Table Of Content
- The EV Revolution
- Why You Should Buy An Electric Vehicle?
- Environment
- Safety
- Overall Price Point
- No Gas
- Tax Rebates & Lower Ownership Cost
- Why You Should Not Buy An Electric Bike?
- Slow
- Short Range
- Unreliable
- Pollution
- Best Electric Bike Of 2024
- OLA S1 X
- Bounce Infinity E1+
- Hero Electric Optima CX
- Hero Electric Photon
- Bajaj Chetak
- Ather 450X Gen 3
- OLA S1 Pro
- TVS iQube
- The Final Thought
Deep Dive To Explore The Electric Bike Revolution
Electric bike and car brands have grown in scale. As a result, the Indian market is saturated with electric bike variants and options. However, this makes it difficult for users to make the correct decision. Fear not; I am here to help you. Here we go.
The EV Revolution
The future is now. As humanity realizes the potential of sustainability and innovation, it gravitates towards cleaner energy. This shift in the overall consciousness is most visible in the transportation sector.
As per sources, the new EV industry has grown to a whopping 5.6 billion US dollars. This shows that the industry will grow and bring newer products. Therefore, it is safe to say that the future is EV, and it has arrived.
As of now, the industry is riddled with some fantastic products. However, this is a relatively new industry. As a result, there are several factors that you have to consider before making a choice or decision.
Let us not waste a single minute.
Why You Should Buy An Electric Vehicle?
Before you start browsing. I think that it is quite important for you to know the advantages and pitfalls of buying an EV. This will help you make more informed decisions when you buy your first EV, like an electric bike or a car.
In this section, I will be discussing some of the major advantages of buying an EV. This will help you to know all the advantages EVs offer. I have divided this section into five distinct subsections, including environment, safety, price point, fuel, and tax rebates.
Here we go!
Environment
One of the most significant advantages of an electric bike is its sustainability. Carbon footprints are one of the most critical aspects of buying EVs. It is an essential aspect that needs to be sorted.
As per studies, electric vehicles produce lower emissions compared to gas-powered cars. This leaves a milder carbon footprint compared. As a result, EVs are sustainable and enhance the overall environmental impact.
Scientists believe that EVs could change the future by helping people combat environmental changes. As a result, it should be on the wishlist of every sustainable commuter.
Safety
One hoax that circulated around the internet is that EVs are not safe. Even though this is not a baseless claim, companies have made electric bikes safer. This was a massive concern for newer customers who wanted electric bikes or cars.
Unlike before, EVs have become safe and reliable. Earlier, there were cases where an EV would randomly burst into flames or turn into something. The industry has actually dealt with this issue and turned its weaknesses into strengths.
EVs are much more reliable and safer than before. As a result, some users even claim that an electric bike might be a more reliable option than a gas-powered bike.
Overall Price Point
Pricing is a huge deal that can make or break a deal. As a result, it should be one of the most significant and most important deciding factors that every person should consider. As per sources, EVs are priced at a lower price point than gas-powered vehicles.
EVs come with fewer parts. EVs do not have an internal combustion engine, no oil filter, gears, etc. As a result, EVs are made using fewer parts. Hence, companies can actively cut down some of the costs.
This makes EVs more sustainable and lower priced.
No Gas
Gas is a huge hassle. Depleting fuel levels is making fuel more expensive. As a result, gas-powered bike owners have to spend a huge chunk of money on gas. EV owners, on the other hand, do not have to worry about gas.
As an EV owner, you can charge your electric bike or scooter at home without any extra cost. Just charge your bike at night, and your bike will be fully charged by the morning. Therefore, you do not have to worry about gas prices or go out of your usual route to fill up the gas.
This can give you an added edge or autonomy.
Tax Rebates & Lower Ownership Cost
Anybody who owns a car or a bike will agree that it is a huge hassle when it comes to the financial aspect. However, EV owners can easily avoid the extra expenses. This is primarily due to tax rebates and other factors.
As per sources, EVs come with a lower price bracket and registration fee. This automatically knocks down the ownership cost considerably. Also, an electric bike contains fewer parts than your regular gas-powered bike. Hence, the maintenance cost is much lower than that of gas-powered bikes.
This is a massive deal for EV owners.
Why You Should Not Buy An Electric Bike?
EVs seem like blessings from the gods. However, they do have a dark side. A side that you need to understand in order to make the right choices. This might kill the buzz at the moment. However, having a tough conversation is very important.
This section will primarily discuss some of the most significant drawbacks of your electric bike. The following section has been divided into four distinct sub-sections. These include speed, range, reliability, and pollution.
All these factors add to the overall essence of EVs and should be considered before buying.
Slow
One of the most significant and most essential factors that works as a deciding factor is speed. When you buy an electric bike, you already know that you will not be breaking the sound barrier. Still, it does not hurt to go a bit faster.
EVs are notoriously slow. Most electric bikes can not go faster than 60 Km per hour. This is a huge gripe for several users. In fact, the speed is the biggest reason why most people do not want to opt for EVs.
