres of petrol to cover 54,000 kilometres over five years. At Rs 100 per litre, that comes to about Rs 1,20,000. An electric scooter covering the same distance over five years would need only Rs 15,000 to Rs 18,000 worth of electricity.
On servicing and maintenance, a petrol scooter has several parts such as engine oil, spark plug, air filter and clutch, which push regular servicing costs to Rs 15,000 to Rs 20,000 over five years. An electric scooter's main component is the battery, and there is no oil change required, so its five-year maintenance cost is only Rs 5,000 to Rs 8,000.
Another major factor is the possible cost of replacing the battery. An electric scooter's battery lasts three to five years. If it needs replacing after five years, that could cost Rs 30,000 to Rs 40,000. Many companies now offer good warranties, but this cost still needs to be factored in.
So which scooter is the better deal? Taken together, the savings on petrol and servicing mean an electric scooter can save around Rs 1 lakh over five years. Even after subtracting the possible cost of a battery replacement, an electric scooter still offers savings of at least Rs 50,000 or more. So if daily riding is 25 to 30 kilometres or more, an electric scooter is the better bet. But if the scooter will be used very little, a petrol scooter remains a safe option today.
