With the growing trend of EVs, most people are now aware of their benefits, whether it is electric scooters or electric cars, e-buses, e-rickshaws, and now e-cycles are also one of them.
At first glance, the stylish bicycle is well-equipped with a lithium-ion battery, BLDC motor, battery indicator, flashlight, horn, and other components that fascinate and excite us. But wait—is an electric cycle worth buying?
Let's unlock this confusion...
- My quick opinion if you are in a hurry
- First, if you are confused it is worth buying an e-cycle according to its pricing?
- Features and Components of an electric cycle that make it worth it
- Amazing benefits that make it worth buying
- Comparison with similar vehicles
- For whom is an electric cycle most useful for commuting?
- What are the problems or cons?
- Some top brands in India
- Conclusion
It is my quick opinion if you are in a hurry
Of course, it is best for commuting up to a 50km range, requires less maintenance, and does not require a license.
It saves on fuel, is easy to ride, has fast charging, is cheaper than e-scooters, and has many more advantages.
Now I assume that you eagerly want to know its pricing, performance, maintenance, features, etc
So read this full guide at the end I’m damn sure you will have clarity in your mind about this amazing cheapest electric two-wheeler good or bad in India.
So let's begin…
First, if you are confused it is worth buying an e-cycle according to its pricing?
It is natural for us Indians to see whether a vehicle is worth its money before adopting it; hence, this intention should be doubled in the case of any brand-new EV.
If you know about the initial pricing, which is around 23000-25000, then the first question that comes to your mind is whether it is worth buying. Will electric cycles be successful in India?
Yes, its price may seem high but in the long term, it will be quite economical as it will save a lot of petrol expenses.
And, EMI availability on these e-cycles makes them much more affordable for every person. It is the best option for those who can't afford electric scooters or working a minimum-wage job.
Apart from this, being an electric vehicle, its maintenance cost is also minimal just like a traditional pedal cycle, but it is comparatively quite advanced for the pedal cycle, how? Let us discuss this further.
Features and Components of an electric cycle that make it worth it
Motor: It comes with a 250W BLDC motor which gives an ideal speed to the rider for commuting around the town with minimal pedaling efforts.
Throttle assist & pedal assist: Basically, two types of e-cycles are throttle assist and pedal assist. With the throttle equipped right side handlebar rider can ride just like a bike. While in the pedal assist motor automatically functions when rides start pedaling.
Battery: Equipped with a removable or inbuilt lithium-ion battery which gives power to the motor and has a longer lifespan.
Range: Give a range of 30 to 40 kilometers on a single charge with an e-cycle available in 23k to 30k.
Fast charging: The rechargeable lithium-ion battery gets fully charged in just 3-4 hours. Easily plug into any household power outlet and check the battery level periodically until fully charged.
Speed: Come with a max 25kmph speed limit which is ideal for teenagers to senior citizens.
No need for a license: With a 25kmph speed limit there is no need for a license as per Indian traffic law gives you hassle-free riding.
Battery indicator or small LED display: Well equipped with a small battery indicator or small LED display just beside the throttle showing battery levels, speeds, etc. just like a bike.
Amazing benefits that make it worth buying
These benefits make these electric bicycles worth buying and value for money.
Saving on fuel: The first most popular benefit of adopting any electric vehicle is saving on fuel. We never consider how much fuel we consume just commuting around the town on a bike. We can easily save these expenses.
Environmental benefits: With the saving on fuel one more valuable benefit is zero carbon emission, which is very important for our environment nowadays and in the future.
Health benefits: In today's busy life, we don’t have time for exercise. Went to the office or college on an e-cycle is more beneficial for health with low pedaling effort and without getting late.
Freely commuting: As I said without getting late, I remember most of the time we get late due to being stuck in traffic. I think it's underrated but the most convenient advantage of having an e-cycle. You can easily take any groove street, shortcut, or cycle lane to skip the traffic jam.
Flashlight & horn: It comes with these two accessories or you can add them as per your wish. According to me, both accessories are valuable for safe riding on dark streets.
Disc brakes: With more speed and weight, the rider’s safety is a crucial aspect, that's why equipped with effective front and rear disc brakes ensuring safely ride every time.
Smart features: Some premium-type e-cycles are equipped with smart features like GPS, gears, different riding modes, etc. but these are relatively costly.
Comparison: E-Cycle vs other similar vehicles
Generally, whenever we think of buying an EV, we naturally compare it with a petrol vehicle. Because the initial price of EVs is higher than that of petrol vehicles.
For example, if you buy a Honda Activa, its on-road price is around Rs 90k-95k, whereas if you buy an equivalent electric scooter like, it will cost us around Rs 1.2lakh-1.5 lakh or above.
However, despite this, we are currently witnessing the growing trend of EVs. People are now adopting it because of its low maintenance cost and reduced fuel costs significantly.
Similar confusion exists with electric bicycles also because their initial cost is more than traditional bicycles, so let us make some basic comparisons.
