Electric vs Petrol Bike: Which Costs Less?
An electric bike costs more to buy but much less to run. Whether it pays off depends on how far you ride each day and where you can charge.
Updated 11 November 2026
Running cost
A full charge of a typical scooty takes about 2 to 3 units (kWh) of electricity, see the charging cost guide. A petrol bike needs fuel, engine oil, filters and spark plugs. Metro says EV maintenance is up to 80% lower because there are no oil changes, filters or plugs.
Purchase price and payback
The NEV Policy notes that electric two-wheelers cost 47 to 100% more than petrol bikes. A Dawn report put the payback from fuel savings at about 1 year and 10 months. The PAVE subsidy lowers the price of approved models; see PAVE approved electric bikes.
Popular electric options in the 70cc class: Jolta JE-70L Electric Bike Rs 135,500, Pakzon PE-70L Electric Bike Rs 135,500 and MS Jaguar E-70 Electric Bike Rs 159,000.
Battery replacement
The battery is the big later cost: it is more than 30% of the bike price. Lithium LFP packs last far longer than graphene or dry gel ones, so a lithium model usually costs less over its life even if it costs more at the start. Read the battery guide.
When petrol is still better
- Long daily trips beyond about 60 to 80 km, or village roads with few charging points
- Long tours (northern areas) where you cannot plan charge stops
- If you have no safe place to charge at home
For city rides under about 60 km a day, an e-bike is the cheaper choice.
