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Buying an Electric Bike? 5 Critical Factors You Need To Consider!

From mileage to price, here are the right questions to ask before making the investment!

Buying an Electric Bike? 5 Critical Factors You Need To Consider!

Electric Vehicles (EV) have been in existence for the last 185 years but the concept of clean-energy vehicle is fairly new.

A rise in carbon footprint and vehicular emission has pushed governments around the world to introduce policies that promote the use of electric vehicles.

Closer to home, the first major step taken towards the use of EV came in 2010 when the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy announced financial incentives for EV manufacturers under a Rs 95 crore scheme. Since then, several policy changes were made in this direction, the latest being a reduction in the Goods and Services Tax on EVs from 12 per cent to 5 per cent.


Get energy-efficient and cost-effective fans in a range of pleasing shades. Check out fans that will cut down on those electricty bills by up to 65%, here. 


Meanwhile, companies and startups are coming up with electric bikes that are both efficient and affordable. Check out 5 electric bike start-ups leading India’s switch to clean fuel here.

As a consumer, it can be a daunting task to find an electric vehicle which will suffice requirements of range, speed and price.

In this article, we give you a few pointers that you should consider before investing in an electric two-wheeler.

Range

A vehicle’s range is the distance you can travel on the available fuel in the tank. In case of an electric two-wheeler, consider the maximum distance that the bike can cover on a full battery on a single charge.

Ather Grid Electrical charging stations
Image Credit: Ather Energy.

For example, Gurugram-based Revolt Intellicorp Pvt Ltd’s RV400 has the maximum range of 150 km on a single charge giving it a top speed of 85 km/hr. It comes with a portable charger and a removable battery pack which allows the owner to recharge the batteries at home or work.

Price

There is a common misconception that anything that is environmentally-friendly is expensive. However, when it comes to EVs, a customer should consider the fact that they will end up saving the money spent on petrol and diesel.

Manufacturers have made e-bikes affordable for the common man with e-bikes now available at a range of prices starting form Rs 2,999.

The second model of Revolt Intellicorp Pvt Ltd is priced as Rs 2,999 and is powered by a 2.7KW Lithium-Ion battery with a range of 80-150 km.

Image Credit: Ather Energy

If your budget is flexible then you can consider Ather 340 and Ather 450.

Let’s take an average 110 cc scooter priced at Rs 70,000. This amount does not include insurance, petrol, taxes or services. Whereas, the Ather 340 and the Ather 450 come with insurance and GST included, with the lowest interest rate. Plus, you get free unlimited charging for the first year. In the long run, it is not only good for your wallet but also for the environment, says Tarun Mehta, co-founder of Bengaluru startup– Ather Energy.

Meanwhile, Hyderabad-based startup, PuREnergy’s EPLUTO at Rs 74,999 is cheaper than a Vespa scooty. The startup also has a long-range economical bicycle priced at Rs 25,000.

Battery

The battery is the powerhouse of your vehicle. The higher the wattage, the faster your two-wheeler will go, it will also enable you to carry heavier cargo and also navigate rough terrains.

One should also consider whether the battery powering your EV is portable and comes with a warranty. Also find out if the battery is waterproof, shockproof and is not damaged easily.

Electrical vehicle charging ports and stations

For instance the Revolt Intellicorp Pvt Ltd provides a removable battery pack and their batteries are compatible under all weather conditions as per Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) standards.

Gemopai Electrics is another company that offers portable and lightweight batteries. It takes four hours to charge the battery which can be done even on your laptop!

Service

You may want to visit the local bike service stations before making the purchase. Find out if they are equipped with the spare parts and whether or not they service EVs.

Apart from relying on the local shop, you can also make an informed decision by asking the company about their service policies that go beyond just a warranty.

The manufacturing unit in Noida. (Source: Gemopai Electric)
Source: Gemopai Electric

For example, Revolt Intellicorp Pvt Ltd allows the customer to pay for the motorcycle on a monthly basis for a period of 37 months. In that 3-year period, the company will service the bike and replace brake pads and brake fluids.

Meanwhile, Ather Energy manufactures most of the parts used in the motorcycle thus making spare parts easily-available.

Reason

Covering long distances, daily commuting or carrying products, the purpose of a vehicle differs from one person to another.

The bikes developed by Smado Labs are foldable, easy to carry and can be taken anywhere from a metro station, a car to an apartment.

The ETRANCE scooter (47 kg) by PuREnergy is ideal for commuting in heavy traffic because of its low weight and height (the ground to handle height is around 3.5 feet).

This a good scooter for commuting in city traffic because it’s low weight. It can be used by college students, delivery boys, working women and senior citizens as well. Moreover, balancing is made easier with a thick wheel radius and an efficient shock absorber system. On a single full charge, the scooter can travel up to 80 km, says Rohit Vadera, co-founder of PuREnergy.


Also ReadTackling Pollution & Traffic Jams, E-Bike Startup Curbs 935 Tonnes of Emissions!


Feature Image Courtesy: Ather Energy

(Edited by Saiqua Sultan)

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