Electric scooters are rapidly becoming the favorite choice for middle-class families and young riders in India. With Ola, Ather, TVS, and Bajaj pushing affordable EV two-wheelers, many buyers believe they’ll save huge money on petrol.
But here’s the catch: the real range after 2–3 years of usage is often very different from the glossy brochure numbers. This article uncovers how much the range actually drops, how much money you really save, and whether an EV scooter is worth it for your family.
⚡ Why EV Scooter Range Drops Over Time
Like smartphones, electric scooter batteries lose efficiency after repeated charging cycles.
- Battery Degradation
- Lithium-ion batteries lose 5–7% efficiency per year.
- After 3 years, expect 15–20% loss at minimum.
- Fast Charging Habits
- Using DC fast chargers regularly increases heat → speeds up degradation.
- Indian Road Conditions
- Overloading, traffic jams, and stop-go traffic eat battery faster.
- Climate Impact
- Hot summers in Delhi, Chennai, Nagpur accelerate wear.
- Humidity in Mumbai/Kolkata affects battery cooling.
📊 Real Owner Reports After 3 Years
1. Ola S1 Pro
- Claimed Range: 181 km
- Reported (3 years): 90–110 km
2. Ather 450X
- Claimed Range: 146 km
- Reported (3 years): 80–100 km
3. TVS iQube
- Claimed Range: 145 km
- Reported (3 years): 85–95 km
4. Bajaj Chetak EV
- Claimed Range: 108 km
- Reported (3 years): 70–85 km
👉 Observation: Almost all scooters lose 30–40% range within 3 years.
💰 Charging Costs vs Petrol
EV Scooter (Ather example):
- Real avg range: 90 km
- Electricity per full charge: ~₹20
- Cost per km: ₹0.22/km
Petrol Scooter (Honda Activa):
- Avg mileage: 40 kmpl
- Petrol price: ₹100/litre
- Cost per km: ₹2.5/km
👉 EV scooters are still 10x cheaper per km than petrol.
🔋 Battery Replacement Costs
This is the biggest hidden cost families worry about:
- Ola S1 Pro: ₹65,000–80,000
- Ather 450X: ₹70,000–85,000
- TVS iQube: ₹60,000–75,000
- Bajaj Chetak EV: ₹60,000–70,000
📌 Most manufacturers give 3-year warranty, but battery replacements after 5 years may wipe out savings.
📈 3-Year Running Cost Example
Let’s assume daily usage = 30 km, ~10,000 km/year.
🚲 Petrol Scooter (Honda Activa)
- Mileage: 40 kmpl
- Fuel used in 3 years: 750 litres
- Fuel cost @ ₹100/ltr: ₹75,000
⚡ EV Scooter (Ather 450X)
- Range after 3 years: ~90 km
- Electricity per charge: ₹20 (full ~90 km)
- Number of charges for 30,000 km = 333
- Total electricity cost: ₹6,660 (~₹7k)
👉 Savings = ~₹68,000 in 3 years
Even if you add higher EMI for EV, running savings offset fuel costs.
🛠️ Tips to Maintain EV Scooter Range
- Avoid 100% daily charging → Keep between 20–80%.
- Limit fast charging → Use home charging more.
- Tyre pressure check → Low pressure = more battery drain.
- Avoid overloads → Don’t carry 3 riders regularly.
- Park smartly → Shade or covered area prevents heat damage.
✅ Conclusion
EV scooters do lose 30–40% range after 3 years, but they still save huge money compared to petrol scooters.
- Best for: Daily commuters, urban families, people riding 10,000+ km/year.
- Risky for: Low-usage riders, small-town users without charging infra.
👉 If you use it daily, an EV scooter is still a money-saver despite battery degradation.
