EV Simplified: 5 Things To Keep In Mind Before Buying An Electric Two-wheeler

The electric two-wheeler market in India has seen a major leap in the last couple of years. From new products and brands to subsidies to buyers, the EV space has garnered a lot of attention. So, if you have been contemplating buying a new electric two-wheeler, here’s a five-point guide to help you with the purchase:

Early Adoption = Massive Benefits

The Centre and state governments are pushing for electric mobility, and extending benefits not just for manufacturers but customers too. The revised FAME-II subsidy attracts benefits of Rs 15,000 per kWh of battery capacity. Here’s how you can calculate your FAME-II benefits.

Sweetening the deal further are subsidies announced by select state governments. At the moment, the Gujarat government is offering benefits of Rs 10,000 per kWh. Similarly, the Maharashtra too has introduced incententives of upto Rs 1.5 lakh till March 2022. Even the Rajasthan government gives benefits to EV buyers.

To give you a gist of how much you could save on a purchasing an e-bike like the Revolt RV400, read the following stories:

• Revolt RV400 Attracts Rs 79,000 Worth Of Benefits In Maharashtra
• Here’s How Affordable The Revolt RV400 Will Now Be In Rajasthan
• Revolt RV400 Gets A Massive Price Cut In Gujarat

Is Range Anxiety Real?

Of course, range will be one of your concerns when buying an electric two-wheeler. However, most EVs now have enough juice for everyday commutes. While one might argue that long-distance touring may not be possible, but then again, how often would you go touring on your ICE scooter or commuter? So, it is essential to calculate your realistic everyday usage.

Now comes the tricky part of checking the real-world range. Yes, there’s an ideal condition range and a real-world range. We have tested the Ather 450X, and a real-world range of 91.4km isn’t too shabby, and would ideally cover a day’s commute at least, before needing to plug in.

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Juicing Up Your EV

The charging infrastructure is picking up in India, with companies like Ola Electric, Ather Energy and Tork Motors setting up their own stations which provide fast-charging. Furthermore, companies like Statiq and Charzer too have a fast-growing network of charging stations.

Now comes the question of charging the EV at your home or office. Many brands offer a home charger for free. Norms now mandate EV charging points in new residential and commercial buildings. However, if your residential building doesn’t have one, we’d recommend you to clarify with the concerned authorities of the complex beforehand.

That’s where the advantage of removable batteries lies. Even if your office/apartment doesn’t have the provision to plug-in your EV directly, you could always take it with you and charge. However, battery packs usually weigh 7-8kg, so do check the weight if that’s how you intend to charge your EVs.

Even if none of the above work for you, there’s also an option to simply swap the battery. Bounce Infinity E1 is the first product in our market to offer battery as a subscription. So, instead of waiting for your battery to charge, you just head to the swap station and ride out with a fully-charged battery in minutes. We have also weighed the pros and cons between fast-charging and swappable batteries.

Roadside Assistance Is A Must

Having roadside assistance goes a long way in not just curbing range anxiety, but also reinforcing trust in your EV. In the event of a breakdown or if you run out of charge, you can always call up your dealership/EV company and have them tow the vehicle to the nearest service/charge station. Ather, TVS, Ola Electric and many other companies offer roadside assistance on subscription basis. So you'll have to read the fine print regarding the costs.

Spoil Yourself With Features

Almost all electric two-wheelers come with more features than you’d ever need. While key features like riding modes, reverse assist and Bluetooth connectivity are common, there’s also walk mode, cruise control and a feature-rich mobile application that one should look out for.

There’s no denying that electric mobility is catching up with its ICE competition at a rapid pace. And while there's plenty of options in the market that’ll leave you spoilt for choice, we recommend you to test ride instead of relying solely on a spec sheet.