Electric bikes have become the talk of the town these days as Indian consumers are switching to electric vehicles, doing their bit to preserve the environment. But how different are electric bikes from regular ones? Let’s understand through this quick comparison.
| Electric bikes | Petrol bikes | |
| Noise factor | Extremely quiet | They get quieter yearly thanks to noise regulations but will never become as soft as electric bikes. |
| Gearbox | Have a flat torque curve, meaning maximum performance from zero rpm to the redline. Therefore, they don’t need gearboxes. | Have a narrow torque band, which requires a gearbox, clutch, and the knowledge of how to operate them. |
| Gearbox | No gearbox means fewer transmission losses, less weight – and greater efficiency. | A gearbox involves more weight and complexity, and the transmission losses mean lower efficiency, translating to lower kpl figures. |
| Efficiency | Have very few moving parts and convert around 77 percent of the electric energy stored into useful work. | The most efficient petrol bikes can convert only around 30 percent of the energy in the petrol into useful work; the rest is wasted as heat. |
| Ownership cost | A bike loan is easily accessible too. | Regular oil changes and fuel delivery systems need attention occasionally, making for a higher ownership cost in the short term. Nonetheless, two-wheeler loan interest rates are reasonable. |
| Maintenance cost | Battery replacement packs are costly, and disposal and recycling are not easy. | While improper disposal of used engine oil and brake fluid can be environmentally hazardous, systems have existed for decades. |
| Charging time | Electric bikes take a while to charge to full capacity – the fastest chargers are quite expensive. | The tank can be topped up in a few minutes. |
| Public infrastructure | Public charging infrastructure is currently lacking but will improve in the future. | Petrol pumps are abundant. |
| Discounts | There are frequent offers on electric vehicles, including discounts, bike loans, tax rebates from the central and state governments, and refunds on the scrappage of old petrol bikes exchanged for new electric bicycles. | Discounts are available on models that aren’t popular and only around festival times. But two-wheeler loan interest rates are affordable. |
Conclusion:
Both have pros and cons, but when the question is electric bikes vs. regular bikes, electric vehicles are a clear winner as the future is in their favor. All they need is the charging infrastructure to be developed.
