Electric Bike Vs Petrol Bike: Cost & Range Comparison

Electric bike vs petrol bike which is better? People have been asking this ever since electric bikes were launched in the market.

Electric bikes are the talk of the town these days. Apparently, they are here to replace the petrol bikes. But should you buy one or go with the traditional petrol bike instead?

Well, after going through this petrol bike vs electric bike comparison, I am sure you will have a definite answer. In this article, I am going to compare the buying cost, maintenance cost, running cost, and environmental effects of electric and petrol bikes.

So let’s get started!

Table of Contents

What Is A Petrol Motorcycle?

Petrol motorcycles are motorcycles which generate energy by burning fuel (petrol). These types of motorcycles have internal combustion engines (ICE) that produce power to move the bike.

The engines of this bike burn the air and fuel mixture, which in turn generates the power to move the motorcycle.

Since these bikes burn fuel, they also emit harmful gases like carbon dioxide (CO2), carbon monoxide (CO), Nitrogen Oxide (NOx), etc. Needless to say, these gases are harmful to the environment.

What Is An Electric Bike?

The motorcycles that generate power from an electric motor are known as electric bikes. Instead of an engine, these bikes have an electric motor in place.

Since they do not burn any fuel to generate power, therefore they do not emit harmful gases in the environment. They are considered environmentally friendly as compared to petrol bikes.

Electric Bike Vs Petrol Bike

So without any further ado, let’s find out which one is the best among petrol and electric bikes. They both come with their own set of advantages and disadvantages. Therefore let’s compare both on different aspects and see how they fare against each other.

1. Petrol Bike Vs Electric Bike Cost Comparison

The first thing that we will be comparing is the upfront cost of petrol and electric bikes.

There are many options for electric scooters available in India. But when it comes to motorcycles, the options are very limited as of now. The cheapest electric bike from a decent brand in India comes with an ex-showroom price of around 1.3 lakhs.

On the other hand, petrol bikes are available for as low as 0.70 lakhs ex-showroom price. And you can get some best petrol bikes under 1.3 lakhs in India.

So as of now, electric bikes cost almost double the price of petrol bikes. And this difference will even go up if you opt for performance-oriented bikes.

Since the cost of electric bikes is high therefore the cost of bike insurance will also go up.

2. Cost Of Running

As discussed, the upfront cost of electric bikes is higher compared to petrol bikes. However, the cost of running electric bikes is very low.

The running cost of electric scooters and motorcycles generally comes out to be just 15% of their petrol counterparts.

For example, if you are paying around ₹2/km as running cost on a petrol bike then you will have to pay only ₹0.30/km on an electric bike. This is extremely cheap.

However, one thing that you need to note here is the cost of battery replacement. Electric bikes may have low running costs but they have battery replacement costs associated with them. After a while, their battery will need to be replaced. And you will be surprised to know that it accounts for almost 40% of the total cost of the bike.

So if you calculate for a longer period of time then the difference in the running cost will not be that much.

3. Electric Vs Petrol Scooter Environmental Friendliness

Electric bikes are believed to be more environmentally friendly as compared to their petrol counterparts, right?

And it is true to some extent as well. As they do not emit harmful gases while running.

However, when we talk about their manufacturing, according to a study, they pollute the environment a lot. It is believed that the making of batteries for motorcycles creates so much pollution that a petrol bike will create in its entire life span if driven nominally.

Also, in India, 70% of the electricity is still produced from burning coal. So to produce the electricity to run an electric bike also pollutes the environment. Therefore, the claim of the environmental friendliness of electric bikes is not somewhat true.

4. Range

Another point of comparison between electric bikes vs petrol bike is their range. This point becomes really important because you can find a petrol pump station nearby very easily but you won’t find a charging station.

Most of the electric bikes that are available in the market offer a range of around 100 to 120 km. While on the other hand, petrol bikes offer a range of a minimum of 300 km. And it even goes up to 700 km depending on the bike’s engine capacity and fuel tank.

Also, it is easier and less time-consuming to refuel a petrol bike as compared to an electric bike.

So in terms of range, an electric bike simply cannot compete with a petrol bike as of now.

5. Convenience

When it comes to convenience, then again petrol bikes have an upper hand.

It is easy to refuel them. And whenever you are getting late then it will take hardly 10 minutes at the petrol pump to refuel.

However, on the other hand, you will have to plan your trip with an electric bike. You will also have to take the distance into account even if you are riding in the city. Because charging stations are not readily available yet. And on top of it, if your bike runs out of charge then you will not be able to borrow the charge from others. But on the other hand, you can borrow some petrol from others too.

Therefore petrol bikes are more convenient as compared to electric motorcycles as of now.

6. Electric Bike Vs Petrol Bike Maintenance

In terms of maintenance, electric bikes have an advantage. A petrol bike’s engine requires regular servicing to keep it running, right? You have to change the engine oil regularly.

However, on the other hand, electric bikes don’t need such maintenance. They will just require some cleaning and oiling of parts every now and then but no major servicing.

So it will be cheaper to maintain a bike that is electric as compared to a petrol bike.

Having said that, if an electric bike breaks down then you could have some problem. You can easily find a petrol bike mechanic near you but it will be very hard to find a mechanic for electric bikes around you. For even small things you will have to take it to the authorised service center.

7. Ride Feel

When it comes to the riding feel and enjoying the ride, electric bikes simply can’t match petrol bikes.

They are just too silent and refined and if you are a bike enthusiast then you will not at all like it. Electric bikes feel like you are sitting in a chair and someone is just pulling it.

I guess you will agree with me when I say, electric bikes will never be able to provide the feel of riding a petrol bike.

8. Petrol Vs Electric Motorcycle Options

Everyone likes to have options, right? However, this is not the case with electric bikes. There are a very limited number of electric bikes available in India right now.

On the other hand, there are plenty of petrol bike options available in the market. You can have:

Petrol Bike Or Electric Bike Which Is Better?

As of now, petrol bikes seem a lot better than electric bikes. They have less upfront cost, it is easier to live with them, and they offer the ride feel that everyone craves.

I am sure, by now you must have made up your mind whether electric bikes are made for you or not. But if you are still confused about whether a petrol bike is better or an electric bike, then let me help you out.

As of now, a petrol bike seems to offer more value for money and seems the right choice for the following reasons:

Their upfront cost is way less compared to electric bikes
The overall cost of the ownership of petrol bikes is almost equal to that of electric motorcycles
They offer more peace of mind
The riding feel offered by petrol bikes is unmatchable

Therefore, petrol bikes are better than electric bikes.

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FAQs

Is An Electric Bike Better Than A Petrol Bike?

No, an electric bike is not better than a petrol bike. If you keep everything in mind then they offer less value for money compared to petrol bikes.

What Are The Disadvantages Of Electric Bikes?

The main disadvantages of electric bikes are 1. Higher upfront cost 2. Lesser range 3. Missing riding feel 4. Availability of lesser options

Is An Electric Bike Good For Long Drives?

No, electric bikes are not good for long drives as their range is very low and charging stations are not readily available.

Are Electric Bikes High Maintenance?

No, electric bikes are not high maintenance. They don’t need regular servicing like petrol bikes.

Is It Good To Buy Electric Bike?

No, it is not good to buy an electric bike as of now. It comes with its own set of disadvantages.