Electric Cycle vs Normal Cycle
| E-Cycle | Aspects | Normal Cycle |
|---|---|---|
| The initial pricing is around 23-25k | Pricing | The initial pricing of a quality pedal bicycle is 7-8k. |
| Most of the brands give rides up to 60km range in a single charge | Range | It completely depends on our/rider's efforts to pedal. |
| Most of the brands give up to 25kmpl | Speed | It also depends on our/rider's efforts to pedal. |
| The pedal-assist e-cycle gives fitness benefits with less effort, and you can also use the pedal in a throttle-assist cycle whenever you want. Know the types of electric cycle | Health | The pedal cycle is always beneficial for fitness. |
| Required occasional maintenance of motor, battery, and other electrical components. | Maintenance | Required regular maintenance of mechanical parts: brakes, gears, chains, tires, etc. |
| Generally heavier due to motor, battery, and other components. | Weight | Usually lighter compared to an e-cycle. |
Electric cycle vs Electric Scooter
People often think that because of the cost of an e-cycle, they should buy an e-scooter. So, let us also compare this.
| E-Cycle | Aspects | Electric Scooter |
|---|---|---|
| The initial cost is around 23k | Pricing | The starting price is around Rs 70k-80k, while a premium e-scooter ranges from Rs 1-1.5 lakh. |
| Most of the brands give rides up to 30-45km range in a single charge | Range | While initially priced scooters offer a range of up to 60-100km on a single charge, premium brands offer a range of up to 150km. |
| Most of the brands give up to 25kmph | Speed | Most e-scooters come with a 50-90kmph speed. |
| The pedal-assist e-cycle gives fitness benefits with less effort, and you can also use the pedal in a throttle-assist cycle whenever you want. Know the types of electric cycle | Health | As we know, e-scooters are not for fitness purposes. |
| Required occasional maintenance of motor, battery, and other electrical components. | Maintenance | It is also a low-maintenance cost vehicle that needs regular checks of components. |
| Generally heavier due to motor, battery, and other components. | Weight | It's an e-scooter, so obviously it is heavier than an e-cycle. |
| No need for a license or registration | Legal | Licenses, insurance, and registration are mandatory as per Indian law. |
| 16+ can ride an e-cycle | Age Limit | 18+ can ride an e-scooter as per law. |
This is a basic comparison of electric bicycles with normal bicycles and e-scooters. However, all three vehicles have different purposes and we need to choose the right one as per our needs.
Let us discuss who should buy the e-cycle.
For whom is an electric bicycle most useful for commuting?
First of all, you should understand that an e-cycle is for short-distance commuting (up to 30-50km). But with this, you will experience comfortable commuting with less effort. Let us see for whom these cycles can be the best option which makes worth it.
For employees: It is the best commuting option for daily employees because they mostly cover up to 15-40 km daily to reach their offices or workplaces without spending a single rupee on fuel or public transport.
For delivery boys: These are boons for delivery boys. Food delivery or parcel delivery, are minimum-wage jobs with these e-cycles the delivery boys can save their valuable money every month that they spend on petrol.
Sometimes on the streets and on social media, we see many delivery boys using traditional cycles, who can't afford e-scooters or bikes. They can afford it and it will reduce their efforts, save lots of time, enable them to deliver more orders, etc.
For Students: Best commuting option for school, college, and, coaching students. It has only a max speed of 25kmph, so at least 16-year-old students can easily and safely ride it.
For Fitness: It is also one of the best cycling options for fitness freaks. They can try pedal assist e-cycles which can provide fitness rides with less effort and increase their cycling time.
Others: Along with all these, another need is that we often use bikes or scooters every day to go to the shops or markets to get household items. If we have e-cycles, we can save a lot of time and money by using them for all these works which we do not even notice.
What are the problems or cons with e-cycles?
In this guide, until now you read about the numerous pros, which undoubtedly make them an efficient option for urban commuting.
But wait, some cons or challenges also exist with this modern, eco-friendly product which are important to know before making any decision.
Theft risk
In my opinion, the biggest risk is theft. In India, stealing a bicycle is a very easy task; many times, despite being locked, some culprits steal it.
The theft risk may double due to its higher pricing and electrical components. I suggest keeping them in safe parking and expecting to brands include an advance lock to prevent theft risk.
Lack of information
It is a vastly new type of vehicle that has been introduced in recent years in the Indian market. Being an Indian, we have to do thorough proper research before buying this new innovative vehicle.
In the case of electric bicycles, most brands sell their products online only. Whereas most people do not want to waste their money without a live test.
But gradually people are aware because big and trusted brands like TATA are also joining the e-cycle market. And, we expect brands to ensure their availability in more and more cities.
Lack of maintenance facility
As we know it is a low-maintenance two-wheeler but like any vehicle it also requires maintenance from time to time or when some fault occurs.
Now in such a situation, the local bicycle repairmen can't maintain these electric bicycles. So, you may go to the store or dealer (if available in your town) of their brands for maintenance.
Less availability of spare parts
These are in their earliest phase, they are yet to make their presence in the market. The spare parts are not easily available in nearby stores but you can buy them online from their official website.
Some top electric cycle brands in India
Hero Lectro: No need for any intro it's a Hero Cycles product which most popular and trusted brand in India.
Avon Cycles: Once again no need for an intro it is also a big player in the Indian cycle market. Most popular for their tough frame set.
Tata Stryder: Backed by the TATA (king of the automobile sector in India), it can be one of the biggest players in the e-cycles segment.
E-Motorad: The company located in Pune makes futuristic e-cycles. The brand has gained attraction recently after MS Dhoni became a brand ambassador and investor.
Motovolt: Started its journey in 2019 by making e-scooters, e-mopeds, and e-cycles. They claim maximum performance, quality components, and affordability with sustainable commuting for everyone.
Now this list is quite long, there are many more reputed brands like Trek Bicycles, SS Bicycles, Ninty-one, Nibe Motors, Geekay Bikes, Elecson, etc.
Conclusion
Now we are wrapping up, after reading this guide I hope you have clarity about whether Is electric cycle worth buying.
We've comprehensively covered major points about their pricing, features, benefits, comparisons, brands, challenges, etc. which play a major role in making it worth buying or not.
In my opinion, despite some initial challenges, electric bicycles will have a big market and become a sensational, eco-friendly, affordable urban mobility option for everyone.
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