The green mobility research brought us to the electric cycles. The more we researched, the more we fell in love with them! I am sure, if you know the operating and maintenance costs of this humble vehicle, you will love them too!
Generally, electric vehicles’ purchase cost is higher, but operating costs are where the magic happens. We were astonished when we learned about the cost per km for an electric cycle.
The cost per KM
Essel Energy, a leading electric cycle manufacturer says that for their flagship model: GET7, you can ride at only 10 paise per km. Honestly, we found it hard to believe and decided to cross-check. Emotorad’s co-founder and CEO Kunal Gupta smilingly confirmed – his electric cycles average at 7 paise per km!
Isn’t that unbelievable?
The care your electic cycle needs
Now, there are some caveats to realising such a low cost.
- You have to keep them clean and in use. Allowing them to rust will make matters worse.
- Keeping good day-to-day care of batteries is easy and a must. Think of it as basic hygiene care.
- Overall, removable batteries will perform better when it comes to charging and maintenance. Some models are so easy to operate – All you need to do is: Remove battery from the bicycle, charge it like you charge your mobile phone! It can’t possibly get easier than this.
- Take good care of your electric cycle in the rainy season. Protect the batteries.
Do the math
Considering that this kind of basic care allows you to ride for 1000 km at just Rs 70, (2/3rd the price of 1 litre petrol!) electric cycles are simply unbeatable when it comes to costing.
Even if you ride 100 km per week, at 400 km a month, this amounts to just Rs 28 on your monthly travel expenditure. Well, for a second, you might feel that you are living in the 1940s!
Leaving the fun aside, the pricing is really really reasonable. A good electric cycle can cost somewhere between Rs. 35,000 to Rs. 50,000. If you just buy a good-old normal cycle from a good brand, it would cost you Rs 15,000 – Rs 35,000.
Depending on your choice, you will probably spend Rs 10,000 more on an electric cycle. That can be easily recovered in a year! Electric cycles do seem like a steal deal. And, I am not even counting the health benefits and doctor visits this can save you!
Thus, for us, a good electric cycle in this range sounds like a no brainer. What about you? We think you would be at least enticed to check out this option after reading about how easy they are on your pocket!
So, weigh your options and make smart choices. Until then, goodbye!
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