Short Range
Range is the next deciding factor. The range problem is not exclusive to electric bikes. In fact, some of the most expensive EVs also suffer from this bane. As a result, it is a problem as a whole.
Unlike gas-powered vehicles, you cannot carry your fuel with you. The only way to recharge is to find a charging station. As a result, this can become a hassle when it comes to road trips. In fact, most electric bikes are not at all suited for long ranges.
Hence, riding an EV might feel restrictive due to its short range.
Unreliable
Buying an electric bike is all fun, as well as playing games. However, this revelry lasts till your bike breaks down. Several EV users claim that most electric bike brands do not offer reasonable solutions or after-market services.
I personally experienced this aspect. My electric bike broke down in January 2024, and it is April, so my bike is still not fixed. The reason is that the parts that are needed are unavailable at the moment.
Hence, every new EV user has to take this aspect into consideration in order to make the right call.
Pollution
EVs are great for the environment. They leave a lesser carbon footprint. Yet, they do come with specific environmental implications. Unlike the general notion, EVs do leave some carbon footprint via plastic waste.
According to professional wreckers, an EV produces more harmful chemicals during disassembling than a regular car. An electric bike leaves toxic fumes and battery fluid while it is being broken down.
Therefore, your electric bike might not be as sustainable as you thought it to be. As a result, electric bikes are not blessings. They just bring newer problems to the table.
Best Electric Bike Of 2024
Now that the basics are dealt with. I think that it is time for us to get into the fun stuff. India is one of the biggest markets for electric bike products. Indians love two-wheelers, and they are always on the lookout for a sustainable and cheap option that can help people travel from one place to another.
An electric bike can do all that and more. As a result, brands are trying to capitalize on this sentiment. Hence, the Indian market is saturated with some of the most impressive and affordable electric bikes of this generation.
Before I start off my list, Let me clarify that this list is not a ranking list. It is more of an informative list that is aimed at providing you with proper knowledge about the best electric bike brands and products.
Here is a detailed list of some of the best electric bikes of 2024 that you should know about.
OLA S1 X
OLA S1 X is easily one of the best and most prominent electric scooter brands in existence. In fact, this scooter eventually became the most-sold electric scooter in India. This scooter comes with a combined braking system, which is called revolutionary. The bike can go as fast as 90 Km per hour.
Bounce Infinity E1+
Bounce is a heavily underrated electric scooter brand in India. Still, the brand seems to have struck the right nerve, as Indians seemed to go crazy about it. Soon, the company realized the Indian market’s potential and relaunched an updated version of E1 named E1+.
Hero Electric Optima CX
Hero is a well-known brand that has been the mainstay of the Indian two-wheeler market. The brand has extensively worked with Honda in order to further its innovation. Now, the brand is looking to capitalize on the EV market by launching Optima CX. Optima CX comes in two variants. Each variant comes with a top speed of 48 km per hour and a range of 90 kilometers. This makes it a perfect choice for daily commuting.
Hero Electric Photon
Hero is an excellent brand for two-wheeler lovers. This is because the brand has consistently catered to the needs of the Indian population. Hero Electric Proton is one such electric bike. It is sleek, affordable, and has a well-established brand value attached to it. The motorcycle offers a dual braking system and other high-end features at an affordable price point.
Bajaj Chetak
Every 90s kid would recognize this blast from the past. Bajaj Chetak was the most popular two-wheeler of that era. Years later, the brand made a comeback with Bajaj Chetak EV. This rebranding is much more than a fresh coat of paint. It is a complete overhaul of the beloved two-wheeler into something more advanced. Bajaj claims that the battery of this bike can last upto 70,000 km without charge. Therefore, it is an excellent bike for people who want something reliable and sturdy.
Ather 450X Gen 3
Ather is making waves in the two-wheeler industry. The brand went from nothing to one of the biggest distributors of electric bikes. This is primarily due to the brand’s innovative zeal and perspective. Aether’s 450X Gen 3 is the culmination of this zeal. The electric bike comes with 12-inch alloy wheels with tubeless tires. Subsequently, the bike has a top speed of 90 km per hour. Hence, it should be a perfect choice for the younger population.
OLA S1 Pro
OLA S1 Pro is an incredible electric bike for beginners. It is a lightweight machinery that handles like a charm. It is a great electric bike that strikes a perfect balance between functionality and aesthetics. However, the bike does show some technical faults. Otherwise, it is an incredible electric bike for beginners.
TVS iQube
The final name on our list is the iQube by TVS. TVS iQube is an incredible electric bike that has steadily risen to prominence due to its reliability and peppy ride experience. This is the only bike in this article offering a Q-parking feature. This allows riders to park the scooter seamlessly. A true testament to TVS’ legacy.
The Final Thought
With that, you have reached the end of my article about the viability of buying an electric scooter. Even though they are the future, the general population seemed confused about the whole deal. Hence, I hope this article will help you make the right choice when buying the right electric two-wheelers.
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